The Review - AT THE MOVIES with DAN CARRIER Published: 9 April 2009
Pick of the Indies
LET THE RIGHT ON IN Directed by Tonas Alfredson
Certificate 18
THIS is a vampire flick with bite. Swedish director Alfredson has created a scary, gloomy, snow white world that provides a haunting backdrop for a hugely original love story. We meet 12-year-old Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) who is a loner, bullied at school, living with a depressed mother who has separated from his hard-drinking father.
His life changes when he becomes friendly with his neighbour, Eli (Lina Leandersson). She is an enigma – oddly blonde, super-quick at her sums, and oblivious to Sweden’s rather biting winds.
Oskar finds her fascinating – but she tells him it’s important they don’t become friends – because she is a vampire.
Oskar is so sad, so desperate, and so lonely that this is in a strange way a bonus.
This vampire respects the Bram Stoker traditions about sunlight, garlic and crosses. Her never-ending blood lust provides some grim moments. Yet you are still on the side of young Eli and hope somehow Oskar will not be harmed.
It is the most stunning release of the year so far.