November 1, 2010
I went to see this with some trepidation. Over the years I've seen way too many American butcherings of European and Asian classics, and having absolutely loved Let The Right One In I had more than my fingers crossed.
I have to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. Matt Reed's direction is splendid and, while riffing a little on the original, remains faithful to the central plot and feeling of the Tomas Alfredson work. A young boy, Owen, from a broken home is bullied at school but finds courage in his developing and complex friendship with a new neghbour, Abby, who turns out to be a vampire.
The two young leads (Kodi Smit-Mcphee as Owen and Chloe Moretz as Abby) are very good indeed - creating an excellent atmosphere as two loners come together and discover trust and love for each other. The strong theme of eternal childhood, and the giving up of control of one's life to an apparent child, sets this apart from the moral majority tone of the Twilight cartoons - sorry, films! Consequently anyone going to see this and expecting to see a vampire movie in the current vogue will be delighted (or disappointed) to find a genuinely thoughtful film that doesn't treat its viewers like idiot children.
Interesting stylistically - the film never shows the face of Owen's alcoholic mother- and using music well to establish the 1980's setting this is well worth a watch. The characterisation and choice of bleak and claustrophobic settings creates mood splendidly and helps this film sit comfortably alongside the Swedish original.
I have to say that I was more than pleasantly surprised. Matt Reed's direction is splendid and, while riffing a little on the original, remains faithful to the central plot and feeling of the Tomas Alfredson work. A young boy, Owen, from a broken home is bullied at school but finds courage in his developing and complex friendship with a new neghbour, Abby, who turns out to be a vampire.
The two young leads (Kodi Smit-Mcphee as Owen and Chloe Moretz as Abby) are very good indeed - creating an excellent atmosphere as two loners come together and discover trust and love for each other. The strong theme of eternal childhood, and the giving up of control of one's life to an apparent child, sets this apart from the moral majority tone of the Twilight cartoons - sorry, films! Consequently anyone going to see this and expecting to see a vampire movie in the current vogue will be delighted (or disappointed) to find a genuinely thoughtful film that doesn't treat its viewers like idiot children.
Interesting stylistically - the film never shows the face of Owen's alcoholic mother- and using music well to establish the 1980's setting this is well worth a watch. The characterisation and choice of bleak and claustrophobic settings creates mood splendidly and helps this film sit comfortably alongside the Swedish original.
