Let The Right One In

Let The Right One In is a Swedish vampire film directed by Tomas Alfredson. It tells the story of Eli and Oskar, two young kids who strike up a friendship, despite Eli's mysterious background.

Set in a snowy Swedish town, Let The Right One In takes the intriguing path of demystifying the vampire genre. It's more Ken Loach than say Nosferatu, more interested in the lives of the townsfolk than cheap scares. Oskar, a blond, timid child, lives with his mother in a block of flats. Terrorised by bullies, Oskar finds solace in the arrival of Eli and her 'father'. With the aid of a rubix cube, the two begin to grow fond of each other.

Then, of course, there's the issues of the bloodsucking. The film takes a realist view at the existence of a vampire; the social isolation, the conflict between forging relationships and the need for blood, and the tricky task of getting it. There's a couple of grizzly but discreet scenes where the father goes off to slaughter a couple of townsfolk. Instead of the horrific yet romanticised slayings of vampire films, we get bumbling efforts, riddled with self loathing and fear.

Much of the film rests on the conflict between Eli's vice and her relationship with Oskar; is it dangerous to be get too close to a creature of the night? The young actors performances portray a touching relationship of loneliness and longing, and her father presents a surprisingly melancholic figure. Not only does the film work on a dramatic front as the chills and thrills puncture the screen every so often. The chilly town is a fitting venue for the story.

It's quite beautifully shot as well; I sat mesmerised as the gentle snow dropped down over the opening credits. The icy landscape is captured vividly and the music, though sometimes a little heavy handed, added to the ambience.

8/10