logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
    • Marketplace
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Photo Gallery
  • Contests
  • Lifestyle/Entertainment
  • Games
    • News
      • Local News
      • PA State News
      • Nation/World
    • Sports
      • Local
      • College Sports
      • State
      • National
    • Obituaries
    • Opinion
      • News
        • Local News
        • PA State News
        • Nation/World
      • Sports
        • Local
        • College Sports
        • State
        • National
      • Obituaries
      • Opinion
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
      • Marketplace
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
        • Marketplace
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Home Media Review: Vampire tale 'Let Me In' a faithful remake
    Review: Vampire tale ‘Let Me In’ a faithful remake
    Richard Vogel
    Movies
    September 30, 2010

    Review: Vampire tale ‘Let Me In’ a faithful remake

    By CHRISTY LEMIRE AP Movie Critic

     

    When the Swedish horror film “Let the Right One In” debuted a
    couple of years ago, it was deservedly hailed as one of the most
    original vampire tales to come along in a while — no small feat,
    given the bloodsuckers’ ubiquity both on the big screen and
    television.

    Now, it’s been remade as the American thriller “Let Me In” — but
    rest assured, much of what made the first film so special remains
    intact.

    Aside from making a few structural tweaks, writer-director Matt
    Reeves (“Cloverfield”) has stayed extremely faithful in his
    adaptation, right down to chunks of dialogue, details like the
    Rubik’s Cube the kids play with, and the jungle gym in their
    courtyard — even some camera angles. Reeves also smartly recreated
    the sense of tension that built in the original film’s stillness,
    and similarly, the quiet moments that allowed the two young
    characters to forge their bond.

    On the surface, both films (based on the book by John Ajvide
    Lindqvist) are about a bullied boy and the 12-year-old vampire girl
    who comes to his rescue. But really, they’re about a couple of
    lonely misfits who are drawn together — the sweetness in the way
    they strengthen each other, and the sadness of the realization that
    their friendship can’t last — and Reeves gets that right, too.

    “Let Me In” is also gory, startling and intense, as you’d expect
    from any worthwhile vampire story, and the score from Michael
    Giacchino (“Up”) adds to the chilling vibe. Reeves makes the
    violence more explicit, which wasn’t terribly necessary — what’s
    merely implied can be even more frightening — and the special
    effects when our hungry young heroine is in full-on attack mode
    make her movements look jumpy and jerky, which detracts from the
    film’s otherwise realistic approach.

    Still, the relationship at the film’s core always works, with
    excellent casting choices in Kodi Smit-McPhee as Owen and Chloe
    Grace Moretz as Abby. Smit-McPhee, who played Viggo Mortensen’s son
    in “The Road,” has an innocence about him that makes him a
    believable underdog; with his wide eyes, lanky frame and slightly
    eerie disposition, he resembles a young Billy Bob Thornton. And the
    engaging Moretz, who was such a scene-stealer earlier this year as
    Hit Girl in “Kick-Ass,” shows a different side of her talent here.
    She brings a sense of regret and melancholy to the character, who’s
    been 12 “for a long time,” as she puts it. If it’s possible, “Let
    Me In” actually makes Moretz look less than cute.

    As in the original, the two meet at night (of course) in the
    center of their shabby, snow-covered apartment complex. (The
    action’s been moved to Los Alamos, N.M., but it still takes place
    in the early ’80s.) By day, Owen gets beaten up by the tough kids
    at school while his new neighbor Abby slumbers in her makeshift
    bathtub tomb. When the sun goes down, they shyly get to know each
    other the way any awkward preteens would.

    Meanwhile, Abby’s guardian — played movingly by Richard Jenkins,
    as if he were capable of any other kind of performance — seeks out
    sustenance for her, but it’s getting harder to find, and with each
    killing he comes closer to getting caught.

    A car crash during one such outing that’s been added to the
    remake is harrowing and expertly staged; alas, Reeves omitted the
    Swedish film’s gnarly cat attack. Still “Let Me In” lands
    beautifully on its own two feet.

    “Let Me In,” an Overture Films release, is rated R for strong,
    bloody violence, language, and a brief sexual situation. Running
    time: 116 minutes. Three stars out of four.

    ___

    Motion Picture Association of America rating definitions:

    G — General audiences. All ages admitted.

    PG — Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be
    suitable for children.

    PG-13 — Special parental guidance strongly suggested for
    children under 13. Some material may be inappropriate for young
    children.

    R — Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult
    guardian.

    NC-17 — No one under 17 admitted.

    Tags:

    movies
    {"bradfordera-website":"Website"}

    The Bradford Era

    Local & Social
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Latest news for you
    Garrity announces new deputy treasurer for communications
    PA State News
    Garrity announces new deputy treasurer for communications
    July 16, 2025
    HARRISBURG — Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced an addition to her administration, naming Steve Chizmar deputy treasurer for communications. “Steve’s e...
    Read More...
    What Pa. can learn from La. about energy policy
    Comment & Opinion, Opinion
    What Pa. can learn from La. about energy policy
    By ELIZABETH STELLE RealClearPennsylvania 
    July 16, 2025
    Louisiana, the third-largest producer of natural gas nationally, has capitalized on President Donald Trump’s energy policies, which represent an about...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Pitt-Bradford tuition to increase 1 percent
    Local News
    Pitt-Bradford tuition to increase 1 percent
    July 16, 2025
    Students at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will see tuition increase by 1% for the 2025-2026 academic year. The University of Pittsburgh Boa...
    Read More...
    {"newsletter-daily-headlines":"Daily Headlines", "newsletters":"Newsletters", "to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    Mosquito spraying underway
    Local News
    Mosquito spraying underway
    July 16, 2025
    SMETHPORT — The McKean County Mosquito Control Program will conduct a truck mounted ultra-low volume (ULV) mosquito control operation in Annin, Libert...
    Read More...
    ‘Round the Square: ‘Tips for getting more efficiency out of women employees’
    Round the Square
    ‘Round the Square: ‘Tips for getting more efficiency out of women employees’
    July 16, 2025
    TIPS: This was sent to us from someone who saw it on the internet. It was a sign posted in the Colorado Railroad Museum, made from an article in the J...
    Read More...
    Don’t throw away cauliflower
    Lifestyles
    Don’t throw away cauliflower
    July 16, 2025
    Dear Heloise: The greens and stems of cauliflowers are not only edible, some people think that they taste better than the rest of it. If I was going t...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To print", "bradfordera-website":"Website"}
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Bradford Era mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Bradford Era on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Bradford Era
    Submit Content
    • Submit News
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Place Wedding Announcement
      • Submit News
      • Letter to the Editor
      • Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    • Place Birth Announcement
    • Place Anniversary Announcement
    • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
      • Place Birth Announcement
      • Place Anniversary Announcement
      • Place Obituary Call (814) 368-3173
    Subscribe
    • Start a Subscription
    • e-Edition
    • Contact Us
      • Start a Subscription
      • e-Edition
      • Contact Us
    CMG | Community Media Group
    Illinois
    • Hancock Journal-Pilot
    • Iroquois Times-Republic
    • Journal-Republican
    • The News-Gazette
      • Hancock Journal-Pilot
      • Iroquois Times-Republic
      • Journal-Republican
      • The News-Gazette
    Indiana
    • Fountain Co. Neighbor
    • Herald Journal
    • KV Post News
    • Newton Co. Enterprise
    • Rensselaer Republican
    • Review-Republican
      • Fountain Co. Neighbor
      • Herald Journal
      • KV Post News
      • Newton Co. Enterprise
      • Rensselaer Republican
      • Review-Republican
    Iowa
    • Atlantic News Telegraph
    • Audubon Advocate-Journal
    • Barr’s Post Card News
    • Burlington Hawk Eye
    • Collector’s Journal
    • Fayette County Union
    • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
    • Independence Bulletin-Journal
    • Keokuk Daily Gate City
    • Oelwein Daily Register
    • Vinton Newspapers
    • Waverly Newspapers
      • Atlantic News Telegraph
      • Audubon Advocate-Journal
      • Barr’s Post Card News
      • Burlington Hawk Eye
      • Collector’s Journal
      • Fayette County Union
      • Ft. Madison Daily Democrat
      • Independence Bulletin-Journal
      • Keokuk Daily Gate City
      • Oelwein Daily Register
      • Vinton Newspapers
      • Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan
    • Iosco County News-Herald
    • Ludington Daily News
    • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
    • Oscoda Press
    • White Lake Beacon
      • Iosco County News-Herald
      • Ludington Daily News
      • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
      • Oscoda Press
      • White Lake Beacon
    New York
    • Finger Lakes Times
    • Olean Times Herald
    • Salamanca Press
      • Finger Lakes Times
      • Olean Times Herald
      • Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania
    • Bradford Era
    • Clearfield Progress
    • Courier Express
    • Free Press Courier
    • Jeffersonian Democrat
    • Leader Vindicator
    • Potter Leader-Enterprise
    • The Wellsboro Gazette
      • Bradford Era
      • Clearfield Progress
      • Courier Express
      • Free Press Courier
      • Jeffersonian Democrat
      • Leader Vindicator
      • Potter Leader-Enterprise
      • The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright The Bradford Era 43 Main St, Bradford, PA  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA