They called it the best vampire movie ever made and I was inclined to agree. It was called Let the Right One In. The Swedish language film was based from the novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and having to read subtitles was well worth the effort. The film, at times tender, at times tragic, at times horrifying and funny, won a long list of awards, many for best foreign language film from various festivals and critics, as well as best horror, best director, and overall best film. How do you make sure more audiences are privy to such an uncanny story? You develop and American remake.
Though Let the Right One In only just came out in 2008, this October will see the release of Let Me In (slightly less elegant title, eh?). More importantly, we’ve got the trailer. Kodi Smit-McPhee is Owen, the main boy character. Smit-McPhee recently carried another heavy literary role as he starred opposite Viggo Mortensen in the big screen version of the Cormac McCarthy Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Road. As Owen he is a child of divorce who is constantly taunted by bullies. Chloë Moretz astounded audiences as the controversial child-hero in Kick-Ass. She’s about to carry more controversy as she stars as the American version of Abby. Abby is a vampire. She doesn’t sparkle. She isn’t a vegetarian. She’s dark. Classic. And she’ll be Owen’s friend when he needs one the most.
I didn’t recognize any of the other cast members names as I read them and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. With a story so rich, audiences may not need big name stars to distract and detract. Matt Reeves directs Let Me In. His resume isn’t all that impressive, with television’s Felicity and hand-held camera-fest Cloverfield (a J.J. Abrams production) as well as Mark Wahlberg’s The Yards dotting it. How will the American version compare to the phenomenal Swedish original? You’ve got the trailer. You decide. Lucky for us, it appears the basic plot remains the same.
Well, it doesn’t look as ridiculous as the idea of the Will Smith _Oldboy_ sounds, but there’s no way it will match the original. This looks like almost a scene-by-scene remake, which is fine as far as it goes…but part of what made the first one so haunting, creepy, and beautiful was the utter silence of the Nordic night around it and the lack of a soundtrack. That seems to be a thing German/Germanic directors like to do, and I can’t imagine an American having the balls to do try it out. It can be uncomfortable to watch. I like both of the young actors in it, and I’m sure I’ll see it, but…I just don’t see how they’ll meet much less exceed what the original did.
the oringal was a dame good movie A movie i personnaly never seen made like that and it was different from the silly vampires movie you see now a days. this remake i think was not needed but i am excited to see if this movie fills in the blank that the other movie didnt i also read the book so i am all for the remake.