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Let the Right One In

Play trailer Poster for Let the Right One In R 2008 1h 54m Horror Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
98% Tomatometer 193 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a sensitive, bullied 12-year-old boy living with his mother in suburban Sweden, meets his new neighbor, the mysterious and moody Eli (Lina Leandersson), they strike up a friendship. Initially reserved with each other, Oskar and Eli slowly form a close bond, but it soon becomes apparent that she is no ordinary young girl. Eventually, Eli shares her dark, macabre secret with Oskar, revealing her connection to a string of bloody local murders.
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Let the Right One In

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Critics Consensus

Let the Right One In reinvigorates the seemingly tired vampire genre by effectively mixing scares with intelligent storytelling.

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Critics Reviews

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Annalee Schafranek Bitch Media 12/18/2020
My favorite Swedish import. Go to Full Review
Carina Chocano Los Angeles Times 10/07/2013
Sinister but gorgeous and compelling. Go to Full Review
Bruce Diones The New Yorker 10/07/2013
A remarkably moving horror tale, about a pale, bullied twelve-year-old boy (Kåre Hedebrant) and his first love (Lina Leandersson), who happens to be a vampire. Go to Full Review
Bryce Hanson Horror Movie Talk Sep 23
10/10
At the heart of the story is a coming of age romance between two tragic characters that is very compelling. There is an impending sense of dread for all the main characters. You are rooting for them, but... every possible outcome is tragic. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 12/02/2023
3/4
Isolating and bare, Let the Right One In combines appropriate uses of setting and story to tell an affecting drama rich in pathos. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 02/15/2023
3.5/4
Chilling in more ways than one, this Swedish import uses its frozen environment to great advantage. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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agent s @AgentSmart 4d 1 star for: the pool-scene carnage shown in silence 1 star for: the snowy melancholy tone 1 star for: Eli’s ancient tenderness 1 star for: Oskar’s ambiguous salvation 1 star for: the cat attack scene being weirdly perfect See more Anonymous P Dec 2 After watching ‘Let Me In’, first I found this original just as satisfying. There are subtle differences between the two films with the original having a greater impact. However, the remake amplifies some scenes as an enhanced reward towards the viewer. Solid film for an original tale of the genre, and the remake is as well. The remake for me hits better for me as there are no subtitles and has a more modern flair. Highly recommended. See more Marco L @decatur555 Nov 23 (CASTELLANO) No es la típica película de vampiros con litros de sangre o sustos fáciles. Tomas Alfredson se mete en un terreno mucho más incómodo: la soledad, el bullying y la violencia cotidiana. Lo hace con una calma rara, que mezcla belleza con algo que incomoda desde el primer minuto. La historia sigue a Oskar, un niño al que machacan en el colegio, y a Eli, la vecina que guarda un secreto oscuro. Entre los dos surge una relación rara, mitad amistad y mitad algo más turbio, que funciona porque se siente honesta y sin adornos. El paisaje sueco no es solo un decorado, es parte del ambiente. Ese frío helado y el silencio te meten en la cabeza del protagonista, y cuando la violencia estalla, lo hace con más fuerza. Alfredson juega muy bien con lo que enseña y lo que deja fuera, y ahí la película gana muchísimo. Los jóvenes actores, Kåre Hedebrant y Lina Leandersson, están enormes. Se nota que no es fácil dar vida a personajes así, pero lo hacen sin caer en exageraciones. Ella, sobre todo, consigue que Eli sea dulce y aterradora al mismo tiempo. Es una peli que remueve. Asusta, sí, pero también emociona y hace pensar. Más que un simple filme de vampiros, es una mirada sobre la infancia y la necesidad de encontrar a alguien que te vea tal como eres. Al final te deja frío por fuera y tocado por dentro. (ENGLISH) This is not your typical vampire movie full of blood and cheap scares. Tomas Alfredson digs into something much harder: loneliness, bullying, and everyday violence. He does it with a strange calm, mixing beauty with unease from the very first minute. The story follows Oskar, a boy constantly bullied at school, and Eli, the neighbor hiding a dark secret. What starts as an odd friendship turns into something darker, but it works because it feels honest and never forced. The Swedish landscape isn’t just background; it’s part of the atmosphere. The frozen silence puts you right inside the characters’ heads, and when violence erupts, it hits harder. Alfredson knows when to show and when to hold back, and that’s where the film really shines. The young actors, Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson, are outstanding. It’s not easy to bring such complex characters to life, but they manage it without exaggeration. Leandersson, especially, makes Eli tender and terrifying at the same time. This is a film that lingers. It scares, yes, but it also moves you and makes you think. More than a vampire story, it’s about childhood and the need to be seen for who you truly are. In the end, it leaves you cold on the outside but shaken deep inside. See more Andrea C Nov 23 Technically speaking, the movie is very well made, with interesting shots and good camera work, but Jesus it is a boring one. A horror movie which is never scary and briefly has any tension mixed with a cringey lovestory between a seemingly psychopatic kid and a vampire. See more Kalissa H. @kali_416 Nov 23 Slow but interesting See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 21 I saw the English remake first, but I thought this one was good too. See more Read all reviews
Let the Right One In

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis When Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant), a sensitive, bullied 12-year-old boy living with his mother in suburban Sweden, meets his new neighbor, the mysterious and moody Eli (Lina Leandersson), they strike up a friendship. Initially reserved with each other, Oskar and Eli slowly form a close bond, but it soon becomes apparent that she is no ordinary young girl. Eventually, Eli shares her dark, macabre secret with Oskar, revealing her connection to a string of bloody local murders.
Director
Tomas Alfredson
Producer
Carl Molinder, John Nordling
Screenwriter
John Ajvide Lindqvist
Production Co
Canal+, Sandrew Metronome
Rating
R (Brief Nudity|Bloody Violence|Disturbing Images|Language)
Genre
Horror
Original Language
Swedish
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 24, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 14, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$2.1M
Runtime
1h 54m
Sound Mix
Dolby SRD
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