Film Review: Harrowing ‘Let Me In’ Stands Tall Next to Original

Submitted by BrianTT on October 1, 2010 - 7:40am

CHICAGO – Believing all remakes are pointless is as narrow-minded as suggesting that they’re all worthwhile. It’s not an all-or-nothing proposition. Like a fantastic cover version of an amazing song, there can be room for more than one cinematic interpretation of the same story. Such is the case with Matt Reeves’ spectacular “Let Me In,” a film that stands as an accomplished cover version of Tomas Alfredson’s amazing “Let the Right One In.”

Rating: 5.0/5.0

It hits many of the same exact notes, sometimes shot-for-shot, but it also misses a few of the original beats while simultaneously creating its own new tones. Interestingly, the most powerful imagery from the first film has not been supplanted, but Reeves and his amazing team of technical experts have also created their own incredibly memorable visuals. “Let Me In” may have been inspired by one of the best vampire movies ever made but it also stands firmly on its own two bare feet as not only one of the best horror films of the year but one of the best films, period.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Let Me In” in our reviews section.

Relocated to 1983 Los Alamos, New Mexico, “Let Me In” opens with a badly-burned man jumping from a hospital window after a brief interrogation from a nameless cop (Elias Koteas) concerned about a rise in Satanism. It flashes back two weeks and introduces us to our protagonist, a gentle young man named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee of “The Road”). The poor kid spends most of his nights on the jungle gym in the courtyard of his apartment complex. It’s one of the few places he feels safe as his home has been turned into the emotional minefield that comes with divorce and his school has become a physical nightmare at the hands of vicious bullies.

Into Owen’s world drops Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz of “Kick-Ass”) and her guardian (Richard Jenkins). Shortly after their arrival, Abby’s father figure begins to venture into this snow-covered world to find food for his “daughter” but a few mistakes on the part of a man who seems to have aged past the point where he could be effective leads Abby into danger.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Let Me In” review.

‘Let Me In’ stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, and Elias Koteas. It was written and directed by Matt Reeves. It opens on October 1st, 2010. It is rated R.