Let the Right One In

Let the right one in was filmed  in 2008 directed by Tomas Alfredson.  The movie was awarded the Nordic Film Prize at the 2008 Gothenburg Film Festival, and won in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.

When the inconceivable comes to Blackeberg nobody notices. It is autumn 1981, and life in the suburb goes on as usual. The drunks hang out in the Chinese restaurant, the police campaign against drugs, the mothers work in the supermarket, and everybody can hum the theme of Dallas. But when the body of a teenage boy, emptied of blood, is found in the neighbouring suburb of Vällingby, rumour spreads that a ritual killing has taken place. Still nobody has any idea what this is really about. Twelve-year old Oskar is personally hoping that revenge has come at long last. Revenge for all that is done to him at school, day after day.

Oskar is fascinated by the murder, but it is not the most important thing in his life. A new girl has moved in next door. A girl who has never seen a Rubik’s cube before, but who can solve it at once. They become friends. They become something more. But there is something wrong with her. Something is odd. And she only comes out at night.

Let the right one in is something as unique as a horror novel set in a Swedish suburb. An R-rated tale of love, revenge and vampires.
It is a book you cannot part with once you start reading.

From an article by the author:

”My book is about a vampire in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in the 1980s. It is also about being twelve years old. And about love. And revenge. But a vampire is at the centre of the story. A real one, one of those who have to drink blood in order to survive. The title refers to what I think is the most morally fascinating thing about vampires: you much invite them inside in order to let them get at you. It is also the title of a song by Morrissey, Let the Right One In. – An encouragement: LET THIS HAPPEN!”

Filmed by Tomas Alfredsson (winner of Best Swedish Film Award). Winner of the Tribeca Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature 2008 + 15 other festival prizes. Film release Fall 2008. Sold to 50 countries.

US re-adaptment: Hammer Films and Spitfire Pictures 2010, director: Matt Reeves(Cloverfield) stars Kodi Smit-McPhee (The Road), Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass) and Oscar nominee Richard Jenkins (The Visitor).