Culture Club: Let Me In

This week’s Culture Club focuses on Let Me In - the American remake of acclaimed Swedish vampire movie Let The Right One In.

In Friday’s Arts & Books review, our film critic Anthony Quinn suggested that while Let Me In fails to live up to its Scandinavian forebear, it remains a decent enough film in its own right.

“To those who admired the Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In this American remake will not cause offence, though it signally lacks the original’s haunting impact. Those who don’t know the original will perhaps be more impressed.”

However in The Independent on Sunday, Nicholas Barber sought to uncover why director Matt Reeves decided to remake the film at all, calling it a “strange endeavour” and “less subtle than the Swedish one…but not dumbed down anywhere near as much as it might have been [in order to cash in on the Twilight market].”

What did you think of Let Me In? Did you love it, did you hate it? Share your views below and the best comments will be published in Thursday’s Independent.

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• http://www.freezeframeproductions.co.uk PaulieSc

  Having seen the original and being a fan, I found this remake to be very good. Not only has it not significantly lost anything much from the original, I actually felt more in touch with the characters in this film. Remember, both films are an adaptation of a book, of which neither follows exactly. Both films are very good takes on the main themes of the book and this remake most certainly isn’t an insult to the original.

• http://twitter.com/AudraBirek Audra Birek

  When a film is a remake, it is difficult to not compare it to the original. When it is also based on a remarkable novel, it is near impossible to let it stand on its own. I nevertheless made an attempt to view the American Let Me In (a remake of the Swedish Let the Right One In) with fresh eyes. I can say that it is one of the best vampire films/stories out in years. There was gore and fear and death. But I cannot completely recommend it compared with the original film.
  The silly, frenzied CGI effects immediately ruined moments for me. This type of effects was completely unnecessary. Again, see the original for proof (except for one minor poor choice of a scene). If a filmmaker does not have the money to do it really well, don’t even bother.

  What made the book and the Swedish film so powerful was the slow build of terror, but this American remake starts with violence and action immediately; though the remake is successful in creating a sense of atmosphere that is piercing loneliness and isolation.
  Well it is a good remake, with such a fine original, why did anyone even bother?
  ….(also, Let the Right One In is a much better title)….I posted this review on my blog October 15 after seeing it in the theatre…

• http://www.propertyleadersuk.com property lady

  Odd comment to make about the film, “…this American remake will not cause offence…” – why should it? Meaning that this film does not contain swearing? Or that it is surprisingly rather decent (compared to other American remakes) and not offending anyone by it’s rubbishness?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IZ25NG4SJ73XYVW3NSRYOEQ5IA Paige

  Prior to viewing “Let Me In” I had never seen the original, I think this gave me the advantage to appreciate the remake and not be biased. It wasn’t until the end of it that I realised the amount of subconscious symbolisation. The blood is what Abby needs to survive, the wine is what the mother needs to survive, and the sweets are what Owen needs to survive (to a certain extent). I like the way the two young main characters are the most prominent, and the how it doesn’t deter away from the importance of their relationship. The narrative isn’t about giving background to both their lives, its about their unique friendship and the lengths they go to, to savour it. While I was watching Let Me In it occurred to me that there wasn’t a great amount of dialogue in areas, I think this is in favour of the film, and makes sure nothing else eclipse’ the delicate nature of it. One of the most brilliant things about the ideology is that the audience never actually find out who turned Abby into a vampire, and why. I think if you did, it would deter the audience from the main concept and meaning, which isn’t what Let Me In is about. I am defiantly going to pay my student price of £5.80 to see once more.