Dir. Matt Meeves, 2010, 111 mins
Cast. Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Kodi Smit-Mcphee
Review by Michelle Moore
Over the years there have been many films focusing on the area of New Mexico within the United States with the majority of these focused on the strange happenings in Roswell. Let Me In however focuses on a different town and a different outlet of the unknown. The year is 1983, the location is Los Alamos, New Mexico and the unnatural force is a vampire – and not your average vampire.
Based on the best selling Swedish novel Låt den Rätte Komma In (Let The Right One In) by John Ajvide Lindqvist, the film focuses on a young and socially recluse boy called Owen and his new neighbour, a mysterious and very strange 12-year-old girl called Abby. The two form a very weird bond, with Abby vowing to protect Owen who is being bullied at school. When a series of murders occur, Owen is meet with the reality that his new best friend is not the innocent 12 year old she should be – she is a savage vampire.
Let Me In has a partially fragmented narrative as the opening sequence is actually from the middle of the film. Once this scene is complete the movie returns to the start of the story two weeks previously, then continues though to the middle and then wrapping up with the conclusion, all of which is compelling, disturbing and at times bizarre. There are occasions where a viewer sees things through the eyes of one of the characters, which can be quite haunting as if seeing on a first person perspective of what is about to come around the corner and actually being placed within the movie itself.
This film sets all new standards for the Vampire movie. It was great however to see that the traditional theme of a vampire having to be asked into a place of residence remaining. There is certainly a gore factor present, with men hanging upside down and drained for their blood so if you are squeamish it is best to be cautioned. In terms of jumps and scares, although they may be far between, there are the occasional scenes to send shivers down your spine.
As far as casting goes, Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-Mcphee were the most perfect individuals to play their roles. Moretz kicked butt in Kick-Ass and as Abby is able to portray someone as withdrawn, dangerous and lonely with a look to kill…literally. Smit-Mcphee is able to put across feeling of being terrified, alone and lost in the world. Let Me In marks a return of the legendary British horror brand HAMMER FILMS and this is the first studio movie in three decades and hopefully it will not be the last bone chilling horror to come in a while.
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