Let Me In

admin | November 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

DIR: Matt Reeves • WRI: Matt Reeves, John Ajvide Lindqvist • PRO: Alexander Yves Brunner, Guy East, Donna Gigliotti, Carl Molinder, John Nordling, Simon Oakes, Nigel Sinclair • DOP: Greig Fraser • ED: Stan Salfas • DES: Ford Wheeler • CAST: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins

American adaptations used to be a scarier proposition than the vast majority of horror films. In recent years, this trend has righted itself, just look at Let Me In. If you’re brave enough that is. Matt Reeves’latest is dripping with mature themes such as negligent parents, bullying, lost innocence, the nature of evil, oh, and violence is touched upon. Once or twice… These themes bleed into each other, constantly illuminating a very gloomy world. Or perhaps your eyes simply adjust to the darkness.

Let Me In is intelligent enough to tell a horror story from less explored, more interesting perspectives, those of the monsters. Each character is alarmingly relatable, regardless of the sins they commit. Despite their atrocious deeds, every single character has a distinctly human side. The irony of this won’t be lost on you. In ways, the bullies are the villains of the piece, as they pose the greater threat to the more vulnerable character. But just as we resign ourselves to condemning the little sods, traces of humanity shine through.

Besides an especially moving Richard Jenkins, Kodi Smit-McPhee (14) and Chloe Grace Moretz (13) carry the weight of the film, and seemingly the world, on their young shoulders. And they don’t slouch. A quasi platonic/romantic pre-pubescent love story remains the heart of Let Me In: Fitting, considering the abundant blood and gore surrounding it.

It boils down to a heartbreaking tale of two lost children, Owen and Abbey who lean on each other. One just happens to eat people. Mercifully, ‘Evil’ is intelligently considered, not shackled by naive ‘Killing is Evil’ maxims. Abbey, like everything else that lives, has to kill to maintain her selfish habit of being alive. She doesn’t apologize for this fact, she just accepts it. She needs to manipulate Owen, but she also loves cares fiercely for him. If only all lonely people were as considerate. Specifically, Owen’s divorcing parents. It’s clear they love him, yet they’re too consumed by their individual frustration and heartache to notice him. When your son starts befriending murderous Vampires it’s probably time to get over yourself!

Let Me In suffers minor imperfections, which appropriately evaporate under direct scrutiny. Spontaneous combustion and the messy side effects of ignoring invitational compulsions are cleverly orchestrated, yet they don’t quite compliment the realism. The CGI is quite noticeable, but it does look creepy and visceral. Besides, you can’t really have a 13 year old girl climbing hospitals. It’s unseemly!

Such minor criticisms are scarcely noticeable compared to the excellence of Let Me In’s storytelling. Owen is almost predestined for an unhappy fate from the start. Yet despite the horror of his predicament, and the ‘evils’ committed by his friend, he is a clever enough lad to realize his isn’t just a monster. And she loves him the most.

Jack McGlynn

Rated 16 (see IFCO website for details)
Let Me In is released on 5th November 2010

Let Me In – Official Website