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DVD Shopping Bag: Let Me In Blu-ray
Commentary on Why By
Robert T. Trate
February 01, 2011
Chloe Moretz is Abby in Matt Reeves Let Me In (2010)
© Anchor Bay/Bob Trate
A little over a year ago a good friend and well respected movie buff handed me Let the Right One In (2008). I had heard of this film right here, on Mania but sadly it wasn’t playing anywhere near me. The opportunity to watch it now, for free, in my big comfy chair was incredible. Perhaps the chair might have been a bit too comfortable because I feel asleep. Not only did I fall asleep once but two more times after that. Now please don’t think of me as one of those people that can’t watch foreign films. On the contrary, Europa Europa (1990) is one of my all time favorite films and I am scrambling to find Javier Bardem’s Biutiful (2010) on any screen other than one in the city of New York.
Let the Right One In is a very slow somber film. It moves at the right pace and is not in the vein of any other “vampire” flick. I know this because I did eventually finish the film. When the reconstructed Hammer Films said that their first film was going to be a remake of Let the Right One In I too was a bit skeptical. The subject matter was right but why remake a film that most people loved? The remake was a shocker. No, the pace did not pick up but the story shed more light on the dark questions that haunted so many of its fans. If this is better or not depends on your interpretation and appreciation of the film. I for one greatly enjoyed this remake but I wanted to know why a director/ writer would tackle the subject matter. Thankfully, there was a commentary track by the director/ writer of the film Matt Reeves. The director of Cloverfield (2008) was very open and honest about the why he took on the project as well as numerous behind the scenes stories.
To get one thing out of the way the film on Blu-ray is stunning. The lighting and sound for Let Me In was amazing in the theater. Here in 1080p and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 it really shines. All this should be expected as it is a modern film and the transfer should be incredible. What Reeves said, during the commentary, about the creation of those two aspects only adds to the appreciation of this film. Reeves reveals that he is terrified of the horror genre and admitted that the first time he watched The Exorcist (1973) it was with his eyes closed. The sound, according to him, was just as scary as what was visually being told. This had a huge influence on him and his later works. The light though was heavily influenced by films like Spielberg’s E.T. (1982) and The Shining (1980).
Steven Spielberg would also have another effect on Let Me In outside of his own film. Reeves had his pal J.J. Abrams introduce him to Spielberg so that Reeves could ask him how to direct children better. A much needed lesson as Reeves had two twelve year olds on set and wanted to evoke the very best from each actor.
Why did Reeves tackle the subject of John Ajvide Lindqvist novel “Let the Right One In”after the highly successful Swedish film Let the Right One In was released in 2008? At first he thought it was a terrible idea and doomed to be blasted by the critics. After reading the original novel he felt he could tell the story in a different way and bring the characters to life truer to the novel. Not to say there aren’t some American influences on the film derived from Reeves’ own life experiences. The tone is different and more of what Lindqvist wrote in his novel. It is worth mentioning that the origins of Richard Jenkins’ character are not from the book. That was Reeves own doing and his interpretation of what happened before the film. Though the origin of Abby (Chloe Moretz) and “her” scar is now closer to the book that the 2008 version.
There are not many times you’ll find a remake so close to the original film in theaters. Whether you prefer Let Me In or Let the Right One In is entirely up to you. I found the premise to be completely fresh in a genre that is filled with Hot Topic Vampires smoldering all the way to the bank. For Hammer Films it was a great come back piece. For Reeves it highlighted that he could do something a tad more artistic that a shaky-cam Godzilla movie. For fans of the genre we got yet another incredible Vampire film.
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I don't know what Quantum Apocalypse is, but it sounds awesome! Also, does it make sense to credit Peter Sarsgard as the star of Boys Don't Cry and not even mention Hilary Swank? Oh, you were just warning everyone that Peter Sarsgard was in it so we wouldn't accidentally buy it? Good point.