Let Me In – Good, if you haven’t seen the original

‘Let Me In’ is yet another vampire film which is trying to cash in on those most bankable nasties at the Box Office.  It’s actually a remake of a foreign film, titled slightly different, i.e. ‘Let the Right One In.’ I know Hollywood remakes often find it hard to live up the original and, if you don’t mind films with subtitles, I’d definitely recommend the original.  However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t something here that’s a little different.

It’s set in the eighties (why, I’m not entirely sure as it doesn’t really make much difference to the overall plot, besides the bad haircuts here and there and unfashionable clothes) and a young boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) who’s having a rough time at school at the hands of some of the most clichéd bullies since Nelson and co from ‘The Simpsons,’ befriends a twelve year old girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) who’s recently moved into his block of flats.  Guess what... she’s slightly more than she seems.

Soon he has to come to terms with the fact that his new bestie has a perchance for tearing people’s necks out in order to sustain herself.

Despite the grisly nature of the general theme, it’s actually rather a sweet kind of film – almost like a kind of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ story, but with fangs and a severe allergy to sunlight.  The two young stars work well together and you do tend to feel for their plight.

It probably isn’t for everyone.  If you’re expecting wall to wall gore then you may be disappointed as the bloody moments are nothing that gruesome and you’re bound to have seen worse.  Also, there’s little in the way of action or thrills.  It’s more of a drama, but with the undead.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that it might come across as a little ‘slow’ to some people.  I’d seen both this version and the original before, so I pretty much knew I wasn’t in for some sort of action-rollercoaster of a movie.  Plus the ending does tend to be a little anti-climactic in my opinion.  If you're expecting some sort of epic final act, it doesn't really materialise.

Overall, if you're still up for watching yet another film with bloodsuckers and don't mind that this is somewhat of a subtle and reserved film then it's worth trying to see if you like it.  At least the vamps don't sparkle!

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that