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let me in

LET ME IN

With Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono

Written by Matt Reeves (based on the novel & screenplay Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist)

Directed by Matt Reeves

If you've seen the modern Swedish classic Let The Right One In, you may not necessarily need to catch this Americanized version just yet. Set during chilly, snowy wintertime, not veering from the source material, the story deals with a boy living in an apartment complex with his mother. A loner, he is being bullied at school. But his world changes when a young girl and her guardian moves in next door. However, she is not a girl, she's a vampire, and the man taking care of her goes out to find victims and bleed them out to provide her with sustenance, in stead of her doing it herself. While potentially dangerous, the boy and girl's relationship becomes a close-knit one, and she urges him to stand up against the bullies. But her blood lust and her guardian growing weary of the bloody routine, has her taking matters into her own hands, drawing attention to their undercover life (which includes a cop believing he's on the trail of cult let me in bserial killers). The cold, snow covered town further enhances the chilling mood of the story.

An amazing sense of emotion, vulnerability and humanity flows from the tale (with good all-round performances, especially from the young actors) - only a few moments break the believability, like some digitally enhanced scenes.
Making quite a splash directing Cloverfield, Matt Reeves goes from giant monsters and high scale action, to this intimate and focused movie.

If you have a vehement aversion to subtitles (like my step-brother-in-law), you needn't skip this re-take, but will it will be cool if you catch the original before this one (just like another Scandinavian modern classic, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo).

5 / B
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Paul Blom

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B - C






never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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