Let Me In

“Do you think there is such a thing as evil?”

Contemplate this as you watch Matt Reeves’ Let Me In, an adaptation of the Swedish vampire novel and blockbuster Let the Right One In. Owen (Kodi Smith-McPhee), a lonely 12-year-old, notices a young girl who walks barefoot through the snow named Abby (Chloe Moretz). As a string of grisly murders appears in this once peaceful town—Los Alamos, N.M. in 1983—Owen must come to terms with what this “girl” actually is.

One night, Owen, tormented at school by bullies and ignored by his divorcing parents, sees Abby and a man who seems to be her father (Richard Jenkins) move into the apartment next door. Although Abby tells Owen they cannot be friends, a bond slowly builds between these two lonely youths. Meanwhile, “the Father” goes out at night, searching for prey so that Abby may feed and live. When he fails, which begins to happen as he grows older and less skillful, Abby is forced to take matters into her own hands. A policeman (Elias Koteas) connects them to unsolved murders in Los Alamos, and his investigation leads him to Abby’s apartment, resulting in a confrontation that creates one of the most haunting scenes in the film.

Let Me In will appeal to all lovers of the horror genre. This remarkable film somehow elicits the fear and suspense of the traditional horror film, as well as empathy and affection for the lonely boy and his friend. This is a well-made thriller that provides a fresh adaptation allowing one to see the American film in theaters, read the novel, rent the Swedish adaptation and still be surprised by what unfolds.