31 Days of Horror: Let the Right One In

Shortly after Let the Right One In's release, one of my friends, a fellow film lover, told me that I had to absolutely see the movie. At the time, Twilight dominated the box office. Vampires had become, well, cute. I really had no interest in watching anything dealing with vampires. The first time I watched the movie, I actually fell asleep. What can I say? It was a late night. It took me a few years after that initial experience to fully appreciate the poetic beauty that is Let the Right One In. Now, it's one of my favorite horror movies and a mandatory October watch in my household.

I had never quite seen a vampire film like Let the Right One in. The relationship between outcast Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) and the bloodsucker Eli (Lina Leandersson) is one of my favorite friendships depicted in any film. When they first meet on the playground, there's an immediate sense that they're destined to become friends. Through the course of the narrative, Eli eventually teaches Oskar to stand up for himself and fight back against his bullies. Eli gives him a voice and courage, and in turn, he offers Eli friendship. They initially bond over a Rubik's cube, of all things. In his adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvist's sprawling novel, director Tomas Alfredson really captures the relationship at the center of the narrative. While this is a horror story, it's also very much a tale about friendship.

So much of this film deals with isolation, reflected by the snowy setting and the constant shots of the inky night sky that looms over the Swedish location. It's definitely no coiincide that the Stockholm suburb where the story takes place is named Blackeberg. It's fitting. Everything about the town feels dark and oppressive, suffocating even. Oskar is ignored by his overworked mom, and his dad is an alcoholic. Meanwhile, Eli can't make any friends, because, well, they're a vampire. Eli and Oskar's desperation and loneliness feels palpable, which is why their friendship and connection resonates so much.

To be clear, Let the Right One In also functions well as a horror movie. Eli does kill people. The film also features one of the most effective and startling endings out of any contemporary horror movie. Yet, you can't help but cheer Eli on after they slaughter Oskar's bullies and save him from drowning. These two have each other's backs.

Like a lot of monster movies, Let the Right One In poses the question: who's the real monster here, the humans or, in this case, the vampire? Eli kills but doesn't seem to enjoy it. On the other hand, Oskar's bullies are ruthless and relentless. I'd argue that they're more brutal than Eli. They choose to inflict pain. They don't do it because they have to. They do it because they enjoy it.

Let the Right One In ends on a positive note. Eli and Oskar escape the doldrums of Blackeberg via train. It's unclear where they're going, but I like to imagine that they exist in a universe and live happily ever after. Let the Right One In is an absolute must-watch for me during the month of October. It's a gorgeous film about two outcasts who find each other at just the right moment in their lives. I suspect a lot of us can relate to Oskar and Eli, which is why this movie resonates so much.