Let Me In

February 1, 2011 8:19 pm 5 comments , ,

If there ever was an award for the most pointless remake in history Let Me In would win in a landslide. Taking a near perfect film, an instant classic, and remaking for profit just two years after the original is undeniably stupid. Hate me, yell at me, whatever. This is a near exact carbon copy remake of the original – minus the subtleties, plus CGI, deformed faces, and a random sex scene. In other words, this version was made for a different kind of audience – the kind who fill seats and buy popcorn. I think the official term for that group is “sheeple.”

And if you don’t believe that consider this quote from one of the producers, “To be honest with you, that picture (the original) grossed $2 million. It’s not like we’re remaking Lawrence of Arabia.” Yes, in America, we rape ideas if there is potential to make some moola. Further proof? The producers of the remake supposedly misinformed and unwittingly tricked the novelist into selling the rights to create a comic book. Now, I am sure the author had a chance to review the contract completely, but c’mon, this reeks of greed and shadiness. Hooray for money-grubbing and deceit!

Alright, off my soapbox. I watched this movie…all the way to the end. It was exactly like the original in almost all aspects. Curiously, Director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) took credit for writing this movie. An audacious move if there ever was one.

The plot centers on Abby (Side note: I love girls named Abby, regardless of the spelling) and Owen – two kids about 12 years old. It’s a love story, it’s dark, it’s beautiful, it’s cold and calculated. Abby is a vampire. Owen is not. The cinematography is haunting and stunning. The emotional ride is both scary and powerful. No doubt, this is a well-made and disturbing horror film.

But, if you have seen the original masterpiece then there is little to no point in seeing this film. This is a feeble-minded, inferior, lost-in-translation version of one of the best horror films of all time. Blarf. Save yourself and watch the original or read the book.

Rating: 6/10

Snore Factor: ZZZ (easy to sleep to if you have seen the original)

IMDB 2010

Trailer:

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  • Mina

    I watched the original in my livingroom with the lights off. It was haunting and when the scary stuff came I was surprised by it because I was so sucked into poor Oskar’s life, so it made it all the better. That and the end is the AMAZING!

    I then bought the book and it was so good (even though it was obviously a translation of the original Swedish and so may not have been the ‘full experience’) that I missed my stop on the bus about 4 times on the way to work! (Thanks for that Mr Swedish author. The next stop is half a mile away from my work!)

    I’m not holding out much hope for ‘Let Me In’ as as much as I love and respect the Hammer brand, I can’t help but think that ‘Let the Right One In’ is already a classic and remaking it an error (much like the new Buffy disaster that’s going on). Why ruin something awesome??? Anyway, ‘Pan’s Labrynth’ did well even though it was subtitles, so they can’t even use the whole ‘It’s in Swedish’ thing as an excuse.

    Thanks for an honest review (as usual) Micah! I wont get my hopes up (or pay full price) for this remake!

  • Dyingdread

    I refuse to watch or own this. I’m trying to break 1000 horror dvd’s owed, yet this will never be part of the collection.
    -
    Zack TheCheeseBong Long

  • http://www.365HorrorMovie.com Micah

    Since you have seen both the original and read the book, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on this remake. I think if you haven’t seen the original (or read the book) then this would be a film that would be easy to like. But just the opposite if you have.

    PS. Love the story about missing the bus stop. lol.

  • LFR

    I saw Let The Right One In first, in late ’09. I saw Let Me In when it opened last October. I liked Let Me In a lot more than LTROI. To be sure it had the benefit of LTROI being made first, so it could sharpen LTROI’s themes and avoid its foibles.

    This blogger (not me) says it best:

    http://thingthatdontsuck.blogspot.com/2010/10/31-days-of-horror-day-16-let-me-in.html

    “Let Me In is the equivalent of a fantastic cover song, that brings forth the values and qualities inherent in a work, but makes them visible in a way they simply weren’t before. This is the “Hurt”, of movies …”

  • Horrorfan

    LET ME IN is superior in every way. It has the same producers as LTROI. LMI is a modern masterpiece. A dark, haunting romantic film about first love. Absolutely beautiful film.