You Must See This Movie: Let The Right One In

Posted on Saturday, September 20th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

Rarely does a film transcend its genre in the way that Tomas Alfredson’s Let The Right One In does. Based on a novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, this must see Swedish coming of age vampire film is about a twelve year old boy who befriends a girl in the apartment next to him. But little does he know, she’s actually a vampire. Don’t let that scare you away. The movie is not a traditional horror film, it’s a relationship story about an introverted girl who teaches a shy bullied kid how to stand up for himself. It’s sweet in every way you wouldn’t expect. Beautiful and haunting, Let The Right One In is a film you must see.

The film is currently making the film festival rounds, but I’m not sure the extent of its theatrical run. I’m guessing it will be released in a few art houses. I know that it will be playing in New York City on October 24th. Magnolia’s genre arm Magnet owns the distribution rights, so it will eventually be released on DVD. I’ll try to update the site when the information becomes available, so that everyone will have a chance to see this film. Stick it on your netflix list RIGHT NOW!

I’ve included the movie’s film festival trailer below, but believe me, it’s much better than the sum of the clips below.

Comments

About the Author

Peter Sciretta is a film geek and popcultured fanboy living in San Francisco. He created /Film in 2005.

b-nasty

Peter,
That trailer looks filthy. I'm very excited for this film. But why add it to our Netflix accounts if it's not out on DVD?
-Ben Stillman of Seattle

leland222

Already saved it to my queue. Looks interesting!

Peter Sciretta

Usually Netflix allows you to add films that arent yet on dvd to your list. Alot of my friends do that with cool sounding indie films they hear about at film festivals. Im not sure if this film is available et on netflix. just a suggestion

EightSlicesOfPie

Damn you, Sciretta. I was gonna go to Fantastic Fest, but when I went to buy tickets (or badges, whatever you wanna call them), they were out. This is one of the movies I was looking forward to seeing.

Rena

WOW. that looks really really good. I really hope that it plays near me when the time comes.

Justin

I will check out this movie, but not without a healthy dose of skepticism. The last two movies you raved about (The Wackness and American Teen) I saw, and wow American Teen sucked. It was honestly the worst movie I've seen this year. The Wackness was pretty good though.

OMG It's Russell Crowe

Thanks for the rec. Netflix'd.

Holy Shit! (Matt)

I'll be looking out for this.
"OMG it's Russell Crowe!!!"
"OMG it's Russell Crowe!"
"Nah Nah Blah Ble Nah Nah Nah!"
Favorite episode ever.

Germain

I already had a full slate for the upcoming Woodstock Film Festival, now I have to add this to it! Damnit! Gonna be a long ass day. It's playing at 10 pm Oct. 3.

Captain_Howdy

I'm seeing this based on your recommendation alone. I sure hope you don't let me down! Trailer looks tremendous as hell. High hopes now.

lujs

Subtitles?? hell no!!
I'm to lazy for that...
if it's good and make some noice people with money will make an american remake of it very soon!!

God bless america! =D

RuvieB

Finally! Was wondering when you were gonna say something about this film. It looks soo good, I can't wait to see it. :)

andru

YAY sweden!

Looks interesting.

Gaius

Peter, I'm dying to see that movie so much that I called Magnet Releasing and they gave me a DVD release date. March 10th it seems. I just wish they would have a screening here in the Bay Area so I could go see it.

joelnstuff

I saw this at the Melbourne International Film Festival! That last scene at the pool is crazy! And how brilliant was Lina Leandersson!? The answer is very brilliant.

kfizz

It kinda shocking seeing kids do that kinda stuff.

Palmer

So is the market getting flooded with unconventional vampire stories now?

Rory

Fucking Disturbing

Logan

@ lujs

...you have got to be fucking joking. If you're not, you're an idiot, and it sucks that you live in America with me.

Jason Gold

I saw this flick a couple months back at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal. It was fucking awesome in every way....100% definitely on my top 5 list so far of 2008. 9/10

evanz

Jeez. Fuck Twilight.

Alex

Oh yes. i also saw the movie for some weeks and it's great. â€“ first i saw the trailer and thougth "no way, why all the people say that's a really awesome movie!?" â€“ than i saw it, and this atmosphere -which comes in the movie at it best ist so great.

Justin

It's on my to-see list. Thanks, Pete.

Mike

Hi, heard about this film on Movies for the Masses blog a few months back. Turns out that our friends over at The Chimney Pot (www.thechimneypot.com) did post on it. Dieing to get my hands on a screener. Ramadan kareem! Mike.

Jens

Don't get your hopes up, have in mind that it's a swedish film. We haven't had any good films from sweden since the Ingmar Bergman-days.

Long story short: Swedish film sucks.

TheMarquis

Netflix'd

Meli

Saved! I love Netflix. Though I do hope it makes a showing in LA so that I can check it out in the theaters.

Munson

I read in a Swedish newspaper that it's already on its way to Hollywood.

lujs

@Logan

of course I'm joking!

790

I read the word "Vampire" and its no deal....

Peter Sciretta

790: The movie is not your traditional vampire film. Imagine a coming of age movie like Stand By Me, but one of the characters just happens to need blood to live. It's not the main focus of the movie either

krackajap

790,
I learned a long time ago to put aside my bias or you end up missing out on a lot of little gems.

skippy

looks like it's playing in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Sunset 5 on 10/24/08.

Me thinks I'll check it out!

bearclaws

I just saw this at the Chicago International Film Festival and was amazed! I expected to dismiss this as generic entry into the vampire genre but was surprised to find it to be an excellent and very endearing coming-of-age love story...with vampire elements. The production and direction are very strong and the writing is superb. I highly recommend watching this version before it is inevitably remade into a generic Hollywood slasher flick starring Shia Lebouff and some new disposable "it" girl.

Leo

I saw "Let The Right One In" yesterday in LA.
Blew me away.
So refreshing to see a MOVIE which is actually using all the storytelling strengths the medium provides. The photography, music, editing, lighting. set design. acting, script and directing were off the charts.
My girlfriend and I were wondering how much time and money, even in Sweden, it took to make such an awesome work of art.
They shouldn't remake this, they should make it mandatory viewing on film schools and maybe drag back some of the working directors out there back in the fold to watch this modern classic.
Yeah, this movie fucking rocks.

niko

I watched the movie last night and I have to say that it was incredible, I can't get it out of my mind, the tone of the movie is perfectly ice cold, sweet in many parts. the director did an excellent job setting this up, every shot has it's meaning,in order for the story to evolve
again job well done
it reminded me of one my favorite movies as a child "stand by me"
watch this film you won't regret it!!!

Mark McWane

Wow. I was watching HDNET tonight on Dish Network and just happened to see the trailer for this film. I Googled it, and quickly realized that it was not available, nor would I most likely be able to see it anytime soon. I was able to grab a DVD screener of it, although I will be buying this movie as soon as it is available on Blu-Ray. My wife and I watched it and it is simply phenomenal movie making at its best. It is NOT a vampire movie. Rather, it is a friendship and coming of age movie that just happens to have a main character as a vampire. The story is just rock solid and fresh...this is not like ANY other vampire movie you have ever seen. The music is beautiful and poignant and helps to drive the movie. The acting is understated yet powerful, and if you don't feel the sadness of the young boy, Oskar, and his friend, the vampire Eli, then you have no emotions intact. This movie is original, it is moving, it is captivating and, My God, it is such a stark juxtaposition to the recycled crap that Hollywood keeps manufacturing. You must see this movie if you like movies. And I weep for the inevitable Hollywood translation...just don't do it. It is unnecessary. The original stands on its own and needs no re-envisioning.

??????

??? ????????????? ? ?????!!! ????? ??????? ? ?? ???????! :)

Kevin

Best film I've seen in years, by a country mile. Saw it last week and still can't get it out of my head. It's a beautiful, haunting, and tragic story and masterfully told through this film.

scott

best vampire movie i've ever seen. period.

ToTheChase

I liked this movie, but I have to voice my disdain for exactly 1 second of the film--and maybe it's only 3/4 of a second. I'll do that at the end, but first, an overall review. The movie's not great, doesn't transcend any genre--the vampire rules are nothing new. But I'm glad to see a vampire that, when the thirst takes over, becomes an ugly, devolved animal as in the book "Dracula," and not a charming slav wearing a tux. Herzog's "Nosferatu" also does this and is more grimy atmospheric than this film. But "Let the Right One In" is good and very close to being a dark comedy played straight, ala some of the best ironic "X-Files" episodes. There is a one-second shot in the movie that's invalid and does show how one of the goals of the film was purile shock. Viewers will probably know exactly what shot I'm referring to. It's a voyueristic gross-out moment that invokes something very sad about Eli which could be validly explored but is not. The details of her dried-up body are appropriate in a novel, but movies are experiencial, and a jolting, 1-second shot glossing over something truly horrific and sad is not a valid thing to include.

dima

from SlashFilm says that it’s beautiful , Let The Right One In is a film you must

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