Ok, so this weekend on Valentine’s Day I saw “Let the Right One In” finally on the big screen (I know I should have seen it sooner but there was a snow storm in Portland and unlike Wisconsin, they have no clue how to plow their damn roads! Sorry PDX but you guys are weak ass snow drivers!). I have been wondering if the title came from one of my favorite musical artists of all time, Morrissey. I would say the answer if yes but I guess that remains to be seen. This movie was definately something special as it left you with that lingering and unsettling feeling that will be left with you for days.

This Swedish film is not your average vampire flick to say the least. It mainly revolves around an odd 12 year old boy by the name of Oskar who’s in a constant struggle with a group of bullies from his school. He spends much of his time alone plotting revenge, stabbing a knife into a tree at his apartment complex and reciting the final words of their demise. One cold evening he meets a strange girl named “Eli” who is standing on the snow covered jungle gym at the complex. You can tell as she first leaps to the ground that there is definately more to her than meets the eye.

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As she first speaks to him you can sense that an everlasting bond is in the making and the dread of a serial killer preying on young boys outside this village has a little more to do with Eli than anyone could ever imagine. Without giving away too much of the plot you can be rest assured that Eli is indeed a vampire. She’s never seen during the daytime and with each moment onscreen with Oskar it becomes clear these two are going to be connected for a good long time too come.

This movie is beautifully shot and took a much stronger stance of the vampire folklore than i had expected. I have read countless reviews of this film being “the best vampire film of all time”. Or at least the most unique. In a way I will have to agree. I have definately never seen a vampire movie quite like this before. At times it can be a tad confusing but in the end you will be left with a finale (get ready for something special in the swimming pool scene) that will have your mind reeling for days. It relies less on the crazy special effects (yet has some pretty impressive and truely gruesome moments unlike any vampire movie) of a Blade or Buffy episode and more on the realities of what being a 12 year old vampire in this day an age would really be like. What would it really be like to meet a true vampire peer as a young pre-teen boy growing up? This movie sums it up in a great way leaving plenty of questions in the end for discusion.

If you are a fan of vampire flicks this is simply a must see-just don’t expect to see teenage girls doing martial arts and back flips with wooden stakes in their hands anywhere near the screen. I have heard some strange comparisons with this movie and the mega blockbuster “Twilight” which i still have not seen-maybe though it is just because I am so let down with the male vampire’s new hair-do?! CAN YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT SHIT?! That alone may be good reason to see this truely original and inspiring movie