Henry Saw: Let The Right One In

This was probably the coolest movie of the year

Saw this movie Monday night with Sam and Elena and I can't recall seeing such good movies back to back (Having seen Slumdog Millionaire on Sunday night) in my whole life. Slumdog is the better film but I adored Let The Right One In.

Sam recently gave a certain Vampire movie an "A". Admirably, he reviewed the movie on its own terms, and deciding that it entertained exactly who it was suppose to, saw it worthy of such a high grade. Now he told me that were he reviewing it on his terms the movie would be closer to an F-. Well Let The Right One In is also a vampire movie, and in my opinion, it's an A+ on anyone's terms.

Lets let IMDB tell you the set-up: A fragile, anxious boy, 12-year-old Oskar is regularly bullied by his stronger classmates but never strikes back. The lonely boy's wish for a friend seems to come true when he meets Eli, also 12, who moves in next door to him with her father. A pale, serious young girl, she only comes out at night and doesn't seem affected by the freezing temperatures. Coinciding with Eli's arrival is a series of inexplicable disappearances and murders.

The film, made in Sweden, is easily, EASILY, the best Vampire movie I've ever seen. When I thought about that statement I realized that's not such high praise. Outside of Nosferatu, the vampire movie sub-genre does not have such an impressive resume. Regardless, this is a fantastic little movie. The main two characters, Oskar and Eli, are so charming, and convincing, and captivating that the only complaint I'd make of the movie is that it isn't longer and we don't spend more time with the characters.

Lina Leandersson, who plays Eli, gives the best performance I've seen from a child actor since Ivana Baquero in Pan's Labyrinth. For Leandersson to be so good at playing creepy, playful, upset, and (yes, I know she's only 12) alluring is remarkable.

I cannot praise the movie enough. I know I told you that you had to see Slumdog, and you do, but I actually had more fun at Let The Right One In. It's not quite as great a film but these two movies are the two best of the year.

I'm just depressed I saw this movie and therefore can't see it "for the first time" again. I knew very little about the movie going in (that's why I'm not telling you anything about the real plot of the movie). I'm going to be showing Let the Right One In to everyone I can. It's basically flawless and unlike anything you've seen before. The pacing, which seems slow at first but I think enhances the whole mood of the movie, is the only thing I could see someone objecting to. I would strongly oppose that opinion.

I don't know if this movie is playing near you...but if it is you HAVE to see it. Have to, have to, have to. I find it hard to believe I will like a movie as much as I did this one for the rest of the year and it makes it hard to do things like our Blockbuster awards (which we're working on) because Let The Right One In makes all those movies seem so generic and unnecessary. This is the kind of movie you hope you find and makes you wonder what other movies you're missing because America doesn't value forign films unless they get an absurd amount of pre-release buzz (like Pan's).

See Let The Right One In. I'll stake your hopefully high opinion of my taste that you'll like, if not love, the movie. I'm not going to be posting anything for a little bit, not just cause of the holiday, but I want this at the top of our website so no one misses this.

Grade: A+

Best Scene? When...no...that'd be telling. Just see the damn movie now.