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tothian99
IMDb member since August 2005
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Låt den rätte komma in (2008)
Understanding film via book (spoilers)
29 July 2009 - 7 out of 15 users found this review helpful.
A few things in the book that help understand the movie better INHO: *
- the quick shot about of Eli's bottom showing a scar - yes, Eli was a boy, and genitalia removed, to become a "girl" for pedophilia purposes - knowing this depravity makes one realize that this can't be some happy ending "love" story - the fact so many of the synopses conclude with this makes me cringe - no, I don't hold those synopses writers in contempt, as I first thought it might be a love story when I quickly watched the movie without getting more info from the book.
- In the book it is obvious Oskar the boy is alienated by mom and dad - dad leaves a pretty messed up life in book - in either case, it is obvious Oskar has a scarred upbring, making him quite easy to manipulate, making it very easy for someone to use him - Hakan, the man getting the blood for Eli, was a servant for Eli, basically "taken in by the spell of the vampire/predator" - his use came to an end. He served Eli with his own free will, accepted the killing and the warped life style as he at least at some point was getting his deviant sexual needs fulfilled.
- Oskar is singularly and only needed to fulfill Eli's blood needs - no feeling, no emotion, no love, zeromundo folks - this is characteristic of our psychopathic society of today, where your production is needed, your life blood is shed either to feed yourself, or to feed a profit-production-based system - no feeling, no emotion, no love there either. Fortunately there are other things that bring love and joy, etc, but this movie is quite devoid of those delightful things. - the laughing on the train at the end is a deception, it is a laugh behind a lie based on manipulation - it is wishful thinking on behalf of Oskar, thinking he has some kind of "friend", when that friend is only there to use him. Period. He goes along it, nothing wrong with that eh? Well, it is not a matter of morality, it is a matter of fact. And this is how most relationships are in this world are based: on need.
Oskar in the end, one realizes with time after watching this movie, will become the new Hakan, the blood-bringer for Eli - Oskar is chosen by Eli, trained at a young tender age, full of wishful thinking, a perfect candidate alienated by his parents, bullied at school, needing something/someone to cling on to.
If you read or get more info from the book, it is more difficult to conclude this is some "love story" or "story of acceptance". This film has profound undertones about the predatory and feeding nature of our society as a whole, with a small percentage of humanity feeding off the rest (and requiring those being fed upon to submit, and not resist the feeding, to go along with it, and support it, call it "Stockholm Syndrome" in light of the production setting of this movie :-).
There are also profound undertones in this film warning us about the insidiousness of psychopathy, of the predator(s) in society that are around us. Fortunately they are a small minority, and they don't suck your blood or hang you from some tree and drain your blood, at least not literally, no, but figuratively, yes.
Sorry if this popped the "love story" balloon for any of you - this is not just some dark, pessimistic view, but over time you will realize the theme of this story is mainly of psychopathy and feeding via others for self-gain.
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