Let Me In 2010

     The setting of this film is in Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1983 and it is based on a book written by John Ajvide Lindqvist.  Originally this film was made in Sweden in 2008.  Owen is twelve years old, he is lonely and an outcast boy bullied in school.  Kenny is the bully at school and two other classmates bully him at home.  Owen becomes friends with a twelve year old neighbor girl Abby.  His dream is to avenge himself with the bullies!!  There is something unusual about Abby, she is only outside at night and at the playground of their building.  Owen and his family don't know that Abby's father is a wanted serial-killer who drains blood out of his victims to give to Abby!!!  She advises Owen to fight Kenny but he soon discovers that Abby is an ancient vampire.  He feels both fear and love for Abby??  A police officer is investigating the murder cases and he believes there is a satanic cult in the neighborhood??

     There are similarities in this film with Let the Right One In of 2008 with Lina Leandersson, Kare Hedebrant, Per Ragnar.  Directed by Tomas Alfredson, also written by John Ajvide Lindqvist and based on his novel.  The boy's name is Oskar and he is also 12 years old and bullied.  Eli is the girl and the setting is the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in 1982.     

     Even though this is obviously a strange movie, I liked it very much!!!  The mood is set right away of oppression and isolation.  Lighting and sound are used to create the gloomy world Owen is stranded in.  Mortez turns in a dark, subtle and convincing performance in her role as Abby.  She easily has a lovable innocence and an animalistic darkness.  Owen finally finds a spark of happiness when he is with Abby.  5* (I really liked this movie)  

116 min, Drama written and directed by Matt Reeves, also written by John Ajvide Lindqvist with Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Cara Buono, Elias Koteas, Sasha Barrese, Dylan Kenin, Chris Browning, Ritchie Coster, Dylan Minnette, Jimmy 'Jax' Pinchak, Nicolai Dorian, Rebekah Wiggins, Seth Adkins, Aston Moio.

Note:  Imdb 7.1* out of 10* with 112,738 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 88% with 236 critics 76% with 66,908 audience scores, empireonline 4* Dan Jolin, Metacritic 79 out of 100 with 35 critic reviews, 8.5 out of 10 with 470 user scores, Roger Ebert 3 1/2* out of 4*, Common Sense Media Jeffrey M. Anderson 3* out of 5*, age 18+, 4* violence, 3* sex, 4* language, 1* consumerism, 2* drinking, drugs, smoking.