Let Me In (2010)

Let Me In is an American remake of the Swedish movie Let the Right One In, itself an adaptation of the novel of the same name.  That it is yet another remake during a time known for recycling horror movie ideas did make me apprehensive as the Swedish film is a unique take on vampire legends as well as quite a realistic look at the bullying that many children experience in school.  There were also some aspects of it that Europe is often a bit more adult about than we are the United States.  Tomas Alfredson, the director of the original, was also not too happy to hear his movie was being remade.

Matt Reeves, who wrote and directed this version, decided to remain respectful to the original, and in some ways a bit too much.  He couldn't take too many detours without getting criticism for altering the story in the book, but in many ways he apes the way Alfredson shot his film.  Despite this he still managed to catch the feeling of the original even if he did pull a few punches.

Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a 12-year-old boy ignored by his feuding parents and bullied at school.  He spends most of his time alone or watching neighbors through his telescope, which also fails to win him any friends.  However, when a new tenant in his complex named Abby (Chloë Grace Moretz) moves into the apartment next door with her father (Richard Jenkins), Owen slowly develops a friendship with her despite her obvious strangeness.

The reason she is odd is because she is a vampire of undetermined age, doomed to be forever 12 years old and having to rely on someone to guard her and, often, bring her blood so the local authorities don't become suspicious.  As the man pretending to be her father is getting sloppy it gets the attention of a police detective (Elias Koteas) who begins to realize something strange is going on.  Along the way Owen starts learning how to stand up to the bully Kenny (Dylan Minnette) and his gang while accepting Abby for what she is. 

Despite the beginning being slightly different much of the film is paced the same and, in many cases, the same shots used, including the scenes in the swimming pool at the end.  One thing that is changed, perhaps to avoid controversy because the MPAA wouldn't let it be shone or to avoid implications of homosexuality, is that Abby is clearly a girl throughout, while the original vampire Eli was a castrated boy who pretended to be a girl because it was easier to attract victims. 

Although this is a bit too similar what saves it are the performances.  Kodi Smit-McPhee doesn't give Owen the awkward innocence Oskar had in the original; in fact, he's pretty much a creep, although it's still not hard to sympathize with him.  Eli was a bit more otherwordly, while Chloë Grace Moretz plays Abby with a world-weary sadness mixed with amorality.  I appreciate that Reeves brought out more of the animal aspect of Abby while showing that she still had some human emotions despite all the years of being a vampire.  The only real controversial aspect remaining is the relationship between Abby and the unnamed familiar that was with her, as it is obvious that at some point Owen is going to be discarded physically and emotionally in much the same way.

It is still one of those few remakes worth watching, although it works best for an audience not familiar with, or unwilling to watch, the original.  

Let Me In (2010)

Time: 116 minutes

Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas

Director: Matt Reeves