“A BITING TALE”
Starring: Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Jimmy ‘Jax’ Pinchak
Directed by: Matt Reeves
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation.
Genre: Horror, Suspense
Running Time: 1hr 55min
Release Date: October 1, 2010
Distributor: Overture Films
By John Delia
Let the Halloween season begin, the top runner Let Me In has arrived and it is ‘kick-ass’ horror that gets so tense that it gave me the willies. What makes this film a stand out comes from an eerie storyline, outstanding camerawork, menacing settings and creepy music that keeps the film a fright show. Acting and direction here are masterful, but with horror I’m sure you just want to know; does it scare. A resounding yes, so get your black capes, bloody teeth and scary face down to see this flick with your best girl of course.
Nice young Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) has been running from bullies most of his middle school years and he can’t seem to shake the vicious dudes. A total social outcast of his schoolmates, he spends most of his time in his bedroom. One day Abby (Chloe Moretz), a young girl about his age, arrives with her father (Richard Jenkins) to an apartment within Owen’s complex. He seems to dismiss Abby’s intensely overpowering look and urges a friendship. As time passes Abby gives in to Owen’s inquisitiveness, helps him with advice about the bullies and they form a bond. When a ‘food’ shortage threatens Abby’s lifestyle, Owen gets cast aside and their relationship starts to dwindle.
Unlike those other remakes like The Ring or The Grudge that just set you up for a quick scare using evil beings crawling on a ceiling or a young hideous girl coming to get you through a television set, Let Me In also provides a coming of age story that captivates. So compelling however, that you almost want to take both sides of this sick storyline with it’s twisted ending. It’s not teen fest Twilight, but I never really think of that series as real horror anyway.
What makes this story work is the acting by Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Under the able direction of Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) the three outstanding performers make their characters believable (Owen), chilling (Abby) and compassionate (Jenkins). Reeves puts the actors on sets that are dank, cold, dreary and dismal, then puts his multi-filtered camera up close as he adds menacing music while leading up to some very sinister action.
The film is rated R for strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation. Let Me In has all the elements that stimulate the minds of the devout horror fan.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A biting tale of love and death. (5 of 5)