Let Me In (2010)

Abby does not sparkle, and she is not a southern gentleman; she is an old school, bloodthirsty vampire. The 2010 film Let Me In by director Matt Reeves, best known for his shaky-cam epic Cloverfield, gets back to vampiric roots by taking the overly softened genre to a dark, gritty place. While it may seem too soon for a remake of the 2008 Swedish film Let The Right One In, Reeves' film delivers nothing less than its predecessor.

The opening of Let Me In, shown out of chronological order, follows the hospital admittance, police interrogation and horrific suicide of an unknown patient whose face is burnt beyond recognition by acid — his own doing — whose last act is leaving a chilling note reading "sorry Abby." The movie then returns to two weeks earlier, setting the scene in 1980s Los Alamos, to follow the middle school torment of 12-year-old Owen, who is scrawny, nerdy and unpopular. Things soon take a surprising turn for Owen when a new neighbor moves in late one night under the cover of darkness. Owen becomes quickly acquainted with Abby, and is so infatuated with her that he is oblivious — and later, indifferent — to her true self. Let Me In chronicles the demise of Abby's "father," Owen finding his strength to fight back against those who bully him and the blossoming relationship between the 12-yearold boy and the vampire.

Undoubtedly the cast is one of the aspects from which the film draws its strength. Australian-born, and little known in North American cinema, Kodi Smit- McPhee helms the cast as 12-yearold Owen. His awkwardness is all encompassing at the film's open, and his transformation to a stronger adolescent is so enthralling that the viewer empathizes with him through and through. Right by his side as Abby is perpetual bad ass Chloe Moretz, who has already stirred up controversy from parental groups for her portrayal of Hit Girl in the comic book flick Kick Ass. Moretz plays the ageless girl with such strength and worldliness that it is hard to believe she is a mere 13 years old. Giving age and astounding screen presence to the film is Richard Jenkins as the doomed "father" of Abby, whose gruesome death on screen will not be easily forgotten.

Beyond just the cast and the plot there is something about Let Me In that makes the film an incredible vampire story. The genre has been so watered down and censored for a tween audience that some are likely to forget what a vampire should be. Violently exploding into flame when touched by sunlight, horrifically bleeding from every orifice when entering a home uninvited, lusting for blood above all else and slaughtering victims as a primeval creature is prone to do are all the things that a vampire should do, and all the things that Abby does.

Rating: 5 out of 5