Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Let Me In

Plot: A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h39ikMdei4

Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VL7EBxHSxU

Starring: Saturn Award nominee Kodi Smit-McPhee (Matching Jack & The Road), Chloe Moretz (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor & Norman), Elias Koteas (Die & Shutter Island), Sasha Barrese ("Trauma" & The Hangover), Dylan Minnette ("Medium" & "Saving Grace").

Written by: director ("Felicity") based on the screenplay & novel "Let the Right One In" by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Directed by: Matt Reeves (Cloverfield & "Miracles")

Review: Best vampire movie ever! This is coming from someone who hasn't seen the original, but I'm a huge vampire fan. This movie trumps them all, even Interview with a Vampire. Mixing elements of a love story, horror, drama, and mystery, this well-written film slowly unravels itself to reveal both a sweet and disturbing film. Though slower-paced, it is never boring and always has plenty of disturbing sequences to break it up. The director masterfully shoots every seen with purpose. Every angle, camera "trick", and visual effect has a point. The car and pool scenes are two of my favorite examples. Great acting and cinematography round out this codependent 12 year old vampire love story. It's been a long time since I've seen a vampire movie this original. Fang-tastic!

Fun Facts: The Morse code message shown at the end of the official trailer spells out the words "Help Me". Whenever a character in the movie is listening to music, they are listening to the same David Bowie song, "Let's Dance". The word "vampire" is only said once in the film. Director Matt Reeves modeled the physical appearance and personality of Abby (Chloe Moretz) after seeing photos of a 12-year old homeless girl taken by Mary Ellen Mark. Moretz said the sadness of her character was decided on by her and Reeves after seeing the photos. Director Matt Reeves explained why the Internet released deleted scene showing Abby (Chloe Moretz) being attacked as a human was cut. Contrary to the belief that the scene depicting her being raped and entering Owen's mind would be too intense for the viewers Reeves stated that he felt the scene would have disturbed the flow of the film. He did, however, wish it would have been able to make the final cut. The candy, Now and Later, is a recurring object throughout the film. Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is consistently eating the candy and hiding the wrappers, the candy's theme song is what Owen is singing in his first and last scene, and Abby (Chloe Moretz) writes her first note to Owen on a Now and Later wrapper.

Rating:

Writing-A

Acting-A

Directing-A

Music-A

Cinematography-A

Editing-B-Would've gotten an A had it not been for a deleted scene that didn't make it to the final cut of the film-here it is-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsKk0A_vofQ

Hair-A

Makeup-A

Costumes-B

Art Direction-A

Visual Effects-A

"Epic"

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