Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) is a twelve year old boy who is something of a nobody. He is bullied at school constantly. He fantasizes about standing up to those who push him around, but can't actually do anything when it comes down to it. He meets a girl, Eli (Lina Leandersson), who is apparently his age and also lives in his building. A unique friendship and young romance begins to form. Oskar has no idea how unique it is going to be, however, until he realizes that his new friend is a vampire who needs to kill for human blood in order to survive.
Let The Right One In has enjoyed an incredibly positive critical reception, as evidenced by the fact it had a limited US release and was quickly optioned for an American remake. Visually, this is a beautifully created film, utilizing a lot of geometric scenery and snowy settings that enhance the off balance melancholic mood. Unlike many vampire stories, especially as of late, this is a very realistic representation of the mythical beings. The supernatural/magical qualities of the vampires are seriously underplayed with the focus on the fact that here is a being who just wants to live, and can't unless she continually takes other lives. There is a disturbing blend of innocence and the macabre between Oskar and Eli and the other kids at school.
There is a mostly consistent feeling and pace throughout the whole thing that keeps it believable and the viewer attached. There was one scene, the one with the cats, that almost worked wonderfully, but didn't quite succeed because of the lower quality of the effects. Instead of being super disturbing it was a little distracting and just a lot disturbing.
The two kids are amazing as they capture the young nature of their characters in a mature fashion beyond what most their age could. In the same way it takes a genius to really successfully portray a fool, usually it takes an older person to really pull off a younger character. The actors here are the age of their roles, adding so much realism, believability, and genuineness.
Some foreign films feel a lot like a Hollywood flick, with perhaps the language giving it away. This is not one of them. There is that edge to it that says "I'm not from around here," and that works to the film's advantage from the point of view of an American audience. It will be interesting to see if that feeling can be replicated in the remake.
I'm not a fan of vampires, which does taint my view of this film, but I hope it also adds credence to how good this movie really is that I enjoyed it as much as I did, despite the subject matter.
**** (4/5 stars)
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