Let The Right One In

SuperInfinity

I actually hated this movie. I hated the slow, childish conversations (and children don't normally speak that slowly or stupidly). I hated the murder/action scenes, that really didn't show anything. Where were the graphic scenes? We didn't see anything. I hated how slow and long the movie was.

I thought it was very unrealistic, putting the vampire aspect aside. I think that if I'd seen a close up of that blonde freak again in various states of undress, with that SLOW look on his face I would have barfed.

L'prof

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I actually hated this movie. I hated the slow, childish conversations (and children don't normally speak that slowly or stupidly). I hated the murder/action scenes, that really didn't show anything. Where were the graphic scenes? We didn't see anything. I hated how slow and long the movie was.

I thought it was very unrealistic, putting the vampire aspect aside. I think that if I'd seen a close up of that blonde freak again in various states of undress, with that SLOW look on his face I would have barfed.

What's your favourite vampire movie?

SuperInfinity

L'prof wrote: »

What's your favourite vampire movie?

Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula.

jaykhunter

lol, there's always one!

indough

i didnt think it was all that great either really, a bit too slow of a slow burner for my tastes but it was no doubt very well made

edit: i should add i did like it, just dont understand the level of praise it sometimes gets

johnny_ultimate

SuperInfinity wrote: »

I hated the murder/action scenes, that really didn't show anything. Where were the graphic scenes? We didn't see anything.

I've heard the 'slow' criticism before, and while I don't agree, I won't argue. However, I totally fail to see how the above is a valid criticism of the film. You don't see anything? Gore doesn't define a movie, this film is much more chilling for the fact that a lot of the graphic imagery is left to the imagination, the climax particularly for being selective in what it shows. Yeah, vampires are horrific, violent creatures, but this films thankfully rejects the perceived need for excessive gore. And in any case, it isn't exactly material for children either. There are plenty of moments when Eli's true nature is explicitly illustrated, blood dripping from her face after a feeding.

I genuinely cannot see how "where were the graphic scenes" can be considered a criticism here. If the story and pacing didn't engage you, fair enough. Criticising a lack of gore, though, is missing the point of what this film is about. It's about the uneasy contrast between Eli's true nature and her relationship with Oskar that is the core focus. It's a dark film thematically, and the I'd still consider the ending a weird blend between disturbing and temporary happiness. It's a film that often chooses to suggest rather than show some of the more ambiguous narrative strands, and that for me is what makes the film so effective.

That said,

the character combusting in the hospital

is one of the most haunting images of violence in contemporary cinema.

indough

i saw it more as a psychological horror than anything attempting to be a gore fest, although i thought a few scenes were bloody enough anyway

SuperInfinity

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I've heard the 'slow' criticism before, and while I don't agree, I won't argue. However, I totally fail to see how the above is a valid criticism of the film. You don't see anything? Gore doesn't define a movie, this film is much more chilling for the fact that a lot of the graphic imagery is left to the imagination, the climax particularly for being selective in what it shows. Yeah, vampires are horrific, violent creatures, but this films thankfully rejects the perceived need for excessive gore. And in any case, it isn't exactly material for children either. There are plenty of moments when Eli's true nature is explicitly illustrated, blood dripping from her face after a feeding.

Another moment might be when you get a glimpse of what seems to be the a glance of of a prepubescent girl's vagina. Oh sure, the slit is going the wrong way and that's not what it's "supposed" to be in the film, that doesn't preclude it from being something that shouldn't be allowed imo. If you allow that, why not all types of things that look like child pornography involving young models but technically "aren't"?

If I want something to be left to the imagination I'll read a book! I see no reason why not liking the fact that there is so little gore can't be a valid criticism, especially for a vampire movie. It doesn't mean you have to agree with the criticism, but I fail to see how you can fail to see that it is a valid reason not to like it. Some threads are all about praising a movie, well I just wanted to represent the minority that really dislike the movie.

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

I genuinely cannot see how "where were the graphic scenes" can be considered a criticism here. If the story and pacing didn't engage you, fair enough. Criticising a lack of gore, though, is missing the point of what this film is about. It's about the uneasy contrast between Eli's true nature and her relationship with Oskar that is the core focus. It's a dark film thematically, and the I'd still consider the ending a weird blend between disturbing and temporary happiness. It's a film that often chooses to suggest rather than show some of the more ambiguous narrative strands, and that for me is what makes the film so effective.

That said,

the character combusting in the hospital

is one of the most haunting images of violence in contemporary cinema.

Personally I think it's more the result of a low budget. Only the director or someone else working on it could answer that for sure.

McCruiskeen

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Another moment might be when you get a glimpse of what seems to be the a glance of of a prepubescent girl's vagina. Oh sure, the slit is going the wrong way and that's not what it's "supposed" to be in the film, that doesn't preclude it from being something that shouldn't be allowed imo. If you allow that, why not all types of things that look like child pornography involving young models but technically "aren't"?

If I want something to be left to the imagination I'll read a book! I see no reason why not liking the fact that there is so little gore can't be a valid criticism, especially for a vampire movie. It doesn't mean you have to agree with the criticism, but I fail to see how you can fail to see that it is a valid reason not to like it. Some threads are all about praising a movie, well I just wanted to represent the minority that really dislike the movie.



Personally I think it's more the result of a low budget. Only the director or someone else working on it could answer that for sure.

Why should a film that has absolutely no need for onscreen violence and would be diminished by unnecessary violence, include unnecessary gore and onscreen violence in order to appeal to simpletons.

Go watch Rambo, buddy!

johnny_ultimate

SuperInfinity wrote: »

Another moment might be when you get a glimpse of what seems to be the a glance of of a prepubescent girl's vagina. Oh sure, the slit is going the wrong way and that's not what it's "supposed" to be in the film, that doesn't preclude it from being something that shouldn't be allowed imo. If you allow that, why not all types of things that look like child pornography involving young models but technically "aren't"?

If I want something to be left to the imagination I'll read a book! I see no reason why not liking the fact that there is so little gore can't be a valid criticism, especially for a vampire movie. It doesn't mean you have to agree with the criticism, but I fail to see how you can fail to see that it is a valid reason not to like it. Some threads are all about praising a movie, well I just wanted to represent the minority that really dislike the movie.

Personally I think it's more the result of a low budget. Only the director or someone else working on it could answer that for sure.

The point I'm making is that the film doesn't set out to be a gore movie. It sets out to be a more personal, smaller scale subversion of the typical vampire story. Criticising it for not being hyper gory is like criticising Lost in Translation for not having enough full frontal nudity. It's completely missing the point. I'm not for a second denying the film is critic proof - I'm very much of the opinion that no film is going to appeal to everyone out there. But complaining about a film for a reason that it isn't hyper gory just makes very little sense to me. Budget had something to do with it, yeah, but it makes it much more effective. I was delighted they toned down the more graphic imagery from the book, which at it's worst seemed designed to just cheaply shock. With a few exceptions (mostly the ridiculous likes of Rambo, or purposefully OTT stuff like Evil Dead, or stuff like Martyrs or Antichrist that are violent to make a point) I cannot think of many films where gore has made a film better.

Not sure about your comment about 'that' scene either

How is it child pornography? It's a very brief glimpse from another character's perspective that illustrates an important but vague point about another character. It makes sense within the context of the film, it is very brief indeed, it's clearly not a real person, and it's not degrading or anything.

Renn

SuperInfinity really cannot be serious here

lalee17

Superb film, it's probably one of my favourite films ever. I've watched it twice in the last two days

The pool scene is amazing. The way the camera shows only Eli's eyes, with specks of blood around them, makes her seem even more mysterious

JohnK

Is it just me or is anyone else afraid to rewatch it incase it takes from your original impression of the movie? I saw it for the first and only time at the dublin film festival and although I have it twice on dvd (US and proper subs) I just cant bring myself to put it on for fear that it wont be able to meet my expectations the second time around

SellingJuan

One of the best movies I have ever seen. (The sweedish version) No hollywood crap. Absolutely amazing.

johnny_ultimate

Merged with the most recent thread on the film.

Sad Professor

It’s one of my favourite films of the last 10 years. It seems to get better and better on repeated viewings. What I’ve really grown to appreciate about it is how every horror moment in it has a purpose within the love story. Like the scene where Eli bleeds is (on subsequent viewings anyway) more moving than horrifying because she enters the room knowing that it is going to happen. The scariest scenes in the film are probably the bullying scenes and they are implied for the most part.

Really looking forward to Alfredson's next film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It's out here in a little over 2 weeks.

LittleBook

SellingJuan wrote: »

(The sweedish version) No hollywood crap.

I watched the US remake purely out of curiosity. What annoyed me (the most) about it was the ridiculously over emphatic score, like it was trying to tell us when to be scared or when to be sad. After all the beauty and subtlety of the Let The Right One In, it was extremely irritating.

Sad Professor

I love Michael Giacchino, but I have to agree about the score for the remake. It was a pretty typical horror score to go along with the pretty typical cinematography, special effects and sound design. The original had a score which played against what you would expect from a horror film. I'd blame this on Reeves. Composers just do what the director tells them for the most part. Reeves obviously told Giacchino to give him a horror score and that's what he got, where as Afredson wanted a love score to contrast with the horror.

mikhail

Sad Professor wrote: »

... What I’ve really grown to appreciate about it is how every horror moment in it has a purpose within the love story. Like the scene where Eli bleeds is (on subsequent viewings anyway) more moving than horrifying because she enters the room knowing that it is going to happen...

It's not a love story. Eli is not a little girl falling in love. Eli is a monster, emotionally entrapping its next servant.

Sad Professor

mikhail wrote: »

It's not a love story. Eli is not a little girl falling in love. Eli is a monster, emotionally entrapping its next servant.

And what do you base this on?

bnt

mikhail wrote: »

It's not a love story. Eli is not a little girl falling in love. Eli is a monster, emotionally entrapping its next servant.

What if it's both? I thought the film raised questions about the nature of love: not always sweetness and light, it can have a dark side too ...

I recorded it from the TV a couple of weeks ago - saving my second viewing for a very late night. :cool:

Sad Professor

Well, to answer my own question, there certainly is evidence to suggest that Eli is a manipulative monster. I suppose all of the following contribute to people’s distrust of her:

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

a) She’s a blood thirsty vampire (obviously)
b) She’s older than she looks. This inevitably draws comparisons with Claudia from Interview with a Vampire, who is very much an adult trapped in the body of a child. In this context, her relationship with Oskar can seem potentially creepy. Why would she have any interest in the boy except to use him?
c) She is “isn’t a girl”. I think this a big one. I suspect a lot of viewers feel tricked by this and reach the conclusion that she is a boy pretending to be a girl in order to draw in male companions.
d) She uses her vulnerable appearance to lure Jocke in and kill him.
e) She already has a guardian who goes around killing for her. Why would any want to do this? She must be manipulating him, right?

Anything I missed?

Even the title can be construed as a warning. Let The Right One In implies there is a wrong one and a 800/whatever year old vampire may well be it. So it’s fair to say the film leaves some uncertainty about Eli. However, on subsequent viewings I found myself sympathising with her more and more. I really think that Eli is both mentally and physically a child. That’s why she is drawn to Oskar and also because he is an outcast like her. We don’t know if Eli or Oskar have let the “right one” in. Part of the beauty of the film is that it leaves their future up in the air.

grohlisagod

Saw this last night. Top drawer film. Best vampire film I've seen, Interview with the Vampire a distant second. I really liked the subtle creepiness of it. Some truly magnificent scenes, my personal favorite is

her eyes glowing in the dark

Thought the ending was clever.

For the pool scene I was waiting for her to come along and f*** their s*** up, but I wasn't expecting that!

I highly recommend it!

On the subject of their relationship, I saw it as a mutual one, although there is an element of manipulation on her part. I thought that Oskar was starting to accept her "quirks", and that it seemed as though he was entering this relationship entirely of his own accord. I felt sorry for her in many ways as I did for Claudia in Interview so I'd agree to a large extent with what Sad Professor said.

wandatowell

Sad Professor wrote: »

Really looking forward to Alfredson's next film: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It's out here in a little over 2 weeks.

+1



cannot wait!

grohlisagod

Let the Right One in is on Film 4 right now if anyone missed it.