The Grudge and the 10 best foreign horror movie remakes

7. Let Me In (2010)

Remake of Let the Right One In (2008) – Sweden

Sometimes, you don’t need to change things significantly in order to make a quality horror movie remake. That’s something that director Matt Reeves took to heart when remaking the acclaimed Swedish horror-romance film, Let the Right One In.

The original itself being based on a novel, the story of two young teenagers – one of them an old vampire – falling in love with each other in a small Swedish town in the 1980s earned acclaim for its touching story, its unique take on the vampire tale, and its socio-economic commentary.

With a horror movie as beloved as that one, remaking it almost seems like a production that’d be DOA in the anticipation of critics prepared to hate the American take on an incredibly Swedish tale. But Reeves, a fan of the book and 2008 film, made sure to pay respect to the story while adding in his own American context into the film. Doing so transformed it into a surprisingly nuanced horror movie that reflected the years of paranoia and cynicism that accompanied the Reagan administration.

Set in the town of Los Alamos, New Mexico in the 80s, Let Me In is very much an American movie. It’s also one of the few remakes that could be admirably compared to the original story.

Reeves very much follows the same beats as the original, save for a couple of new scenes and the omission of a few side characters from the Swedish movie. The story of the children bonding is still the focus of the film and where the heart shines through. Coupled with Chloë Grace Moretz’s genuinely phenomenal performance as the young vampire and you get a horror movie remake that manages to blend American culture into a foreign story without disrespecting the importance of the original.