Let the Right One In - Will's Review

NOTE: In honour of Halloween, We're taking a break from the TimeOut 100 Greatest Best Horror Movies.

This month, reviewers have been given a free choice of any horror movie they haven't yet seen.

ADDENDUM: Due in large part to idiocy, Will reviewed a movie which was already on the TimeOut 100 as his "reviewers Choice" movie. In Penance, He owes you a review of the remake, and this shall stand as his Week 193 review.

This isn't my type of movie at all. Although one of its main characters is a vampire, it has very few horror elements; indeed, it could only be called a Horror Film in the very loosest definition of the sense. Mostly, it's a romance; the leads may be 12 years old, but it's clear early on that their relationship is destined to go beyond friendship, into romantic love. And yet, I was blown away by this film.

If you haven't seen this movie, go and watch it. Although the following review qualifies as spoiler-free, I implore you not to watch it. Don't read the DVD case,  don't read anything, just obtain and watch this movie. I went in blind, knowing only that it's a vampire movie, and I strongly recommend that you do the same.

I have friends who read my reviews, but don't actually like horror movies; if you are one of those people don't be put off; go and watch this movie anyway.



12 year old Oskar is bullied at school, and lonely at home, he spends his evenings sitting alone in the courtyard of the block of flats he lives in with his mother.
Eli, herself 'more or less' 12, moves into the apartment next to Eli's, apparently with her father.
Despite Eli's protest that she can't be Oskar's friend, the two do develop a bond,  and Eli encourages Oskar to stand up to his bullies.
What Oskar doesn't realise, is that Eli is a Vampire, and the man she lives with is a caretaker of sorts, who kills people to bring Eli blood.

Quite simply (and I can feel myself losing man points as I type this) this is a beautiful film. There's just no other word for it.

Eli is, of course, much older than 12 (we don't know how much older), but the creepiness of an old woman being involved with a young boy is mercifully absent, because Eli is not just physically stuck at 12 years old, but also mentally and emotionally 12.

There is, of course, still a slightly squicky element to a romance between two 12 year-olds, but it's well handled enough that it never gets too uncomfortable for the viewer.

The pacing of the movie is superb; it's a slow movie, but in a way that works; rushing the story would have been a huge mistake. It also looks and sounds wonderful, and the cast, especially the young leads are amazing.

I really don't want to say anything else, because I know some people will have ignored my initial warning and read this review before seeing the movie.

The only reason not to watch this movie is if you genuinely can't handle subtitles (in which case I'm told the remake "Let Me In" is also quite good).