Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, 2008)

Let the Right One In is easily one of the most overlooked films in 2008. Not only does it tell a beautifully unique story but also is directed and put together exceptionally well. The film tells the story of Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a young boy who is struggling to stand up to bullies at his school. One day he meets his new neighbor, Eli (Lina Leandersson), and begins a relationship with her that is unique and captivating. Many parts of the film were superbly done. The acting is one of those aspects.

If it weren’t for the excellent acting displayed in this film, the story and the relationships between all the characters would have been lost. Hedebrant’s portrayal of the bullied and downtrodden kid who just wants to rise up is both sympathetic and disturbing. The audience will sympathize with him in the moments where he is getting picked on, but later in the film be concerned with the idea that he may actually harm someone in his retaliation. Without the keen acting done on Hedebrant’s part, these feelings may have been lost and that extra connection between character and audience could have been a bit harder to solidify. Leandersson’s role as Eli is also just as excellent. She has a mystique about her that keeps the audience wondering whether the relationship between Oskar and her is a positive or negative thing. Her ability to play the role with that air of mystery as well as have cautiousness about her really pulls off the believability of the character. The chemistry between the two of the actors helps this film tremendously as their time on screen together seems natural. The audience is cheering for everything to work out between the two because it seems like a natural fit.

Tomas Alfredson carefully directed the film. With his direction, he carefully plotted out where to take the story and how to reveal things to the audience without completely taking away from the story. How the characters are introduced and how the conflicts evolve are all things that leave the audience wanting to know more. Every scene in the film feels as if it was meticulously planned to get the most out of it, which is a great way to keep the audience enthralled. Another positive to his direction is how he chose keep things hidden from the audience. Some of the scene are left to the imagination of the audience which helps create even more of a mystery behind the characters and their actions in the film. If the film was directed in any other sort of fashion it would have lost the magic that this film has to offer.

It goes hand in hand with the direction but the cinematography is exceptionally done as well. The cinematography is well crafted helping promote the mood of the film. The film gives off an almost cold and distant feel only because of how the shots are set up with the lighting reflecting off the snow and the distance from characters. This could be to help the audience feel more in tune with how Oskar or Eli feels and reflect the environment they are set in.

Let the Right One In is an exceptional film. Both main actors Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson do a fantastic job at making the characters of Oskar and Eli real. Their abilities are well shown and also help the story of troubled boy meets girl an exciting one to watch. In addition to the acting the film is terrifically directed. Tomas Alfredson not only sets a great pace for the film but also gets the most out of every scene that he possibly can. Along with his direction the cinematography helps the audience feel apart of the world that Oskar and Eli live in. All these elements come together to make a truly beautiful film. This is definitely a film that should be seen!

Let the Right One In Official Site