• Director:               Thomas Alfredson
  

• Writer/Author:     John Ajvide Lindqvist

• Producer(s):       Carl Molinder & John Nordling

• Starring:         Kare Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson & Per Ragnar

• Genre:          Horror

• Country:         Sweden

• Language:        Swedish

'lat den ratte komma in' (2008) Let the right one in's audio is in native Swedish language. To fully enjoy the effect of the film--it is highly recommended that you enjoy the original language version with English subtitles--without English voice dubbing. 

I have seen many vampire films--none come close to Let the right one in (2008). This is a non-traditional take on centuries old tales of dark alleys, unrequited passions of male vampires and lustful tales of the women they pursue, consistent with sex, religion and mayhem. This vampire tale is very different--which makes this film a unique masterpiece.

This 2008 film was created from the novel written by John Ajvide Lindqvist. Where the vampire character is female--centuries old in mind but has the physical appearance of a child. Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a 12 year old boy that lives with his mother in a small apartment in Stockholm. Oskar attends school and if often bullied by three boys. He obsesses about being bullied and even think of ways to get back at his tormentors. He saves murder clippings from the local newspaper and hide the collage of articles from his mother. One evening, he goes outside to 'vent' his frustrations on a tree--this is where he meets Eli (Lina Leandersson). When you first see her, your first thought may be 'oh my she is outside in the cold and snow without warm clothes!' Oskar thinks the very same thing.

I do not know if she was eying Oskar as prey--but after he spoke with her, she liked him. Oskar is a lonely kid and does not have any friends--he becomes immediately attached to Eli. Oskar is unaware of who or what Eli is--he accepts her as she accepts him.  No matter what the circumstances of their meeting--this relationship proves to go deeper into the intimate bond between a vampire and their suitors.  This is what I liked about this film.  It gave me better insight on how a vampires may acquire there companions--in a more logical sense versus the Reinfield characters you see or read about in most vampire novels and movies.

Their friendship is challenged when people in Stockholm began noticing missing persons--and bodies being discovered around Oskar's neighborhood.  To add to the intensity--Eli was seen by one of Oskar's neighbors when she lured a male passerby under an overpass--the brutal scene and the strength of such a small  attacker was a complete shocker!  I thought that the victim could get away--and he did not get away.  Eli had a companion towards the beginning of the film--but he bumbled so many attacks in a effort to drain blood to feed Eli that he had to destroy himself to protect Eli from being discovered by authorities.

The bonding between Oskar and Eli in this film is the pinnacle of this film's success--as there are strenuous events surrounding them both.  The cinematography of this film is beautifully mastered as well as the story and relationships of the characters involved in the film.  Let the right one in (2008) is a definite must see.  

'Eli is 12 years old.  She's been 12 for over 200 years and, she just moved in next door.' (IMDb)

'lat den ratte komma in' (2008). Dir. Thomas Alfredson. IMDb.

Lindqvist, J. A. (2008). 'lat den ratte komma in' Let the right one in. A novel. St. Martin's Griffin Publishers. Sweden.

Let The Right One In: New York: Thomas Dunne Books.

'Let the right one in.' (2008). Dir. Thomas Alfredson. Magnolia Pictures.