Let Me In - A Movie Review

Can vampires be our friends? Friendship is anything. Be friends with whomever you want.

Let Me In transformed from a bat into the movie theaters in 2010. Two young outcasts meet and build a friendship. Learning a dark secret about Abby, Owen is torn between two sides. Deciding to be friends, they open each other’s worlds for the better.

Presenting a different story about the world of vampires, Let Me In invoked the importance of platonic friendships. As I watched the film, it made me smile, and there were times it made me jump back in my seat from unexpected terror. In a mixture of terror and a coming of age tale, Let Me In surprised me.

Kodi-Smit McPhee and Chloe Grace Moretz were exceptional. The friendship between Owen and Abby made me smile. I can tell that they studied their interactions closely to form a genuine bond. Outcasts to the world, they learn secrets about one another. As the ultimate test in their friendship, they have to learn to trust.

Smit-McPhee was the standout. Ignored and bullied, Owen has nobody to turn to. I was impressed with how well he studied his emotions to convey Owen’s lonely world. He is superb with the direction of his eyes. Just from the small subtleties of his home life, we understand his behavior.

Moretz was challenged to play a dark figure. Over time, Moretz has been typecast in these types of roles. According to Abby, she is 12 - more or less. Having a contrasting life from Owen, Moretz did a nice job studying the curiosity of her character. But under that layer, she has a sinister behavior that gave me goosebumps at one point.

Boys and girls can have platonic relationships. More media should influence audiences to make platonic friendships over relationships. Films like Let Me In also demonstrate that you can be friends with whomever you want. Abby and Owen’s friendship was comforting knowing that they found a safe place with one another.

Filmmakers did a good job at keeping the film in their perspective to give us a chance to see how alone Owen and Abby are. Credits include Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas, Sasha Barrese, and a startling appearance by Dylan Minette as a relentless bully. Everyone studied their roles closely, especially Kotias who mastered a commendable performance.

Movies that start in the middle are my favorite. More movies should do this approach. Starting from the middle makes a film more exciting. It’s better to be surprised than be spoon-fed important details.

Matt Reeves sold the foreboding tone of the film. The chilling music sells it. He dove into the camera’s perspectives. From his unique angles, it makes viewers pay attention to everything that happens - including little background moments.

Another aspect that Reeves did a noteworthy job in was the quiet moments. He established the nuances of Abby and Owen’s world. Not every moment in a film has to be filled with dialogue. It also created more tension. You never knew what to expect.

The title of this film displays two meanings. Aside from the horror angle, it teaches viewers to come out of their shells and open up. Even the film switched between a horror tone and a coming-of-age story. Nobody is ever alone in the world. We will always have a friend to turn to in tough times.

I will warn you that Let Me In is scary. It is not for all audiences. Makeup is frightening during gory moments. For those who are fans of the vampire genre, you should find it and watch it.