In an era in which every side of love have been explored, it is wonderful to be reminded about its mysteries. In an age in which fright is a hit element in wide screen, it is refreshing to experience a different kind of terror. In a time in which romance and vampire marry in cinemas, it is rare to find an unforgettable classic love story wrapped in a tangled mesh of fear and sadness. One such cinematic gem is Sweden’s “Let the Right One In” retold in Hollywood’s “Let Me In”.
Let the Right One In (Swedish: Låt den rätte komma in) is a 2008 romantic horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson. The movie is based on the 2004 novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Eleven-year-olds Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson were casted to play the main roles of Oskar and Eli, respectively. In 2010, the film was remade and re-titled as Let Me In by Hollywood. Directed by Matt Reeves, it starred Kodi Smit-McPhee as Owen and Chloë Grace Moretz as Abby.
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Plot. A 12-year old boy named Oskar/Owen resides with his mother in a certain suburb. Having no friends, he is being constantly bullied by a gang in school and thus spends most of his time imagining his revenge. One night, he meets his new young neighbor Eli/Abby who has recently moved in with an older man named Hakan/Thomas. Over time, the two develop a close relationship.
Later on, Hakan/Thomas murders a passerby to harvest fresh blood for Eli/Abby but he is interrupted by a dog walker (the blood is spilt in Hollywood version). Hakan/Thomas continues his risky endeavour until he is caught eventually. To avoid being discovered, he pours concentrated hydrochloric/sulfuric acid into his face and he is rushed to the hospital. Eli/Abby climbs up the hospital to see Hakan/Thomas. With love in his heart, Hakan/Thomas offers his neck for feeding, and after which he falls out of the window.
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Before the two depart, Eli/Abby performs one final act of horror – she decapitates the bodies of Oskar’s/Owen’s bullies. In the closing credits, the two are seen travelling on a train, with the vampire hiding inside a large trunk and with the mortal committing an undying love in his heart.
