Let the Right One In (2008)

Oskar, an overlooked and bullied boy, finds love and revenge through Eli, a beautiful but peculiar girl.

Director:

Tomas Alfredson

Writers:

John Ajvide Lindqvist (screenplay), John Ajvide Lindqvist (novel)

Stars:

Kåre Hedebrant, Lina Leandersson, Per Ragnar

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 74 wins & 56 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kåre Hedebrant	...	Oskar
Lina Leandersson	...	Eli
Per Ragnar	...	Håkan
Henrik Dahl	...	Erik
Karin Bergquist	...	Yvonne
Peter Carlberg	...	Lacke
Ika Nord	...	Virginia
Mikael Rahm	...	Jocke
Karl-Robert Lindgren	...	Gösta
Anders T. Peedu	...	Morgan
Pale Olofsson	...	Larry
Cayetano Ruiz	...	Magister Avila
Patrik Rydmark	...	Conny
Johan Sömnes	...	Andreas
Mikael Erhardsson	...	Martin

Storyline

Oskar, a bullied 12-year old, dreams of revenge. He falls in love with Eli, a peculiar girl. She can't stand the sun or food and to come into a room she needs to be invited. Eli gives Oskar the strength to hit back but when he realizes that Eli needs to drink other people's blood to live he's faced with a choice. How much can love forgive? Set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.

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Plot Keywords:

vampire | boyfriend girlfriend relationship | solitude | bullying | girl | 

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Taglines:

Eli is 12 years old. She's been 12 for over 200 years and, she just moved in next door.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some bloody violence including disturbing images, brief nudity and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Though the film takes place in Blackeberg, a suburb of Stockholm, the film principal photography was shot in Luleå in the north of Sweden, to ensure enough snow and cold weather.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 2 mins) When Oskar goes to swing the metal pole "the stick" at Conny he moves his left shoulder back to swing, but instead ends up swinging it with his right.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Oskar: Squeal like a pig. So, squeal.

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Connections

Featured in De Kijk van Koolhoven: Eurohorror (2018)

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Soundtracks

Flash in the Night
Written by Tim Norell & Björn Håkansson
Performed by Secret Service

User Reviews

A Most Unconventional and Satisfying Film by Andrew Malekoff

Let the Right One In is a most unique film about early adolescent puppy love between a sweet and oft bullied boy and his new neighbor, a 100-plus year old vampire that has occupied a 12 year old girl's body. They are kindred spirits, both lonely, misunderstood and seemingly adrift, searching for meaning and, in their own ways - blood. I really liked the pacing of the film - some that are used to bang-bang-shoot-em-up flicks might say plodding, but for the patient film-goer I say - just right. The boy, living in a single parent family with his mom and with periodic contact with this dad, is the target of a cruel group of classmates led by one particularly vile and sadistic punk, whose even more brutal older brother gradually emerges from the shadows as the drama unfolds. The girl lives in squalor with an old guy who she probably has more years on despite the contrast between his aging body and her youthful shell. He is charged with getting fresh blood for her. But, he is a clod and blunderer (there is a sort of slapstick to his shtick) and he cannot consistently deliver, leaving her to seek her own sustenance in very dramatic fashion. As the two protagonists become great pals and a little more, their secrets are revealed to one another and the story builds to most imaginative and satisfying conclusion. I won't give it away by saying more. If you are adventurous, see this movie that you won't soon forget...PS. I just learned that they are already planning a remake of this fine Swedish film, for the audience that cannot be bothered with subtitles I presume. What's that old cliché?: If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Details

Country:

Sweden

Language:

Swedish Spanish

Release Date:

12 December 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Let the Right One In

Filming Locations:

Blackeberg, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$49,295, 26 October 2008

Gross USA:

$2,122,065

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,227,336

Company Credits

Production Co:

EFTI, Sandrew Metronome Distribution Sverige AB, Filmpool Nord

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1