Release Date: Oct. 24 (New York)
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Writer: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Cinematographer: Dariusz Wolski
Starring: Kåre Hedebrant,
Lina Leandersson
Studio/Running Time: Magnolia
Pictures, 114 mins.
A gorgeous vampire love story from Sweden...seriously
It is hard to believe that after about
a hundred years of vampires in the cinema there would be anything
left to say on the subject. But then comes a surprise out of Sweden
that brings a fresh angle to the genre. Let the Right One In
features an introverted boy, Oskar, who makes friends with an
odd young girl, Eli, who has just moved into his apartment building
with her father. Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) doesn’t understand
why Eli (Lina Leandersson) never goes to school, never gets cold and
has blood under her fingernails. And her supposed father is making
strange, late-night walks while carrying a toolkit. As the bodies
pile up, Oskar learns the truth about his friend, but doesn’t truly
understand her awesome powers.
2 Days in ParisDirector Tomas Alfredson has actually
created a beautiful and intelligent love story, in spite of the
film’s gory scenes. The innocent dance of young people getting to know each
other and Oskar’s journey into the teenage years are not treated as
backdrops for horror but rather as major parts of the story. There’s
word that an American version is in the works for a 2010 release, but
the smart choice would be to see this version now, lest the studio
kills its availability. Leandersson gives an incredible performance
displaying a wide range of emotions and physical action. The effects,
though sometimes subtle, are always riveting. There’s a sense of
creepiness without cheap scares throughout, proving once again that vampires are
still alive (so to speak) and kicking—and, of course, biting.