SHADOWS ON THE WALL | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK
Let Me In
3.5/5
dir-scr Matt Reeves
prd Alexander Yves Brunner, Guy East, Donna Gigliotti, Carl Molinder, John Nordling, Simon Oakes, Nigel Sinclair
with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono, Dylan Minnette, Jimmy Jax Pinchak, Nicolai Dorian, Brett DelBuono, Sasha Barrese, Ritchie Coster, Chris Browning
release US 1.Oct.10, UK 5.Nov.10
10/US Overture 1h55
Let Me In
Kindred souls: Moretz and Smit-McPhee

jenkins koteas buono
TORONTO FILM FEST london film fest
See also:
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN (2008)
R E V I E W    B Y    R I C H    C L I N E
Let Me In While there was no way this would recapture the magic of the 2008 original Let the Right One In, this remake is a decent film in its own right. Moody and atmospheric, the film subverts expectations by mixing darkly introspective drama with full-on horror.

In 1983 New Mexico, Owen (Smit-McPhee) lives with his absent mother (Buono) in a generic apartment complex. It's the dead of winter, and a new neighbour attracts Owen's interest: Abby (Moretz) is also 12 years old, "more or less". Although she says they can't be friends, they clearly already are. And Owen needs a friend, since he's being horribly bullied at school by Kenny (Minnette) and his pals. But Abby has problems too: she needs human blood to survive and her guardian (Jenkins) is struggling to supply it.

Writer-director Reeves takes a subdued, gradual approach to the story, playing up its horror elements and building a strong sense of tension between the two central characters and everyone else. This makes the interaction very disconcerting, even when the film cuts loose and becomes a full-on horror movie from time to time, complete with scenes of gruesome violence and jarring special effects.

But through all of this, Reeves keeps the tone whispery and plaintive, with actors directed to almost slow-motion performances that feel a little draggy as the tension builds for the next big action-scare sequence. In this respect, Michael Giacchino's score is extremely distracting, telling us what to feel every step of the way and cranking up the violins to let us know when we should be emotional. It's far too much for a story that's actually rather delicate.

Rather than a vampire thriller, this is essentially tale of two young souls who come together in an unusual way. Both Smit-McPhee and Moretz are mesmerising in their roles, lending the characters far more depth and meaning than we expect. These are full-bodied performances that make the film work even when Reeves gets lost in atmospheric gimmickry, grotesque violence or awkward digital trickery. But when all of this comes together in a moment of sheer terror, it's remarkably effective.

cert 15 themes, grisly violence, language 28.Sep.10

R E A D E R   R E V I E W S
send your review to Shadows... Let Me In Still waiting for your comments ... don't be shy.
© 2010 by Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
HOME | REVIEWS | NEWS | FESTIVAL | AWARDS | Q&A | ABOUT | TALKBACK