Let Me In

When they remade REC to Quarantine they kept the technical standards, but somewhere along the way all the atmosphere was lost, the remake of Let The Right One In has faired better. I don’t remember much of the original Swedish version, so Let Me In wasn’t boring, and my rating ignores the fact that it is an utterly pointless film, which is its biggest problem. Chloe Moretz is not bad, but the original actress that played Abby / Eli would have been better for the role. Matt Reeves has nothing to be ashamed of, but I would prefer to see him doing something different, maybe a second Cloverfield. (17/01/2011)

I haven't seen the one year older original yet, but if the reviews here don't lie and its quality exceeds this British remake by a full 13%, then I have something to look forward to. In fact, I strongly suspect that the lukewarm reception of Reeves's film is due solely to the fact that it is second only to the Swedish original. Because as far as I'm concerned, I was completely satisfied after the end and Let Me In not only met my expectations to the tee, but in some places it even exceeded them. First of all, I was fascinated by the well-drawn atmosphere and the gradual friendship of the two main characters, which is portrayed in a truly impressive way. This is greatly helped by the two young actors, whose performances are impossible not to enjoy. Moreover, the combination of drama and horror was almost flawless, the horror passages are really unpleasant and chilling, and the exploration of the two protagonists also left a very strong impression on me thanks to the overall theme and the growing tension. I think it’s unfair to throw this film almost into the garbage, although copying a film that is only a year older is admittedly a bit of a head scratcher. 4.5* (17/10/2012)

Another version of Let the Right One In, this time a whole level up. Matt Reeves only loses out in that he occasionally copies a shot exactly from the first version, but otherwise he takes the better parts from the source material and, unlike the Swedish version, manages to easily avoid cumbersome supporting characters or incomprehensible scenes. And yet it is the main duo that deserves the biggest applause. While in the Nordic version I didn't know whether to root for their romantic bond or just wait to see how their story ends, in Chloë Grace Moretz's portrayal, Abby is a creature that surely makes Owen the envy of all his peers. Their subtle glances during timid intimate moments and the unspoken emotions literally melt hearts and evoke an unexpected smile. At this moment the other version, which is two years older, is only saved by the fact that I saw it first; in direct comparison to Let Me In it loses on all fronts. Therefore, I am disappointed by the local reviews that sometimes suggest a blind love for European first attempts. This is even more paradoxical considering that the original film is "only" adapted from a book, so giving it points for a brilliant idea is at the very least somewhat undeserved. (08/10/2011)

Let the Right One In impresses at first sight, especially with its gloomy atmosphere and the cast of the main child characters, who take on their roles with verve. I have not yet seen the original Scandinavian version, which I would like to remedy in the future, while I personally find it somewhat ill-conceived that an American remake was made only two years after the original, but so be it. Overall, the film left me with an average impression, but in a positive way. I liked the relationship between Owen and Abby, which is definitely very alternative. I was also impressed by the portrayal of the relationship between Abby and her "father". The plot didn't lack a certain amount of suspense, blood, and a moment of surprise, but even so, there was just something missing for me. In short, a horror film to which a well-worn and simple definition can be applied: it doesn't amaze, but it doesn't offend either. (10/02/2016)

The only thing qualitatively comparable to the Swedish original is the setting in the oppressive and detached environment of a suburban housing estate. Otherwise, it's basically a sort of inferior copy of the original film, which by its creation precisely satisfied the American audience's demand for an English dub. And I can't help but think that even the direction was better in the original version (even "just" the finale), not to mention the strangely platonic, yet intimate relationship between the main characters, which lacks any sensuality or even the slightest spark in the American version. (31/03/2011)