LET ME IN

Artwork and Review By: Daniel Albert


To begin let me say that Horror is not a genre I typically enjoy and in a time where Twihards rule the roost Let Me In had me more than a bit leary. Add to that the fact that this movie is a remake of an already largely popular Swedish version based on the Novel of the same name by Swedish writer John Ajvide Lindqvist and you have, to me at least, a recipe for disaster.

What I found during Let Me In however suprised me immensely. Instead of some Twilight love story rip-off, (which would've made me want to gouge my eyes out), the movie depicts a quirky love story where one of the characters happens to be a vampire. The story takes place in the 1980s which adds to the overall nostalgia of the film, as sprinkled throughout is the clever integration of bits of 80s pop culture.

The plot is essentially about a young boy named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who is constantly bullied at school.  When a strange new girl named Abby (Chloe Moretz) moves in with her guardian (Richard Jenkins), Owen jumps at the chance to befriend her, longing for some kind of companionship, despite her original resistance to their relationship.  As the story progresses we realize that Abby is actually a vampire with an aged mind trapped in the body of a 12 year old girl.

From here the movie could've gone in a million different directions.  It could've played out like a typical slasher film killing off characters one by one or a sappy "oh woah is me, I'm a baby vampire" flick (despite the fact this actually worked in Interview with the Vampire), but it doesn't play out like a horror film at all. Instead Director Matt Reeves delivers an almost lyrical look at the troubles of childhood, bullying, and the progression of a great friendship between the two main characters.

What impressed me most about the film was how delicately each storyline was not only treated by the director, but acted by the characters.  We get to peek inside the psyche of each character individually, pulling the scope of the film well beyond the boundaries of normalcy.  Even secondary characters like Abby's guardian get more than a cursory glance as we watch him reach his wits end, a broken man commiting gruesome acts in order to provide for his child. 

As I said this before this movie hardly plays out like your typical horror movie.  However after viewing it I feel its placement in this category is the only logical choice that could be made.  Had Let Me In been put in any category but horror it would've been torn to shreds by critics at first sight of gore (and yes this movie has quite a bit).  That being said this movie actually has quite a few strategically placed laughs and moments so uncomfortable you can't help but chuckle with nervousness, adding some much needed innocence to a sometimes very dark film.  Overall a fine piece of film, both aestheically pleasing and more than adequately entertaining.

Rating: A