Friday, October 8, 2010

Movie Review: Let Me In. Twilight for middle schoolers. OMG. It's "bloody" awesome!

After work today, I decided to see the movie, Let Me In. I briefly recalled seeing a review that said it was good, so I decided to check it out. My goodness, was it ever. It is Twilight for the middle school/junior high set, but with bite. I mean it. Serious, bloody bite. No neat, vegetarian-like vampire here. This is good, old "I-need-blood-and-I'm-gonna-get-it-by-any-means-necessary. Now, that being said, let me be clear. This is not a gratuitous, bloody vampire horror. It's a somber, sad, touching, poignant, loving, bloody vampire horror. It's a kind of coming-of-age vampire story...almost, but there's one problem...vampires don't age, so only one half of the couple does that. That would be 12 year-old Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee). He's a lonely, fragile boy who is ignored by his parents who are going through a divorce. He's tormented by bullies at school and spends time spying on the exploits of his neighbors through his telescope when he's not in the mirror pretending to be a serial killer. Then he meets Abby. She's 12 too...give or take some years.

Abby moves in next door with her "father"(Richard Jenkins from Six Feet Under). She lets Owen know right away that they "can't be friends", but of course they do and then some. The characters are 12, so they are not sexualized to any great degree, but exploration of that I-think-I'm-in-love-for-the-first-time component is squee-worthy. I'm not going to say anything more. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I'm telling you, you owe it to yourself to see this movie. It's based on a Swedish novel called "Lat den Ratte Komma In" by John Ajvide Lindquist. There was a Swedish movie adapted from the novel called Let the Right One In in 2008 that seems to have received some very good reviews.

I have a feeling this movie is going to fly under the radar and come and go without a lot of people knowing how totally awesome it is. Maybe if the book had been translated into English, it would get more attention. I sure would love to read it. Don't read any reviews first. It's best to sit there and watch the story unfold. You won't regret it.

Toodles!

10/09/10: Hey guys. I  just learned from Indigo via a comment, that the book is out in English and it's the same name as the film, Let Me In.

9 comments:

  1. Actually the book is out in English. I think in part thanks to the movie coming out. It's the same title of the movie, "Let Me In". I've read it and can't wait to see the movie. (Hugs)Indigo

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  2. Oh heck Indigo! Thanks for telling me. I will definitely be picking it up. Love ya!

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  3. I'm so excited to go see the movie. Not sure if I want to try and find the original film and watch it before or after.

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  4. I think you should see the remake first. Some people are enamored by the original and think the remake is weaker. I've only seen the remake and loved it. If I discover the original is better, at least I thoroughly enjoyed the remake because I wasn't comparing it to anything. Thanks for dropping in Heather!

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  5. I've been hearing about this for ages! I think I'm finally going to have to go check it out and see what it's all about.

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  6. Definitely Beth. It's creepy-scary, but also sweet and loving. I know that doesn't make sense, but when you see it, you'll know what I mean...I think!...I hope!

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  7. Wow...I think I am afraid of nonvegetarian vamps!!! Too much of the real thing...

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  8. But she's a tiny vampire Patty...LOL...Tiny or not, this kid was scary.

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