Box Office Review – Let Me In

Director Matt Reeves was given the task of remaking/retelling the 2008 Swedish film Let The Right One In. A film that has garnered a decent following of passionate fans, fans who despised the idea of an American version. Well the remake is here and it gives me pleasure to say that Matt Reeves has created a film that is as good if not better than the Swedish version.

Let Me In takes place in New Mexico during the 80s. A twelve year old boy named Owen is insensately bullied at school. A new girl named Abby moves into the housing complex where Owen lives. Murders start happening in the area and secrets are soon revealed. That is the basic plotline for the film. Of course the movie has much more depth than any usual horror film. For one it focuses entirely on Abby and Owen. Everything else that is going on doesn't seem as important as the relationship of these two characters. The fact that Owen is such a messed up kid and that Abby has ulterior motives for their relationship makes everything that much more interesting.

In Let The Right One In. Two young child actors were cast who handled the material masterfully. The same can be said about the remake. Owen is played by Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), and popular child actor Chloe Mortez plays Abby. Their performances give a real believability to the movie. It is impressive how well these two act together. The supporting cast is also very good. Richard Jenkins plays Abby's "Father" and he gives a very damaged and creepy performance. Elias Koteas plays the small town sheriff in charge of investigating the cult like murders in his town, and as always he is great.

While watching Let Me In I had the feeling like I was watching the story for the first time. That is due to how visually different the movie is from the 2008 version. With cinematography by Greig Frasier the movie has a visual calm to it that works well in contrasting the madness that is occasionally on scene. The best sequence in the film involves a car accident that is shot like no other car accident I have seen. Also deserving a mention is the score by Michael Giacchino. It has this happiness to it that really enhances the romance in the movie.

Let Men In does a fantastic job of bringing clarity to certain things that the original doesn't. That is especially apparent in the motivation for Abby to have a relationship with Owen. Matt Reeves really proved what a fantastic director he is with Let Me In. The 2010 retelling stands toe to toe with the Swedish version, and now instead of just having one great film, there are two.

A Gold Banana