Let the Right One In (2008) Review – A Haunting Masterpiece of Modern Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing Tomas Alfredson’s Swedish horror movie Let the Right One In from 2008.

Dark romantic horror

Let the Right One In follows the story of a young, badly bullied boy who makes friends with a neighbour girl who is hiding a very dark secret. Believe it or not, this movie is classed as a romantic horror. It features a blossoming relationship between two people who simply don’t fit in. I’d probably say it leans more towards a coming-of-age story with horror elements but the romance element is definitely there. It’s a tragic one, as well. This is a story set against a snowy backdrop of social exclusion and abject poverty. It’s not the feel-good flick you might expect from something labelled romantic horror.

“Let the Right One In is a story set against a snowy backdrop of social exclusion and abject poverty. It’s not the feel-good flick you might expect from something labelled romantic horror.”

The characters are what makes this movie so compelling. Oskar and Eli are complicated individuals. Badly bullied and with a home life marked by a lack of attention and poverty. Oskar is developing homicidal thoughts and yearns for revenge against those that wrong him. Eli’s history hints at a world of persecution and hurt, too. She has an odd relationship with the man she lives with and presents a somewhat hostile personality to Oskar. As the two characters begin to understand their similarities, they grow closer and closer.

As you can probably guess, Let the Right One In is marked by a heavy drama leaning. It is extremely slow paced and takes its time developing the relationship of its two main characters. The horror themes are always present but more in the background. They take a long time to come to the forefront and even then it is only briefly. This is an intimate portrayal of friendship, relationships, and finding the light in the darkness.

An oppressive atmosphere

Much of Let the Right One In‘s horror element comes from the hugely oppressive environment. This is something I think the original does a lot better than the American remake. The poverty filled tower blocks and apartments, adorned with 80’s furniture, offers a feeling of destitution to the film.

Added to this, many of the scenes occur at night. The lack of light pollution in this incredible Swedish town makes night time feel almost completely black. Events often take place in the shadows of trees or under bridges. You can almost imagine how those places would feel in real life which only adds to the horror aspect.

Even during the daytime the landscape feels hostile and unwelcoming. Iced over lakes make for a perfect environment to hide a body. The blood stained snow also creates a hugely impactful image. Being set in the 80s, the incandescent lighting seems to only add to the feeling of gloom. Even interior shots feel dull and depressing. This is all very deliberate and works perfectly given the context of Oskar and Eli’s situation.

“The lack of light pollution in this Swedish town makes night time feel almost completely black. Events often take place in the shadows of trees or under bridges, adding to the horror.”

Cinematography, as a whole, is fantastic. It’s generally shot in a fairly simple manner. The 2:35.1 aspect ratio feels very fitting to capture outdoor shots of tall trees, snow blanketed streets, and frozen ponds. Interior shots are dimly lit and make the most of the interesting closeup character shots afforded by the camera. Set design is perfect for the 80’s setting and the abundance of brown highlights the bleakness of the character’s home lives. You can practically smell these shots and taste the beige everywhere.

A horror masterpiece but not for everyone

Let the Right One In is, in my opinion, close to a horror masterpiece but it may not be for everyone. As I mentioned before, it is a slow paced movie and the horror element is more of a backdrop than anything. There are a few scenes that may unsettle viewers but this is, first and foremost, a movie about two loners who find comfort in each other’s presence. If you are looking for fast paced thrills then this is most definitely not the movie for you. Let the Right One In wants you to sit down and become enveloped in its story and environment.

The characters presented here are the driving force behind the movie. The contrast between good and evil begs a number of questions from the viewer and this is exactly what the movie is intending to do. It wants to get into your head and make you question whether a person is justified in seeking revenge and whether they can still be considered a good person. It wants you to ask yourself what you would do in the interests of survival and what lengths you would go to for the person you love.

Rarely in horror do you see such complex characters and rarely in horror do you have such a reason to think about a movie when it is finished. Nothing here is black or white, much like it never is in everyday life. It’s this exact thing that makes Let the Right One In such a special movie. It stays with you and does so in such an artful manner that it almost makes you forget that you are watching a horror.

Fantastic acting

Huge credit has to go to the young cast of Let the Right One In. Apparently the filmmakers didn’t want to cast experienced actors in the role so spent a year auditioning children from local schools. The result was the casting of Kåre Hedebrant as Oskar and Lina Leandersson as Eli.

“All horror fans should watch Let the Right One In. It is one of the truly great modern horror movies and will stay with you long after watching. It is a modern horror classic.”

Both are absolutely pitch perfect in their respective roles. Kåre Hedebrant is the primary focus of the movie and does a fantastic job carrying every scene. He is entirely believable as a complicated boy tortured by bullies and developing homicidal feelings of revenge.

Lina Leandersson does not feature as heavily but her performance is equally as brilliant. She is utterly convincing as the young girl hiding something dark from Oskar. She is tasked with having a more dynamic personality than Oskar but does great with each presented scenario. These roles are undeniably complex and the young actors deserve all the praise in the world for how well they do.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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