Let the Right One In

[Malcontent]

So I looked, but didn't find a thread for this.

I just finished watching the movie, which I'll admit I only found out about through JLCM. A lot of flicks on my queue have that distinction, actually.

I have to say it wasn't what I'm used to. I have an abiding love-hate relationship with indie films and foreign films. When they're awesome, they're really awesome, but when they suck, oh man do they suck.

This film... well, it did bring something new to the vampire canon, I'll give it that. The acting was pretty good although I really couldn't connect with the boy. He did get the awkwardness and everything, but somehow his other emotions seemed as wooden. He didn't reach me, I guess. The girl, on the other hand, was incredible. Not to sound like a suckup but Joe hit it right on the head when he pointed out that she totally projected innocence even through a blood-smeared visage.

One thing I noticed is the movie tackled the "child vampire" concept in an entirely different way than Interview With a Vampire did. In the latter, the body stayed the same but the mind and heart grew (which is, perhaps, what one might expect). What I got out of Let the Right One In was perfectly summed up by the line, "I'm twelve, but I've been twelve for a long time." It left me wondering if the old man who was helping the girl in the beginning was the last Oskar. I think so.

Anyway, if anyone else has seen it, I'd like to read your thoughts on the film!

[LincM]

Apparently the old man beinng the last Oskar is right, a point which the American film will promote a little more heavy handedly.

[joerules]

Yeah that's not something I feel the Swedish version really drives home. It wasn't until the next day, while thinking about the movie that I started to see all the clues.

[Malcontent]

Subtlety is a primary difference between Hollywood films and indie or foreign films, I've found.

Hollywood has to cater to the lowest common denominator. That means they really have to serve it all up on a silver platter so everyone, even the idiots (which sadly are multiplying) get the point.

This film leaves a lot to be considered, which is something that Hollywood sort of abandoned along the way. The sad thing is, when a film actually tries to make people think by exaggerating (a la Eagle Eye), people get all affronted because it's so unrealistic. Well duh, they're stretching it to the ne plus ultra for you morons.

Anyway yeah, I think the American version, unfortunately, is likely to suck ass. I'll probably see it though. But I'm glad I got to see the original first, so I could tell my friends they should see the original, bad subtitles and all.