Quiet and chilly – like the snowy winter during which it’s set – this Swedish import was the anti-Twilight of 2008. It too tells the tale of a friendship between a kid and a “young” vampire, but with artistry, subtlety and genuine horror. Young Oskar (Kare Hedebrant) is a lonely, bullied 12-year-old, at least until Eli (Lina Leandersson) moves into his drab apartment complex. She’s a bit older and infinitely stranger – especially in her feeding habits. Let the Right One In is a gory horror story that’s remarkable both for its hushed, patient filmmaking style – courtesy of director Tomas Alfredson – and its seductive, incriminating nature. It isn’t until it’s over that you realize you’ve been rooting for a murderer and her serial killer in training.
