Let The Right One In (2008)

“Låt den rätte komma in”
Let the Right One In is the story of Oskar, a young boy in Sweden who is bullied at school by a gang of shitty little fucks. One night while in the courtyard of his apartment building he is caught stabbing a tree in a faux-revenge fantasy by Eli the young girl that just moved in. She is cold and distant, her behavior is strange, but Oskar falls for her.

Eli behavior is strange because she is a Vampire, her “Dad” is simply (or not so simply) a sad middle-aged man (whom you grow to assume has been in love with Eli since he was 12) who collects blood for her from poor saps he kills and drains. These are murders that Oskars morbidly follows in the papers (not knowing who is behind it or why).

As Oskar and Eli grow closer the circumstances of her Vampirism and his being bullied become increasingly problematic and the film takes its time making you very uncomfortable about both of these situations and also follows a group of working class folk whose circle of friends are being killed off or disappearing.

Expertly paced, directed, acted. The look of the film is stunning, it is also heartbreaking and uplifting. And its got alotta blood. Its the total package, believe the hype and get in on this version before Hollywood fucks it up (US remake has been greenlit and is slated for 2010 release).

Some quibbles here and there (the camera likes to linger on the 12 year old skin a bit longer than needed, thank you), but really small potatoes. This one is GOOD.

I wish I had a girlfriend when I was 12. That was a Vampire. That helped me with bullies.