'Let Me In'

'Let Me In' (R) (3 stars)

Writer: Matt Reeves based on Swedish film "Let the Right One In" written by John Ajvide Lindqvist
Director: Matt Reeves
Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas, Cara Buono, Ritchie Coster

It goes against my principles to like a remake of a great foreign film when it is made so close to the original. I was not looking forward to seeing Matt Reeve's "Let Me In" and I sunk into my seat and was prepared to dislike this movie. It was directed by the director of "Cloverfield" and I like that movie but I could see this remake being trashed up. I do admit sometimes I am wrong and as the movie started to get going I found myself impressed by what was on the screen. Matt Reeves is a very talented storytelling and his sophomore movie is better than most director's second films. He respects the original and is very faithful because this movie is a good, haunting thriller that also tells a beautiful story of friendship. The two friends, boy and girl, are both outcasts for the boy is a shy, awkward kid and the girl is a vampire. Owen gets picked on a lot by the school bullies and one day he meets Abby who is a neighbor of his. Abby seems strange and is really quiet,as is Owen, but they become fast friends. Owen is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee who was very good in last year's "The Road". Abby is played by the wonderful teen actress Chloe Grace Moretz who I am calling the next Jodie Foster. She was great in "500 Days in Summer" and was a scene stealer with a star making performance in "Kick Ass". It is unfair for me to compare her to Foster (I do that a lot) because she is on her own an actress I am going to love see grow up and become an adult actor. McPhee and Moretz are outstanding in this movie and Reeves tells the story patiently. The movie is dark, haunting and beautiful to look at. The kill scenes are scary and unfold in a staccato like rhythm. They are good shock scenes and done very tastefully and Reeves respects the original story and doesn't cheapen it.

The movie stops and focuses on this beautiful story of friendship and it moves gracefully. We care about both children and what will become of their friendship. Movie goers who have seen the original might not want to see this or will go in with negative feelings. I think they will be surprised about the care that went into this remake. They also can't deny that Moretz and McPhee give tremendous and touching performances. The movie goers who haven't seen the original will find this much better than the crappy "Twilight" movies. I am not a big fan of vampire movies for only "Near Dark" and "Martin" by George Romero add anything fresh to the genre. So I was very impressed that Reeves made an effective, touching movie and that McPhee and Moretz give two of the best performances of the year. "Let Me In", like the original,
is a scary, effective and touching story of a friendship that is offbeat but beautiful.