Let Me In-2010

Director Matt Reeves

Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz

Scott’s Review #509

Reviewed November 4, 2016

Grade: A-

I loved Let Me In (2010).

It is nearly as exceptional as the original, Let the Right One In (2008), a Swedish film.

Billed as horror, it contains none of the typical horror clichés or corny dialogue; rather, it is mysterious, compelling, and character-driven.

This in itself is refreshing.

Additionally, the cinematography is exceptional in its coldness, darkness, and good old-fashioned ambiance.

Let Me In is about a twelve-year-old outcast named Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who befriends a neighbor girl, Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz), who we learn is a vampire.

Owen is bullied at school and, through Abby, learns to stand up to his tormentors.

I am partial to international language films, so the American version, to me, lacks a bit of that engaging language. It is not…well, international, so that detracts slightly, but not much at all, and this effort is quite remarkable.

This film is a horror film- in the classic sense of containing vampires and not being played for goofs- and quite gory, but also a beautiful, emotional film, and the concepts of sadness and loneliness are explored.

Let Me In (2010) is one of the best horror films I’ve seen in recent years.