Let the Right One In: Blu Ray Review
Let the Right One In (2008)
Studio: Magnolia/Magnet
Blu Ray Release Date: March 10, 2009
Directed By: Tomas Alfredson
Cast: Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson
Brutal As Hell Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Review By: Dustin Hall
I’m hopeful, I really am, that maybe some of the internet hype is reaching the general market out there. When I went to buy my copy of Let the Right One In, it was sold out at the first two stores I went to, and almost gone at the third. It got a limited engagement here at a local theater a week prior to its DVD release, based upon popular demand. My girlfriend’s sister picked up the book. Could it be that the ‘net critics reviews are building a demand for this tale of Vampiric love?
I hope so, because if you’re one of those who hasn’t heard of this movie yet, it’s pretty much a must see. And frankly, it’s a shame that Twilight (Okay story. Crap-crapity-crap-crap movie) grossed about a bazillion times more money than this film.
For those not in the know, Let the Right One In (LTROI) is the story of Oskar, a 12 year-old boy who goes to a typical school in the cold wastes of winter-time Sweden. He’s got few friends, and trouble with a gang of school-yard bullies that pick on him mercilessly. Scared and alone, Oskar is on the verge of doing something stupid and rash with a knife, when his world is turned upside down by the arrival of Eli, a young-looking vampire, into his apartment complex.
At times childish and silly, at times gory and horrific, LTROI is a story about two outsiders looking for understanding in one another, a story about how adults tend to turn a blind eye to the little horrors that face their children, and a story about the innocence of first love and how easily the world can try to tear it asunder. At the same time, LTROI examines very seriously the world of the vampire, the difficulty of living off of the same people you would try to seek solace from, and having to come to terms with the violent nature of someone you love.
It’s a fantastic narrative, written for fans of horror, and the vampire mythology alike. This isn’t a movie full of shocks and scares (though it doesn’t flinch away from the blood when called for) but it’s a deliberately paced, and thought provoking look at the nocturnal monsters of myth that delights and disturbs in equal measure. True, many are disturbed by the young age of the characters and their exposure to sex and violence (There is a shockingly blunt bit of nudity that takes viewers off-guard. Be warned.); at the same time, it’s that same youth that makes their love and exploration of each other so innocent, and driven by pure emotion, not by lust or jealousy. LTROI explores the depths of human compassion and understanding, entertaining while being a worthy art-house film.
As for the disc itself, the Blu Ray has no features that the DVD does not, but I do recommend going Blu if you have the player. Aside from the forgivingly low price tag on this foreign release, the great attraction here is the detail brought out by the excellent video clarity. Eli’s face has many subtle shifts and computer generated changes throughout the movie, and not all of them are apparent without the enhancement of the Blu-Ray. Though LTROI isn’t a technical showcase (indeed, the scene with the cats look pretty weak), a great deal of thought and care went into the creation of Eli and her many phases of blood-lust, and should really be appreciated. Not to mention that the crisp focus of those cold, Swedish nights comes through so much better at 1080p.
Purchasers on either format will find a brief documentary about the making of the film, commentary, and a collection of US and Swedish posters. Really I would have liked to see more behind the scenes footage, maybe some interviews with the children and their reactions to such a deep and dark story, but alas none are there. You can learn the same facts about the story and more from reading the original novel. Despite that, it’s a must have for the collection of any vampire fan.
Now we know what happens when a vampire comes in uninvited. Perhaps in the sequel a vamp could cross some running water?
