Reinvited

I just finished watching Let Me In, the American remake of the Swedish film Let the Right One In.

On the one hand, I found it to be a bit of a disappointment in that it is so similar to the original film, you almost have to question why it was even worth the trouble and expense of remaking it. From what I could tell, absolutely nothing was added in terms of plot. And it seemed as though only one or two pieces (completely extranesous, if not outright confusing) from the original were removed. If you've seen the Swedish version, there isn't a single surprise in store for you here from a plot perspective.

But, perhaps justifying the remake after all, is that while this version is essentially the same script, it's realized much better on film. Sure, part of that is that an American director has made this movie with American sensibilities, and that makes it almost inevitably more accessible to an American audience. But it goes deeper than that -- everything is just a little "more," a little "better" in this incarnation.

The acting from the two young leads is much stronger, from Kodi Smit-McPhee (known mainly for The Road), and Chloe Grace Moretz (known from a few places, but most notably as Hit Girl in Kick-Ass). Skilled veteran Richard Jenkins also shines in an important role.

The use of the camera is more dynamic, and visual effects are more cleverly deployed to lend an aura of otherworldliness to the creepy young vampire. The scenes of violence are a bit more intense, the scares a bit more visceral, the moments of suspense more taut. The soundtrack, a solid effort from Michael Giacchino, does wonders to up the ante.

So in all, where I recommended a general "pass" on the Swedish take, this version probably gets the seal of approval. For a horror fan, anyway. I rate it a B-.