Let Me In

Owen (Smit-McPhee) is 12 years old and lives in Los Alamos, New Mexico. His parents are in the midst of a messy divorce and neglect to notice the signs that Owen is being bullied. Isolated and alone, Owen retreats into an unhealthy world where he fixates on the violence and revenge he will inflict on the classmates that are bulling him so severely. However, the winter of Owen’s isolation soon thaws upon the arrival of Abby (Moretz), a young girl who moves into the apartment next door. Bonding over past trauma, the pair become fast friends. But when locals start turning up dead, suspiciously drained of blood, it becomes clear there are a few things Abby neglected to mention.

Although it is baffling why a remake of a film just two years old would be needed, Reeves has done a good job of transferring the context of the film from Sweden to America. He chose to adopt the stark, bleak outlook of the landscape and stark lighting used to such effect in Alfredson’s adaption of the novel by Lindqvist, but whilst the original relied on slow building tension and absence of sound for dramatic effect, Reeves has employed the more gore-heavy approach which is echoed both in the tension of the deeply atmospheric soundtrack and the clout of the Hammer horror label.

Spectacular performances are given from both child actors, who carry the film with easy professionalism. The relationship between the characters of Abby and Owen has a touching tenderness which offers relief in a film that remains decidedly in the horror genre. If you think real vampires don’t sparkle, see this film!

Aimée Crickmore