Review: Let Me In

There has been a lot of controversy about English language remakes of foreign films. With David Fincher's remake of Stieg Larson's Girl with The Dragon Tattoo trilogy and also Russell Crowe starring in The Next Three Days a remake of the French film Anything for Her people are starting to question why these remakes need to appear. Obviously the main reason is that some people don't want to read subtitles when they go to the cinema. I do know at least two people who I've had arguments with about watching foreign movies and you always get the 'I don't want to read, when I watch a film' answer so with that preamble we get Let Me In the remake of the Sweedish film Let The Right The One In, which incidentally was one of my favourite films of last year. The plot basically concerns bullied 12 year old Owen who lives in an apartment block in 1980s New Mexico and is incredibly isolated. Owen has no friends and spends most of his nights gazing through a microscope or sitting about on a climbing rame tackling a rubix cube. Owen then meets Abby a girl who he begins to befriend and then spend a lot of time with however Abby is in fact a vampire. Set against this we have the police investigation into the deaths of several members of the community which have in fact come because Abby's 'father' has been killing for her. After her 'father' is badly hurt, Abby has to start to fend for herself with jeapordises her relationship with Owen.

Right off the bat I would say if you haven't seen Let The Right One In, go and rent it or buy it on DVD. Saying that I wouldn't dissuade anyone going to see Let Me In either. While it isn't nearly as good as the film it has been adapted from it still has enough merit to justify it being viewed. My main concern was that Matt Reeves, who previously directed Cloverfield, would make it so in your face it would lose its subtle edge. However that hasn't happened, while there's a little bit more special effects and death than there is in the original, at the same time a lot of the film focuses on Owen's character and his hardships and why he needs Abby. That means that there is a lot resting on the shoulders of young Kodi Smitt-McPhee, previously seen as Viggo Mortensen's son in The Road, here he is extremely compelling as a young boy who always views life from the outside. Even if Reeves had completely over-stepped the mark the film would still be watchable thanks to the young actor's contribution to the film. Chole Moretz is also perfectly fine as Abby, I just think that her exposure in Kick Ass effected my view of her performance here. She is nowhere near as full on as she was in that film but while at the same time I didn't feel I quite believed that she was a 200 year old vampire. There is also excellent support from Richard Jenkins as 'the father' and Elias Koteas as 'the policeman'.

Suprisingly I also find myself laughing a couple of times mainly at the period pieces. Reeves is keen to rip on the 1980s setting so we have clips of Ronald Reagan on the T.V. and 1980s music being played throughout. However for me the best scene that rips on the period setting is where the sweet shop clerk, who has previously been seen in the film, comes to the counter wearing full Boy George regalia while Culture Club plays in the background. The spaces of the apartment block and it snow-filled outside area are also well utilised with Abby and Owen's initial meetings on the climbing frame incredibly well supported by the backdrop. The only problem with this being a remake is that I knew how it was going to end but as a film on its own it retains most of the subtetly of the original while bringing the story to a new audience. The best result is that enough people will see this film and want to watch the Swedish original which can only be a good thing.