Review of Let the Right One In (2008) by Dov D — 20 Mar 2013

Not only is Tomas Alfredson's masterpiece Let The Right One In far and away the best vampire movie since F.W. Murnau's 1922 masterpiece Nosferatu, but it is destined to go down as one of the most innovative genre expansions ever filmed.

The slow pacing of John Alvide Lindqvist's ingenious script combined with the relative simplicity of the plot leads to a final product entirely dependent on the emotional response evoked by the audience, which with Alfredson's direction is a great thing.

The mood established throughout this film is flawlessly bleak, which serves to parallel the innocence of Oskar and Eli's relationship. The main reason for the brilliance of this film however lies in Alfredson's portrayal of Eli.

Rather than hiding her away like some sort of monster, she is shown throughout the movie as just another person trying to find her way through life one step at a time. Her relationship with Oskar shows both Oskar's willingness to accept others because of his own social isolation and the humanity that is innate in everyone.

Lina Leandersson delivered one of the best acting performances of the decade, climaxing in the chilling, perfectly-crafted pool scene. Bottom line, films like this come along once in a blue moon and everyone needs to witness the power real cinematic masterpieces can have to move an audience.