In my review of Thirty Days of Night, I discussed the difficulty faced by screenwriters in reinventing the vampire flick. It’s no easy task, for sure. There’s only so much a writer can do to mix up such a tried-an-true genre. Just when I thought I’d seen every kind of bloodsucker tale, along comes the movie Let The Right One In, from of all places, Sweden. Who knew the Swedes had it in them to produce such an original creature of the night plot. I’m in no way trashing their country, but Sweden isn’t the first place that pops into my head when I think horror. Shame on me, I guess. I’ll be on the lookout from now on.

Twelve-year-old Oskar is a lonely lad facing constant abuse from school bullies. Meek and friendless, Oskar needs a severe confidence boost. Things change when a young girl named Eli moves in next door. Eli is bit of an odd bird, but she and Oskar become fast friends. There’s one small problem with the mysterious Eli: she’s a vampire. Her need to feed directly conflicts with her budding relationship with Eli. Not to mention the blood-drained bodies that are piling up in the neighborhood. Despite her affliction, Oskar falls hard for Eli. Together, they navigate the pitfalls of adolescent love while attempting to keep Eli’s secret under wraps. Her blood thirst threatens to crumble their game of house as the locals close in on uncovering her nest.

If you’re looking for a nonstop gore-fest, this won’t be your cup of tea (or blood). Let the Right One In is all about intense, nuanced character interaction. Like most pre-teen relationships, Oskar and Eli’s is destined to meet an unhappy end. Their naivete prevents the couple from fully understanding how doomed their situation is. Although, a very manipulative presence hangs over Eli. Her desperation to find a new companion reeks of her using Oskar for personal gain. She may be twelve on the outside, but her internal wisdom dwarfs Oskar’s. This dynamic adds more flavor to their involvement with one another. Can Oskar really trust a vampire?

Director Tomas Alfredson casts a moody haze over this absorbing chiller. A cold, pale palette enhances the creepy aura, as does an appropriately eerie soundtrack. Loneliness and exile are recurrent themes interwoven throughout the plot. Although from completely different worlds, Oskar and Eli have a kinship that will forever bind them to one another. In a film where the specter of divorce lingers, it is little coincidence that their seemingly dysfunctional coupling is in reality the most stable. Kare Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson both deliver courageous performances as Oskar and Eli. If you like your horror different and are searching for something besides masked maniacs and flesh-eating zombies, don’t forget to Let the Right One In.

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