I should start by saying that I haven't seen the original Swedish horror film
Let the Right One In. I think this was a good thing, as I didn't go into the screening with any preconceptions. However, this movie is being sold as a 're-imagining' rather than a 're-make', so I'm now very keen to see the original and decide for myself.
Let Me In is set in the seemingly bleak and soul-less town of Los Alamos, New Mexico. It follows the story of Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee), a twelve year old loner, who's struggling to cope with his parents' separation at home and the vicious bullying he faces at school. His life changes dramatically though, when a young girl and her father move into his apartment block. However, things are not what they seem.
The key to this film is the relationship between the two young characters Owen and Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz) and the film cleverly stops you from getting to know anyone else. Techniques like, never seeing Owen's mother's face, or not revealing names and back stories of other characters, means you're always kept at a distance. This has the effect of drawing you into the children's story even more, as they become the only characters you really care about. This becomes particular disturbing in some scenes, as you care so much for these young characters, you start questioning who the true villains of the film are.
It's easy to think this'll be some toothless vampire thriller, but you'd be wrong, as there are definite touches of horror throughout. If you're not a horror fan though, I don't want to put you off seeing this. It's more The Shining than The Exorcist and even though there are some violent bloody moments, you only really hear them, rather than see them. The problem is, I think that can sometimes be more terrifying, but that could just be me!
Let Me In is only the third feature film from director Matt Reeves (The Pallbearer, Cloverfield), but it's by far his best. By placing the camera at a distance overhead or by using long slow tracking shots, he perfectly captures the cold isolation of not just the location, but the characters as well. Also, at one point in the film there's a car accident involving one of the key characters and the camera stays in the vehicle the entire time and doesn't cut away until the car comes to a stop. It makes you feel like you're trapped in the back of the car and it's really weird...in a good way. You'll know what I mean when you go and see it.
Whether you've seen the original or not, at the end of the day, this film was going to succeed or fail based on the strength of its central performances and it succeeds in a big way. Both Smit-McPhee and Moretz are superb, which will be no surprise to anyone who's seen them in any of their recent films including The Road and Kick Ass. The powerful friendship they portray onscreen is totally believeable and lifts the whole film to another level.
Let Me In has become one of my favourite films of the year, although the ending is a bit unsettling. I won't ruin it for you, but I can tell you you'll have plenty of questions as the credits roll.
If you're thinking about going to see this movie, don't expect some Twilight-esque teen romance, as you're going to be disappointed. If however, you want to see that rare creature; a beautifully shot, superbly acted horror, then this is the perfect film for you. Make sure you book a late night screening, so you're properly spooked out on the way home.
MICHAEL'S MOVIE MARK 8/10
