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[Let Me In]
Plot:Follows 12-year-old Owen, a lonely boy. His parents are divorced, he has no friends, and the bullies at school pick on him mercilessly. But when a 12-year-old girl named Abby (Moretz), moves into his apartment complex, Owen (Smit-McPhee) thinks that maybe, she might be his friend. He soon learns however that there's a high price to pay for Abby's friendship.
Cast:Kody Smit McPhee,
Chloe Moretz,
Richard Jenkins,
Elias Koteas,
Cara Buono,
Sasha Barrese.
My Thoughts:Far superior to the original!
Review:I know many horror fans loved the movie, but personally...I wasn't a fan of "Let The Right One In". It just didn't do it for me. It wasn't scary, nor well-acted. But I understood what the writers and director were trying to convey on screen. I just wasn't buying into it. Now...here comes the remake, directed by Matt Reeves, who also directed "Cloverfield". Another one of my favorite movies. As for "Let Me In", well, it is now one of my favorite vampire movies! The film follows a lonely boy named Owen (Smith-McPhee). Owen's life isn't very stellar. He gets picked on in school by a posse of mean kids, his mom and dad are separated, and Owen has no friends.
This all changes though, when a strange girl named Abby (Moretz), moves in next door to him. But Owen doesn't know Abby...is a vampire. "Let Me In" reminded me of another film I saw years ago, called "Mimic:Sentinel". That movie was directed by J.T. Petty, but both films share similarities. They follow characters who live in boring hopeless environments. Apartment complexes where not much happens, and it's cold and deserted most of the time. And both movies follow characters who aren't the most charasmatic people in the world, but their story is still worth telling, and worth watching. That's how I'd define the character of Owen.
A very hopeless character. But oddly enough, Abby, a dark creature...brings some much-needed light into his life. Smit-McPhee and Moretz have exceptional on-screen chemistry together. And their characters play off of one another very well. At first...when they meet, it's a boring, slow moment. But as the bodies begin to pile up, things oddly enough get more interesting to watch between Abby and Owen. You really have to love how all of this madness manages to bring these two closer together. The coolest thing about this movie is it isn't shy with the violence. Yet...it's also classy with the gore as well. Not gratuitous or over-the-top.
The original whereas, lacked enough blood to satisfy, and seemed to be kind of a wussy vampire movie to me. "Let Me In" picks the perfect spots and times, to get blood, gory, and downright nasty with the violence, neck-biting, etc. The key to the film and it's main catalyst is Abby's father. A mysterious man who gets blood for Abby by hiding in the backseat of unsuspecting motorists cars, and then attacking them. He then takes them to a deserted spot in the woods, and drains them of enough blood to bring back to Abby. This relationship between them however isn't all that it seems on the surface. And when something happens between the two of them, it leads Abby to become closer to Owen.
The relationship between them works for both at first. Abby has someone who while probably not close to her age, looks child-like as she does. And in exchange, Owen's newfound relationship with Abby gives him a drive and will to become more offensive-minded at school when it comes to the aforementioned bullies. It also gives him an escape from the depressing home situation he has. So it's nice to watch these two characters fulfill a need in each others lives, and yet have all of this craziness happening all around them. Even as Abby shows her nice and friend-like side to Owen. She is still being predator-like when she craves blood. And like in most vampire movies, when a human meets a vampire, there's always things hidden by the vampire in the midst of the relationship.
And who could blame them really? I mean surely seeing your new friend tearing someone's throat out with their teeth would be an instant deal-breaker. But because Owen is a kid, he doesn't catch on right away to Abby's true nature, and what she really is. But the script is very cleverly written, making you think two things...does he have an idea about Abby, but needs a friend so bad he's willing to overlook his suspicions, or is Owen truly blind to Abby's secret? Or...has Owen's complacency towards the bullies been reversed.
Is he now tough on them, but yet still allowing Abby's niceness to victimize him? The movie works on many different levels, and has a lot of different moving parts. Which keeps things very interesting and refreshing. For those of you looking for a bloody and gory vampire movie, "Let Me In" is not as gory as say an episode of "True Blood"...for example. But it's bloody enough, and as I said...in the right spots and moments. And there's a few kills that are not only well done and choreographed, but also funny on a morbid-humor level. One involves Abby going on the attack from up above, a scene which you have to see to believe. Trust me, it's worth the $10.50.
The movie ends on a terrific note, and brings the suspense and intrigue in droves. But the ending is also very dark, and it all depends on your opinion as to how you'll see the films ending. Most people will go the typical route with the finale and their views on it, but I advise you to look deeper. "Let Me In" overall is a terrific movie, and a terrific remake. It's definitely worth seeing this weekend.
Positives:Terrific performances by Chloe as Abby and Kodi as Owen. The directing is great, and the movie has some good twists, turns, and suspense. Especially at the end. As I said in the review, the blood, gore, and violence is well placed. And the Abby-attack moments are well-done and well-directed. The ending is well-played also.
Negatives:Nothing major.
Overall:Four out of four stars.
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