Blu-Ray Review: Sink Your Teeth Into One of the Best of 2008: ‘Let the Right One In’

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Blu-Ray Rating: 4.0/5.0

CHICAGO – Tomas Alfredson’s “Let the Right One In” was one of the most critically acclaimed films of 2008, an arthouse sensation that has been so beloved by everyone who has seen it that it ranks among the best films of all time on IMDB based on user votes. Based on the book by John Ajvide Lindqvist, “Let the Right One In” is a masterpiece of its genre, one of the most essential vampire films ever made. The Blu-Ray is a little disappointing, but the film itself makes up for it.

The theme of nearly every piece of vampire fiction is isolation. The vampire is the outcast, the count in a creepy castle who will outlive or kill everyone he’s ever cared about. “Let the Right One In” brilliantly melds that idea with one of the times when a lot us felt like outcasts - puberty.

Let the Right One In will be released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009.
Photo credit: Magnolia Home Video

Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a lonely, bullied 12-year-old in early ’80s Sweden, a time when the country was essentially behind the iron curtain. Oskar longs for love and friendship in his cold, depressing neighborhood.

Into this darkness enters someone new, Eli (Lina Leandersson), a girl who looks to be about Oskar’s age but is actually much, MUCH older. Eli not only meets Oskar at night but doesn’t seem bothered by not wearing socks or shoes on the frozen tundra of the playground they share. And when locals end up drained of their blood, it become clear exactly why Eli is a little unusual.

Let the Right One In will be released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009. Photo credit: Magnolia Home Video

As more and more people start to disappear, Eli becomes reluctantly closer to Oskar, seeing in him someone similar and someone to who might possibly accept her. It’s the most untraditional love story in years and not just because of their age or the fact that she’s a vampire but in the beautiful details of Lindqvist’s excellent screenplay.

Oskar teaches Eli a warmth that she hasn’t had in years and Eli teaches Oskar to stand up for himself with the bullies at school. They communicate with morse code and see a kindred spirit in one another, even though she worries that this can only end in tragedy. The final scenes are shocking and violent but in an amazing way that no one will see coming.

Don’t rent or buy “Let the Right One In” expecting the action of an “Underworld” movie. This is an exercise in mood, not fake blood. There are moments of incredible violence but it’s not what defines the film. “Let the Right One In” is a movie about isolation. The first color I think of when it comes to mind is not red, but white - the stark landscape, constant snow, and a frozen lake.

The title of “Let the Right One In” refers to an old tenet of vampire mythology - that a fanged creature must be invited in before they can enter. But, like all great horror movies, there’s more to the title than just the practical reading. It may sound cheesy, but we all need to know which one to let in to our hearts and lives, something both Oskar and Eli have struggled with for their entire lives.

“Let the Right One In” was the best horror film of 2008 and one of the best films, period. See it.

Let the Right One In will be released on Blu-Ray on March 10th, 2009. Photo credit: Magnolia Home Video

I would usually end that last sentence with “Buy it” but the Blu-Ray for “Let the Right One In” could have had a more extensive collection of special features. This is a film that will build a huge following over the years. So, I expect a Special Edition eventually and probably sooner than we might think that will put this skimpy collection of extras to shame.

You’ll be able to burn through all the “Let the Right One In” special features in about 15 minutes. The featurette behind-the-scenes is mostly just an interview with Alfredson. It’s a great one but it could have been four times as long or Alfredson should have done a commentary. He clearly has a lot to say about the movie.

The deleted scenes are interesting and the last one, featuring Oskar and Eli making vampire faces at each other should have stayed in the movie. It’s a beauty. The photo and poster galleries are short and not that interesting. I am happy that Magnolia went with the great Swedish poster for the Blu-Ray cover instead of the American one.

As for the technical specs, “Let the Right One In” looks very good with a 1080P picture and a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. Picture quality is essential for a mood piece like this, especially because so much of it takes place at night and this transfer looks very, very good.

The sound is just as good although the version that comes up if you hit play before going into set-up is the dubbed one. Ugh. Don’t watch “Let the Right One In” dubbed. Please. The Swedish 5.1 Dolby track is very good.

A great movie with a very good technical transfer doesn’t hit Blu-Ray every week. Yes, fifteen minutes of special features is a disappointment, but if you can look at this release as a place-holder for an eventual special edition, it’s a must-own just for the film itself.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com