Let Me In

[Cortone]

Saw this in Bradford, which was less than 50% full at the start. I went to this (only my second ever vampire movie, my first being Daybreakers) because Daybreakers was OK, and I had heard so much about the original, and thought this cannot be that bad.

Well, I thought the key actors were really good, but the film was not for me. Nor was it for several others - there was a point that so many were walking out that I felt it was a kind of reality show to see who would stay!

Not for me, but I tried, and Elski, I might try the original after your comments, although I was firmly closing the door on this genre before.

Glad others see something in it though,

[Pchibber1]

Went to a SFF showing of this movie last night. Neither my wife nor I are horror fans and can't remember the last time I went to see one. Like the comments above I was enticed by the pull that it was based on a old classic and was more meaningful than your average horror. However I almost walked out 40 minutes into the movie because of the slow, dark depressing pace and the demonic and bloody attack scenes that left me feeling very nauseated (I guess the cheap tortilla chips and dip didn't help the stomach when my fright and flight instincts kicked in). Curiously given that she is not a horror fan either, I was surprised that my wife wanted to see it through. Her reason? She was compelled to see how it ends. As a inducement for staying ... she offered for me to wait for her outside and browse the internet on her iphone but I decided to see it through. Glad I did because just like a roller coaster ride I was dealing with the gore much better by the end plus the story line and charcters begin to get much stronger in the second half. In summary if you're put off by the early scenes my tip would be to stick it out if you can.

[zax007]

Yep i went to watch this last nite ...dissapointed not what i expected at all ...the trailers were misleading about the pace and content of the movie ..... i was one of many that walked out on it ....managed to last an hour and a bit but should have left sooner .... if the original is anything like this, then i dont think ill bother with that either

[tarantinoed]

I much preferred the original. This was despite Kodi Smit-McPhee being very good, I thought, and I agree with EthanRunt that Richard Jenkins did his usual superb job. It was interesting how the Hollywood version had to go for a lot more gore and unreal CGI type clips of the girl turning into some kind of animal when she was around victims' necks. I did think the end of the bathroom killing was a very effective improvement - when you thought the boy was going to touch the policeman's hand but he shut the door instead.

Also, please, everyone who hasn't should see the original, try to - a beautiful and more or less perfect film.

[midian]

i remember how i felt seeing the original. i was so disturbed and upset when i left. i am not a horror / gore fan and, i think, there wasn't a LOT but it was somehow even worse. it showed something really profoundly evil and lonely added to the terrifying loneliness of all the other lead characters. even the unhappiness of the bully really moved me in the scene with his elder brother teasing him. and the swimming pool scene at the end is iconic. a film just full of victims. i was dreading the remake.

when i left i this one i thought - there is more blood and guts and silly cgi in this. i do not empathise with the characters. the music is leading me on as if i am stupid (there is a big 'heartbeat' sound underlining whenever something significant happens). and i wasn't creeped out. i thought it is just not a good. also there was a lot of laughter in cinema in the wrong places as the scenes - not the nervous fear releasing type but, the 'goodness that's bad' type laughter.

this morning i am less sure how unhappy i am with the remake. perhaps because i knew how the story unfolded a lot of the cold dread was missing and it was just 'ok, kinda average' not 'bad'. so 6/10

i think i am going to rewatch the original. if you don't mind swedish subtitles, that is an amazing, perfectly crafted film. 9/10

and a friend thoroughly recommends the book, too.

[biggins]

Saw this at Westerhailes last night. About 90% full and no one walked out except a woman with a tickly cough! Silence in the cinema - no laughing or talking or going to the toilet, so everyone seemed to like it.
Not as scary as I thought it would be as I was expecting to be jumping in my seat at the gory bits. Never saw the original to compare it with but thought this was slow at the start but it did improved. 7 out of 10.

[lburtonharrison]

I thought it was good, not as scary as I hoped it would be a bit dissapointing in that respect, would probably recommend my mum to watch as it was really not scary.

[havingascreen]

Saw this at Westerhailes last night. About 90% full and no one walked out except a woman with a tickly cough! Silence in the cinema - no laughing or talking or going to the toilet, so everyone seemed to like it.

I was in fountianpark and the same conditions there, even down to the woman with the tickly cough . I'm glad i haven't seen the origional but want to see it now.......if i can stand to watch those bullies in action again. I felt sorry for those bullies but not the big brother, he was the real monster of the film.

[stuartboy]

Biggins - did I sit next to you at Wester Hailles last night? You asked to put your coat on the seat on the other side of me? I had been expecting much more from this film and tbh I was left disappointed. I'd never seen the original so had nothing to compare to. The story was very slow though and I think I did actually nod off at some point in the firts half hour. Some of the gore was just silly - the blood looked particularly fake - and the CGI just became annoying as if it was trying too hard. I felt that certain elements of the story were left unexplored....and what a silly ending! Overall only a 6/10 for me. And to think I had to miss the premiere of Mike Leigh's Another Year for which I "won" tickets but which clashed with this film. Wrong choice.

[elski]

For those interested this is the trailer for the original, less grimy & gory and more beautiful & haunting:

[youtube]sZJUgsZ56vQ[/youtube]