Let Me In

A reverent remake of the lauded Swedish horror film Let the Right One In, Let Me In may simplify the original movie's title, but it doesn't pare down any of the tale's dark atmosphere or emotional heft. Shifting the story's wintry 1980s setting from suburban Sweden to small-town New Mexico, writer/director Matt Reeves stays remarkably faithful to Tomas Alfredson's 2008 film as he follows neglected and tormented young Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee), who befriends his new next-door neighbor, the closely guarded and apparently cold-resistant Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz), who clearly is not your average 12-year-old girl. As Owen and Abby grow closer, they must increasingly contend with the world outside of their mutually protective bond, leading to inevitable conflicts and lots of blood. While Reeves has largely retained the deliberate pacing of Let the Right One In and recreated certain key scenes almost shot for shot, he distinguishes his American counterpart by replacing Alfredson's cool Scandinavian aesthetic with a grittier, earthier tone that seems wholly appropriate. What truly elevates Let Me In to nearly the same the level of its predecessor is the presence of Smit-McPhee and Moretz, who both convey an impressive range of emotion, each moving between fragility and ferocity. Although Let the Right One In gets points for originality, Let Me In is a worthy adaptation that largely complements, rather than replaces, its source of inspiration.