Top Horror Films – #31 – Let the Right One In

Let The Right One In
2008; directed by Tomas Alfredson; screenplay by John Ajvide Lindqvist, from his novel

In a suburb of Stockholm in the early 1980s, 12-year-old Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) is continually bullied by his classmates. When an odd girl (Lina Leandersson) moves into his apartment complex, the two develop a connection that brings them both comfort and danger. But even as it becomes clear that Eli is not a normal young girl—normal young girls don’t need to consume blood to survive—Oskar is too infatuated to turn away from her.

Starkly and beautifully shot, with strong, subtle performances from the young leads, on its release Let the Right One In quickly became a contender for one of the great vampire films of all time.

Spencer: Let the Right One In is actually a cool vampire story, but as much as anything I liked it because the horror was just a means to an end. Ultimately, it is a great story about alienation and finding oneself.

John: This is one of the rare horror movies that could work as a great drama if all the horrific elements were taken out. Eli and Oskar’s relationship is one of the best examples of young love I’ve ever seen on film. When you add one of the best vampire stories to that, you get a modern classic.

Allen: A fantastically made modern vampire movie, because it is more than just a vampire movie. It is about youth, loneliness, and companionship in the most unexpected of places. The story is told slowly, and focuses just as much on the characterizations as the horror. A much more perceptive and smarter take on the vampire/human relationship compared to other films like it (ahem, Twilight, ahem). So good is the film that it took a mere two years for it to inspire an American remake.

Team Rankings:
Allen – #12
John – #19
Spencer – #20

About

Brandi is one of those people who worries about kids these days not appreciating black and white films. She also admires great moments of subtlety, since she has no idea how to be subtle herself.

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