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Movie Description
A well-crafted horror film in the tradition of Guillermo del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, Swedish import LET THE RIGHT ONE IN ably blends genre chills with genuine feeling. Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) is a 12-year-old outcast who is frequently picked on by his classmates. He dreams of getting his revenge, but he never stands up to the boys. With the arrival of his new next-door neighbor, 12-year-old Eli (Lina Leandersson), Oskar may finally have found a friend, ally, and first love. But Eli is no ordinary girl: she must keep her pale skin out of the sunlight, she can perform inhuman physical feats, and she has thirst for blood. The bodies begin to pile up, but Oskar can't stay away from the girl who has finally given him courage.
Based on the novel by John Ajvide Linqvist (who also wrote the script), LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is the best kind of horror film: one that transcends the tropes of the genre to become something new. This is director Tomas Alfredson's first foray into horror, and he doesn't hesitate to include bits of vampire mythology. But his background making comedies and dramas gives the film a surprising depth; the relationship between Oskar and Eli is tentative and sweet, even though their interactions may be surrounded by blood and violence. Composer Johan Soderqvist and the sound department create a fascinating palette of music and sounds that add to the film's perfectly chilly mood, and setting the film in a snowy Swedish suburb gives director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema a starkly beautiful environment for shooting. Though LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is ostensibly about a pair of children, this is a horror film for adults. There are plenty of scares, but it remains moving and intelligent, a rare feat for the genre.
Industry Reviews
"In this sinister but gorgeous and compelling film by Tomas Alfredson, being human and acting human don't always go together."
Los Angeles Times - Carina Chocano (10/24/2008)
"[A] spectrally beautiful Swedish vampire movie....The film's cool is largely expressed in visual terms, in the enveloping snow, the wintry light and the cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema's meticulously and steadily framed compositions."
New York Times - Manohla Dargis (10/24/2008)
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "Stick your neck out for this Swedish horror show. It's a winner, full of mirth and malice....The two young leads are dynamite. And director Tomas Alfredson knows how to pin you to your seat."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (11/30/2008)
3 stars out of 5 -- "Swedish director Tomas Alfredson's moody coming-of-age drama, based on the screenplay and novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, splits the difference between gothic romance and schoolyard angst..."
Box Office - Amy Nicholson (11/01/2008)
"Tomas Alfredson's import is like a Scandinavian TWILIGHT minus the teen-steam schmaltz, packing in great gooey scares..." -- Grade: A-
Entertainment Weekly - Chris Nashawaty (03/13/2009)
"LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is atypically literate and unexpectedly affecting suspense fare. Complex characters, ominous situations fraught with mortality and the recklessness of youthful ardor create a tense and subtly shaded narrative."
Hollywood Reporter (10/23/2008)
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