Movie Review: Let Me In (2010)
Did you see the original? Well here's a copy.
Photo: Overture Films
NOTE: This review was originally published on September 11, 2010 after I screened Let Me In at the Toronto International Film Festival.
It's not necessarily fair, but when a film clearly "copies" more than "remakes" the original film, a comparison is only apt. In the case of Let Me In, it is virtually a scene-for-scene clone of Tomas Alfredson's Let the Right One In rather than a new adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel, offering hardly anything new outside of grislier kills and a few different variations.
It seems the idea of an American remake of a foreign film holds true as ramping up the violence and figuring out ways to punch the audience in the chest before focusing on the story is what's important. The impression I got from what's presented here is the filmmakers think American audiences won't be willing to stick with the relatively slow-paced narrative unless they're given something meaty to chew on every now and then. As someone who liked the original but isn't an overwhelming supporter, I was at least able to recognize the subtlety of Let the Right One In as one of its high points. Let Me In is hardly subtle, but it is rather boring.
The cast includes Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono and Sasha Barrese. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"Let Me In" is a Overture Films release, directed by Matt Reeves and is rated R for strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation. The running time is 1 hour 55 minutes.
The connection Abby and Owen find is in their shared loneliness, him as an outcast at school and her as a vampire that can't enjoy the same luxuries regular humans do. In Let Me In this aspect is glossed over and almost non-existent. Abby appears incredibly independent and this comes as a result of writer-director Matt Reeves dramatically underusing her guardian played by Richard Jenkins.
Reeves, however, does get solid performances out of both Moretz and Smit-McPhee. Moretz's performance, though, is marred by Reeves's fumbling of her character and the film's violent death scenes, one of which is drenched in so much blood and bone-crunching sound effects I'd love to ask him just how exactly he saw the film benefiting. Worst of all, only a few seconds before this happens the image of a peacefully sleeping Abby is so well constructed the fact Reeves chose this moment for his most violent scene is particularly upsetting.
To that effect, Let Me In is technically proficient. Owen's parents are hardly a part of his life as they're going through a divorce and Reeves amplifies this fact not by hammering it home with dialogue, but by being careful to never show his mother's face. It's a move that will likely go unnoticed by many, but that's only because it's so well done. Additionally, a car crash scene midway through the film is highly inventive. Unfortunately, when a car crash is your film's high point and your film isn't Days of Thunder there's a bit of a problem.
Having seen the original, I can honestly tell you this film adds nothing new other than increased bloodshed. Scenes you may have loved from Tomas Alfredson's film are mishandled here in such a way they don't come close to sharing the same impact. The performances of the two lead child actors are well done, but in the end I just didn't believe their relationship.
Perhaps those that have yet to see the original 2008 Swedish film will find enjoyment here. I'd even argue those that have seen it will be at an advantage as they'll be able to fill in a few emotional gaps where Reeves misses out. However, if you're in the latter camp it's probably just as well if you skipped this one altogether. You've already seen it.
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Please tell me they at least took the cat scene out.
Yes, that is gone.
Oh, thank god. If there was anything that was in the way of Let the Right One In become a great film is was that one sequence. But still cautious about this one.
Instead of the cat cgi that wasn't all that bad as it was made out to be, you get a lot more cgi in the remake. A lot more obvious cgi. A lot more bad obvious cgi.
i agree. it's hard to believe that it was the same director who shot the film in such a subtle way have nodded to those distracting cgis. i would blame the studio on this.
in order to satisfy american mainstream value, the remake smartly converted an SM relationship to an equal love relationship. it was a well done americanized remake with less exotic elements which some original fans were attracted in the first place. but to be fair, it is not a bad movie. i especially appreciate the cinematography in the movie.
You might be harder on this then others. Local reviewer gave it 3 1/2 stars, and EW gave it a B+.
I agree with you that it was more of a copy then a remake which in itself is frustrating because it seems like the chief reason for the remake was to sell it to American audiences. The other main difference besides more bloodshed that I noticed is tighter camera shots. I preferred the detached feeling in 'Let the Right One In'.
Is this what Cinema is becoming? A well respected film comes out in 2008 and two years later, we justify a copycat. In my book, Reeves has no artistic integrity and this is an example of blatant profiteering (riding on the buzz of the original and whilst book sales are still high.)
The worst thing is that there is a DEMAND for this film even though the same story has been told.
To be honest, cinema has been like this for the last 20 years or so, so it's nothing new.
things are not simple as black and white. you are more talking about story side of filmmaking. how many NEW story are out there? on the other hand, this remake successfully provide a different visual style and emotion state than the original one, subtle but artistically concrete. i am not a fan of remake usually. but i applause for this one. btw, the remake helps the story to reach more audience. i saw more help than damage in this case.
Not reading the review because the movie it is different despite what this leads on
It's a better realized film. We actually care about the characters here.
Just saw it tonight. I thought it was quite good, almost on par with the original. The acting was incredible for Moretz (who acts with so much maturity) and Smit-McPhee. I was also impressed by the cinematography and tone, both of which differ only slightly from the original. I could tell the audience I saw it with wasn't impressed because they were laughing at certain parts that definitely weren't funny. On a different note, I was (what's the word for it) amazed by the way they got around showing Abby's privates, or lack thereof.
This was one of the worst movies I've seen in a while..Is it a vampire movie? Is it a children shouldn't be bullied movie?
To be fair John Ajvide Lindqvist also wrote the screenplay to the original film, so either way this remake was going to be very similar.
I rarely disagree with reviews here. One example was "Moon," here is another. This film took a great source material, and a great film and made the changes necessary, while staying true to what worked in the original.
An outstanding film.
I did not see the original and thought this film was superb. I loved every frame of it. The scene at the end where the bullies story arc comes to a head was stunning in its suspense. I was completely satisfied. I can understand one comparing it to the original but most people never saw that film, so based on that fact I thought this was a 4 out of 4 star film. One of the yrs very best!