NEWS: Cast Joins Let The Right One In Remake...

As much as we all don’t want this film to be made, really, there is no stopping this freight train from the bowels of Hollywood Hell.

“Let Me In”, the American remake of the brilliant Swedish film, “Let The Right One In”, has officially started shooting, as principal photography began Monday in New Mexico, according to Overture Films’ press release regarding the film. The film, directed by Cloverfield helmer Matt Reeves, is a remake of the indie hit from 2008, which landed squarely on many critics top 10 list, including being right near that mark for yours truly. However, this recently birthed film really needed to have a late term abortion. That said, it didn’t so I guess it’s left up to The Playlist to let you in on a new update:

Talented character actor and familiar face Elias Koteas ("Zodiac") has been cast as the investigating police officer, but even film fans might have to Google the other additions: Cara Buono and Sasha Barrese. Buono's resume boasts a recurring part on "The Sopranos," and she'll play the boy's mother. Meanwhile Barrese was the (rightfully) panicky fiancée in summer sleeper "The Hangover," and here she takes on the role of Virginia, a part we're not even sure was in the original, outside of maybe a school teacher.

The cast, which previously included Kodi Smit-McPhee, who is getting great reviews out of his first major role in The Road, as well as Chloe Moretz, or Joseph Gordon Levitt’s smarmy little sister from 500 Days of Summer, as well as brilliant character actor Richard Jenkins. All in all, while I do think the cast is shaping up to be a rather solid gathering of actors, and it’s heartwarming to know that they are avoiding A-List talent in what really should be a low key production, but I can’t get over the fact that this film should not exist.

I know I say that a lot about remakes, but honestly, this film should. Not. Exist. Let The Right One In is one of the best films from last year, and easily the years most impressive and truly strong horror film, and no matter how strong the cast and crew is, there is no possible way that a film produced by a major Hollywood studio will have the same stark style that made the original so damn powerful. Honestly, I don’t know what scares American’s more. Pubic hair, gays, or subtitles. Take your pick, and you will freak out 99.9% of mainstream America. Sure, Cloverfield was a great time, if you are a fan of waiting in line at Universal Studios to get on a ride, but I highly doubt that Matt Reeves will dig into the same well of depth that Let The Right One In called home.

Enough with the venting, the film is going to get made, which is the ultimate sadness in this story.

Go see something good!

REVIEW: Let The Right One In...

I often times feel a deep hatred for the city known as Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. The main reason behind this is the fact that we don't have a truly great independent theatre. Yes, there is an arthouse theatre downtown, but it only has one, maybe two films showing. However, when we get films like Let The Right One In, which was here late in 2008, and now on DVD, it makes me feel a whole lot better.

Let The Right One In is a story about Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, who dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Let The Right One In is a story both violent and highly romantic, set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

First off, there are two stark comparisons that can be made to this film. First off, the one that I don't know about. The biggest comparison to this film happens to be one of the biggest films from last year, Twilight. Vampires, love, longing, all big features of the Twilight phenominon, are big plot points here. Another comparison, one I can talk to, is the biggest film from last year, Slumdog Millionaire, and oh how this film is superior to both of those.

The biggest thing about LtRoi is the cast. Starring two very young actors, Kare Hedebrant as Oskar and Lina Leandersson as Eli, are so stunningly great here. Tomas Alfredson is able to get so much out of the two leads that you can't but help and fall in love and truly care for these two characters. Their relationship is so relateable, even with the vampire aspect, that the whole vampire thing doesn't really even seem to play into it. It's about a first crush, love that is unattainable. The film is truly about how much love is able to forgive, and not about vampires.

That is something, and I know this is a strained comparison, that Slumdog was unable to do for me. For me, Millionaire came off as a truly Hollywood romance, set within a world where a set of questions on a game show are given to a kid in chronological order of his life (because Americans are to dumb to get a disjointed narative). Or in Twilight, the two can't be together because the vampire would eat the human, yet they still are together. Here however, their love has true consiquences, and it feels so true, coming from the great performances, and real, that it makes this film so much more rewarding.

The film is also absolutley stunning to look at. It's set during the winter in '80's Sweden, and the way that the snow gives off a feel of natural light, and the coldness within the frame had me shivering under my Watchmen blanket. The score is subtle, and the film is so grounded within realtiy, that it almost seems like how the current Batman is done. Sure, there are supernatural elements within the film and story, but they are set in a true world, that it gives off a weird and really interesting vibe, that makes getting into the story so much more rewarding.

Oh, and it's not all a love story. There are a ton of badass scenes within this film. If you want to see vampires spontaneously combust instead of turning into diamonds when they are subjected to light, then check this one out. It's not only that the films are badass just for being badass, the film completely earns each of these scenes, that while some are wasted, this may be the most economical films since Red Eye. Very few scenes are for nothing in this film, and it makes for a great experience.

Finally, covering all aspects, this film has a lot of humor as well. Sure, it's very dark, but if you watch this film with the dubbing on instead of subtitles (US release has different, butchered, subtitles), you will get a lot more out of it. Oh, and this ending is so strong that it just left me loving this film.

Yeah, this is a short review, but it's so you have more time to see this amazing film.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN: 9/10

Come back later for more news and notes!

Go see something good!