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Written by Gregg Shapiro
Oct 6, 2010
“Let Me In”
“Let Me In”
(Overture/Relativity)
The arty and visceral vampire movie “Let Me In,” an American remake of the Swedish film “Let The Right One In” directed by Matt Reeves (“Cloverfield”), couldn’t have swooped down at a better time. With the high number of suicides of bullied gay kids in the news, everyone could use a vampire gal-pal to save the day.
Set in the early 1980s, 12 year old loner Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is struggling. His parents are separated and he lives with his devoutly religious and protective mother (Cara Buono). At school, Owen is the target of a trio of relentless bullies, led by Kenny (Dylan Minnette), who is himself regularly bullied by his older brother.
Things change for Owen when a new neighbor moves into his apartment complex. Abby (Chloe Moretz, who kicked ass as Hit-Girl in “Kick-Ass”), who has been 12 “for a long time,” and her guardian take up residency in the unit next door. Despite being warned not to befriend him, Abby sees a kindred spirit in Owen. An unlikely friendship begins.
The film is built on a pair of terrifying premises. First, Owen is forced to exist in a state of constant guardedness due to the violent bullying. Kenny hates Owen. He and his goons make Owen’s life a living hell. Second, Abby’s thirst for blood keeps her guardian busy finding, killing and draining victims for her. Her guardian begins to get sloppy, leading Abby to have hunt for her own prey. Following a failed carjacking and kill, the guardian douses himself in acid, but survives long enough to be brought to a hospital where he is questioned.
Meanwhile, Owen and Abby’s friendship continues to deepen, and he confides in her about his problems at school. In an attempt to seal their bond, Owen slices his finger with a knife for a blood oath, which exposes Abby’s dark side. Once revealed it turns out not to have much effect on either of them, instead serving to strengthen their identities as outsiders. But soon Abby must move on. Owen must fend for himself, leading to a terrifying, gory and graphically violent confrontation with the bullies. Unlike “Twilight,” “Let Me In” is a vampire movie with an authentically sensitive side. It’s a first-rate horror story.
