I enjoyed this American remake of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN far better than the original. It has better production values, better effects and the most important thing of all, better actors. The original movie had me bored. This had me hooked.
Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a twelve-year-old boy who is tormented by three bullies. To make matters worse his mother is an alcoholic, sleeping her life away, and he hasn't seen his soon-to-be divorced father in months. So when a young girl, Abby (Chloe Moretz of KICK-ASS), and her father move into the next door apartment he's curious. He ends up making friends with her, though she's odd. It's the middle of Winter and she goes barefoot in the snow, telling him that she doesn't get cold. And when he asks her age she tells him "Twelve-years-old, give or take". There's also a parallel story in which a policeman (Elias Koteas of THE PROPHECY) is investigating murders in the town, murders which have to do with Abby. Eventually Owen realizes that she's a vampire and he must decide to either help her or not.
I can't remember if the original took place in the early 80's but that actually works very well for the story. And, of course, I'm sure it helps the soundtrack sales (David Bowie and Greg Kihn) and opens it wide open for a modern-day sequel which would show an adult Owen and a twelve-year-old Abby...
I enjoyed this American remake of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN far better than the original. It has better production values, better effects and the most important thing of all, better actors. The original movie had me bored. This had me hooked.
