MPAA Rating: R /Genre: Romantic Horror/ Stars: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloë Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas, Sasha Barrese, Dylan Minnette, Ritchie Coster, Jimmy Jax Pinchak, Nicolai Dorian, Colin Moretz, Dylan Kenin, Brett DelBuono, Chris Browning/ Runtime: 115 minutes
I think it is safe to say that the 2010 film that is Let Me In is a slice of cinematic pie that is quite intriguing to behold. Indeed it might be a remake of a film from Switzerland in 2008 and an adaptation on a novel, but it is still quite original for one thing. For another it isn’t really fair to label this as a “horror film” per se. I say this because horror typically represents things that terrify or unnerve us, but there really isn’t anything like that in this film….provided you are on the “side” of the 2 kids at the heart of this story. In all fairness, this slice of cinematic pie might tinker with aspects that seem like they would be right at home in a horror movie, but this film is so much more than that. Rather, this is also a tale about accepting others, knowing your worth as a person, and friendship all through a lens that revolves just as much around creatures that go bump in the night and bloody homicide. Suffice it to say then that the typical genre allotment for a movie like this seems not really serve any constructive purpose and instead might conjure up an idea of this film that might draw some in, push others away, and in the process make quite a few miss out on a truly riveting and potent movie going experience. Indeed for all the brutality and pitch black darkness that represents this slice of cinematic pie, there is also a just under the surface tenderness that balances out a lot of the typical trappings for a film about the kind of creature involved here and in the process gives this slice of cinematic pie an integrity-laced center even as the movie itself is filled with visceral content and quite a few hard to watch moments that will make you really stop to wonder just what kind of story it is you are watching.
The plot is as follows: Let Me In tells the story of a boy by the name of Owen. A boy who incidentally is a solemn youngster whose parents are divorced and who is constantly belittled and beaten up by other kids at his school. Yet no matter how tough they get, Owen takes it and never throws a punch back. That is all about to change though with the arrival of a pair of odd new neighbors to his apartment building. One of whom, we soon come to learn, is a young girl by the name of Abby who, like Owen, is different right down to walking barefoot out in the middle of the cold. Within minutes of meeting him though, Abby makes it clear to our intrepid hero that they can’t befriend each other for…..reasons. Yet Owen decides to continue to try and be Abby’s friend and as a result, we soon see that the two are able to form a truly riveting bond between them. More than that though, we also see that Abby has a positive influence on Owen as she is able to help learn how to stand up for himself against those who bully and belittle him constantly. Yet it isn’t long before Abby’s secrets slowly start to seep out when people in town begin getting bumped off and Abby’s caregiver seems to be at the heart of it all which soon brings a doggedly determined detective into the mix as well. Thus we soon see Owen begin a quest for answers; a quest that will most assuredly change his and Abby’s lives forever….
Now I feel it should be noted right off the bat that this slice of cinematic pie is one that has a “specific pace” to the proceedings; in other words this movie moves at a snail’s pace. Yet I implore you to please not see that as a bad thing….at least when it comes to this movie. I say that because Let Me In is a rare film where a slow tempo permits for its characters and narrative to be more fleshed out, and there is enough time for you, the viewer to be able to distinguish just how you see this film be it an oddly feel-good film or a visceral, brutal, and bloody trek through darkness. Incidentally, it should be noted that it is the first category, that seems to be what this slice of cinematic pie wants you to view it as and it says a lot about this film when it is able to be that whilst also having the narrative outfitted with trappings that are more in synch with a certain kind of monster movie. Yet even with that in play, it should be noted that this slice of cinematic pie is not 110% a result of its novel mix of these disparate yet oddly interlinked ingredients. Rather, there is a wonderful and full slice of cinematic pie here and one that is not as common anymore. Indeed this is a tribute noir-esque slice of cinematic pie that is just as complicated from a visual perspective on the same level as its pathos and thematic ingredients. Suffice it to say this movie is a brilliant representation of the wonderful kind of film where intelligence, narrative, and construction of the movie were a lot more important than just making a movie for the sake of making the studio behind it money.
Now what this slice of cinematic pie ultimately comes down to is the main bond that forms between our little female blood sucker and the male human who becomes, in essence, the only friend that she has. Indeed make no mistake: Let Me In, more than anything else, is a tale about friendship and how it can grow into a distinct and quite life-changing bond that goes into the realm of a bond that is more trusting and very sincere than the vast majority of bonds will ever become. Suffice it to say that this slice of cinematic pie functions on the level that it does because our dynamic duo feel like spirits that were meant to come together since although their backgrounds are different, they both want the same thing from life: to be accepted. Indeed, as seen in the film, Abby is a blood sucker who is forced to hide in shadow, devour people’s blood, and depend on someone to defend her and feed her no matter what. Indeed it isn’t that strange when you think about it that the character played by Richard Jenkins in this is seen as Abby’s “dad”. This is because, very much like a father, he is someone who provides for her, takes care of her, and whose love for her is practically limitless. Yet even with such a wonderful caregiver/handler, we see that Abby is still all alone in the world and trying to find someone who can accept her for what she is and understand her in a way that she can understand them. To that end, we see that Abby is able to find that in Owen because even though he is a loner like she is, he is still human and doesn’t have even close to her level of physical strength. Thus, we see in this slice of cinematic pie that it is with the other that our 2 protagonists are able to find just who they are just who they aspire to be in the world around them and maybe just maybe love and acceptance as well.
Finally, it should also be noted that Let Me In is also quite the amazing accomplishment from a technical point of view in how it is able to utilize such ingredients as the performances and work in the music and visual departments respectively to both strengthen the narrative and also mold it in to one the best slices of cinematic pie that the year 2010 sought fit to give us. This of course starts with the performances in this movie which are downright incredible. This starts with Kodi Smit-McPhee and, due in large part to his similar work in the film The Road, he is terrific here as well. Indeed McPhee has a wonderful gift for playing a role with a mix of both innocence and amazement at the world even as he harbors deeply rooted emotions that are in some manner uncontrollable and not permitted in any way to really come to the surface and be given their time in the sun. Suffice it to say then that his work in this movie is truly phenomenal. We also get top-flight work form Chloe Moretz who, in the role of Abby, is able to tackle this riveting and complicated individual with an astonishing degree of assertiveness. Indeed the character of Abby might not be the easiest in the world to portray, but Miss Moretz is able to do so with a phenomenal degree of talent whilst also giving us a balancing act courtesy of Abby always having to choose between the shreds of humanity she still has left with the blood thirsty monster that she has become. It should also be noted from a technical standpoint that from behind the camera film helmer Matt Reeves has done a wonderful job at providing this slice of cinematic pie with just the right mood to operate in. Yes on a superficial level, you might think this is just another combination of a narrative about blood suckers and a backdrop that is both chilly and gloomy respectively. Yet I promise there is a lot more to the look of this slice of cinematic pie. Indeed not only does the look strengthen the intricacies between the characters, but also about constructing the narrative beyond what is said and done. It also, incidentally, is vital for this movie to look like this, and along with the tempo, the overwhelming darkness on display is by and large responsible for molding this movie in such a way that it hooks into the viewer and doesn’t let go until the credits begin to roll. Don’t get me wrong in there are few nitpicks here and there I could whine about, but by and large this is a solid slice of cinematic pie and one you most assuredly should watch as soon as possible.
All in all I am pleased to let you know dear reader that Let Me In really truly is a wonderful slice of cinematic pie that deals not only with things that go bump in the night, but also in the indelible bonds of a friendship that manages to go beyond the borders of species let alone gender. At the same time this is also a slice of cinematic pie that dabbles in not only the fine arts of surviving and knowing what you are worth as a person, but ultimately about seeing the good in a person even if it’s goodness that is made invisible for reasons that veer toward the supernatural shall we say? Suffice it to say then whilst there is quite a bit to like and even admire/respect about this film including the riveting narrative, electric performances, and a perfect mood that is equal turns bleak and ominous, it is how this slice of cinematic pie blends together a heartwarming center with such a pitch black exterior that is the key to making this movie work on the level that it does which makes for the finest aspect of all. On a scale of 1-5 I give Let Me In “2010” a solid 4 out of 5.
