Friday, May 15, 2009

A Word About...

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
Directed by Tom Alfredson

The Swedish horror film was an underground hit in America last year (even prompting talks of a remake before it was even released), but I wasn't able to see it due to limited theater appearances--plus the fact that at that time much time had to be spent trying to watch all of the actual American films that were being packaged in December as well. That being said, after a mountain of expectation, Let The Right One In is a horror film that delivers much more than its slasher peers.

The story of Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), a twelve-year-old, often-bullied outcast who daydreams about revenge alone in his room. His life changes when a young girl named Eli (Lina Leandersson) moves in next door with her father. He only sees her at night, but he comes to like her. Unfortunately, Eli is a vicious, blood-sucking vampire who can't help but feast on blood, no matter how she manages to come across it.

The most fabulous aspects of Let The Right One In are the ways it attempts to humanize the often looked-over concepts of horror films. Eli's father attempts to satisfy his daughter's urges by murdering random wanderers and draining them of their blood. His attempts always fall flat though, and Eli is forced to fight for herself. Furthermore, the romance that blooms between Eli and Oskar envelopes both sweetly and plausibly. The characters within the film are not Dracula-like caricatures, but instead human beings--only a few are infected.

The film's slow pace can put you off occasionally, but overall, Let The Right One In is one of the most exceptional horror movies of the decade.

***1/2

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