Last night my wife and I finally had a chance to sit down and watch Tomas Alfredson's 2008 vampire film "Let the Right One in." If you're unfamiliar with what the Swedish film's about, check out the trailer. I had heard a review of the movie on the Filmspotting podcast cast several months ago and had wanted to see it because the hosts gave it good review. What peaked my curiosity is that Adam and Matty of Filmspotting suggested that this film would be a great alternative to "Twilight" which was breaking all box office records at the time. Now before I go any further, let me be clear: I am a fan of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series, but I thought the film was lacking in imagination and pretty dull. There's a great story to be told there, but I don't believe Catherine Hardwicke, the director of Twilight, took enough chances with her source material. But enough of that.
"Let the Right One in" is unlike "Twilight" in more ways than its style and plot. Whereas "Twilight" is essentially a Romeo and Juliet story watered down so that it's acceptable to the tween audience, "Let the Right One in" captures a more intimate look at a young boy, Oskar, who is being bullied at school. His blossoming relationship with Eli evolves throughout the film until the rather unsettling climax. What is clear is that Eli, a vampire, feeds off of human blood as do Meyers' vampires, but her fierceness is unparalleled. A cross between William Golding's children in "Lord of the Flies" and a wild animal, Eli appears to be "about 12 years old," but might be hundreds of years older. Her actual age is never addressed, adding to the mystery behind her true motivations. Is she simply using Oskar or are they using each other mutually to obtain a semi-bit of freedom from the world around them.
Nicely cemented into the '80s, complete with Smurf toys on Oskar's dresser, "Let the Right One in" is a more thoughtful film that at its core circling around the a note Eli leaves Oskar: "To flee is to live. To linger, death." But flee from what? Conformity in Europe during the '80s? Bullies trying to beat up Oskar? A mother and father both failing to understand Oskar's problems? Or from Eli--a vampire who needs a human friend to help her meals.... There are layers up layers in this film and I think that's why I enjoyed it so much. The nuances in Eli and Oskar's personalities are a joy to see unfold on the screen. How far will Oskar go to save his friend and does Eli despise who and what she is or is she just calculating and a cold-blooded murderer? None of these themes and questions are truly ever addressed in "Twlight."
If you're looking for a more penseful approach to the nearly done to death (pun intended) vampire genre, then check out "Let the Right One in." You can't go wrong. It's a bit slow as its paced as a European film rather than the fast cut MTV world of American films these days, but your patience will be greatly rewarded if you stick with it to the end.
Comments