Which is better? Let the right one in (2008) or Let me in (2010)

 

  There has been a debate going on. Whether the original Swedish horror film, "Let the Right One in" (2008) is better than the American remake 'Let me in" (2010) starring Chole Grace Moretz. 

    Critics say the American remake falls short of the original, as there are scenes which only hint to some bloody violence in the Swedish  original, but in the American remake it's depicted very graphically. I suppose European audiences prefer more subtle scenes, but American audiences tastes are a little more gory. 

    I would argue both have their strengths and weaknesses. But both largely stayed true to the source material, the 2004 novel, 'Let the right one in', by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist. Lindqvist was the screen writer for the 2008 film adaptation, and the producers for the Swedish film were brought on to help with the 2010 American remake as well. 

  In the end, both centre on the relationship between a lonely boy, and a centuries old female vampire, who seems to be 'forever 12'.  Both are lonely souls, broken and battered, and they seem to complement each other. But, what is shown, not told, is that the vampire. Elli, was grooming the lonely boy, Oskar, to be her familiar: To look after her during the day, when she's 'asleep' in her coffin, and to manage all her affairs, including fetching blood for her. 

   Is there any real love between them? I don't know, but its obvious: When Oskar has lived past his usefulness, he will be discarded by Elli, who will then go on to groom a replacement familiar, and the cycle continues. This is the main message in both movie adaptations. 

    So to my readers out there. Be careful:  Avoid being so smitten by someone, you get used by them, then when they are done with you, they simply discard you like a pile of trash.                                                                                                                                                               

   In the end, I would give both movie adaptions a 9/10: Great date night rental. The cold, dreary settings strike a chord with me, and I can feel the pain and melancholy of two lonely souls trying to navigate a dark cruel world. 

   Fun Fact:  John Ajvide Lindqvist published a collection of short stories in 2005, entitled Let the Old Dreams Die, and one of the short stories was made into a movie in 2018, titled 'Border'. It's about Tina, a lady working in Swedish Border Control, who finally comes to the realization she is a troll, and so Tina travels into the Swedish wilderness to discover her origins, and reunite with her fellow trolls.