Let The Right One In DVD: Review By Shelley

***WARNING - CONTAINS SPOILERS***

Let me start out by saying I did sincerely like this film and I am glad that I added it to my collection. I did not realize that this was based on a book until after I saw the movie, so it goes without saying that I have never read it. Also supposedly the American remake, renamed ‘Let Me In’ is to be released January 2010. I have not decided whether or not I am going to try to read the book before then, but I have heard that it is a great book.

There were several things that bothered me about this film. First I do not think that a child that is 12 years old has the emotional maturity to fall in love and determine this is who they are going to spend the rest of their live with. Not to mention the fact that she was a much older girl, just trapped in the body of a 12 year old. So in my opinion they should have made the characters older to be more convincing in that aspect. I admit this may stem from the fact that I am a parent. Another thing, the boy constantly had a runny nose that continued to run into his mouth. I know that might sound trivial, but it was distracting and honestly gross. I kept on thinking, ‘Do they not have any Kleenex ?’

I did enjoy the fact that this movie was very different than your typical vampire film. I think there were some things that could have been done a little differently to make it a better movie. There were several scenes that to me felt like time fillers. Yes the boy was troubled, but I think too much time was spent just watching the boy walk and stand around. At times the boy seemed almost ‘mentally challenged’. The other characters in the film deserved more development. Several of them you just get a mild glimpse of the person they are, for example his father. It is never really stated if he was a drunk or if there was something else going on. I also feel the shot of twelve year olds genitals was unnecessary, distasteful and did not add a thing to the film.

All in all it is a good movie. It is a masterpiece, brilliant or perfect film? I personally do not think so. I do recommend the film, however I think it should have been a 90 minute movie instead of the 115 minute running time. There were several scenes in the film I felt could have been done so much better and would have added to the film instead of slowing it down.

Thanks for reading.