Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist Adult Paperbacks - Main Level - Lindqvist
Just as “Twilight” fever seems to be sweeping the nation like some nasty blood infection turning its teen readers into gooey piles of Edward obsessed vampoholics, another book turned film has quietly slid by. While it might seem that “Let the Right One In” has elements similar to the aforementioned book (vampires, young love) the two stories couldn’t be any more different. “Let the Right One In,” tells the tale of Oskar a young boy living in Blackeberg, Sweden who must contend with constant bullying, his impending adolescence, and the rage that is welling up inside him. One night he encounters Eli, a mysterious girl who has just moved in next door. As Oskar’s fascination with Eli grows so does his interest in a series of brutal murders that might just be related to his new friend. While “Let the Right One In” goes to many horrific places, the most compelling aspect of the book is how innocent the relationship between Oskar and Eli is in light of their situation. It’s the solace the two gain from each other, even in the face of their figurative and quite literal demons, that gives the story its center.
It is a shame then that the equally impressive film adaptation, which received near unanimous critical acclaim, didn’t even get a full release. To add insult to injury there is already plans of an American remake that will most likely squeeze out all the subtly and artistry of the original. Then there is "Twilight." How does one softly convey that the book is rife with cliches, has a tenuous need for vampires at all, and is ultimately an insulting and simplistic perspective of a teenage girl's concept of love. I guess it can't be conveyed softly. Of course there isn’t anything wrong with books and film that have mass appeal, it's just unfortunate that mediocrity sells so well while a genre classic such as “Let the Right One In” goes ignored.
Look for the DVD release of “Let the Right One In” on March 10th.