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pbcoll
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2100
Location: England
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 Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 2:02 pm Post subject: Let the Right One In |
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Those who have seen the Swedish film based on this novel will easily guess this is my present obsession...
I wanted to share this interest as I think it may interest a number of people on WP, it is a novel that is technically horror, it's set in a lower-class suburb of Stockholm in the 1980s and is about a lonely, bullied twelve-year-old boy called Oskar, who meets his new next-door neighbour Eli, a decidedly strange child who on their first meeting tells him they can't be friends. Though this is a vampire novel, the tone is gritty and realistic, and the character of Oskar is largely autobiographical. The story touches on themes such as bullying and its effects, family breakdown, love, moral ambiguity, the need for empathy, loneliness, and what it means to be human. The novel explores a lot of the darker side of human nature, from petty theft to scenes involving sexual abuse, child mutilation, etc. The title is from a Morrisey song and it refers to the bit of vampire folklore that they need to be invited in to be able to enter a building and more broadly it refers to who you let into your life. Despite the book's frank treatment of brutality, it is ultimtely uplifting.
The Swedish film by the same title had the book author as screenwriter, and though it is very good I think the book is better.
_________________
I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading). |
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Aimless
the cat says "meh"
Joined: Apr 02, 2009
Posts: 2072
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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| sounds good-who wrote it? |
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Jaejoongfangirl
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 20, 2007
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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Fantastic film. Absolutely chilling.
I haven't read the book, but I wouldn't call the film uplifting at all. Quite the opposite, actually. |
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pbcoll
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2100
Location: England
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Aimless wrote: | | sounds good-who wrote it? |
John Ajvide Lindqvist. The original Swedish title is 'Låt den rätte komma in'
| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | Fantastic film. Absolutely chilling.
I haven't read the book, but I wouldn't call the film uplifting at all. Quite the opposite, actually. |
I thought the ending was intensely bittersweet in both film and book, but still uplifting.
_________________
I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading). |
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Aimless
the cat says "meh"
Joined: Apr 02, 2009
Posts: 2072
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:03 pm Post subject: |
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I found the book on Barnes and Noble website after seeing on line that it's not in any library in town. It seemed to get really good reviews. Was the film released in the US? Oh and I can see where you got your avatar.  |
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Jaejoongfangirl
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 20, 2007
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| pbcoll wrote: | | Aimless wrote: | | sounds good-who wrote it? |
John Ajvide Lindqvist. The original Swedish title is 'Låt den rätte komma in'
| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | Fantastic film. Absolutely chilling.
I haven't read the book, but I wouldn't call the film uplifting at all. Quite the opposite, actually. |
I thought the ending was intensely bittersweet in both film and book, but still uplifting. |
I don't feel like we can discuss this with out spoiling things for the many people who haven't seen it, but I have to ask, did the book end in the same general way?
I can't help but feel that that thing wasn't capable of anything kind-hearted - all it did was simply use the vulnerable to aid its own selfish self-preservation. It was pure evil.
I get chills thinking about the intense degree of devious evil depicted in that movie. |
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pbcoll
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2100
Location: England
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Aimless wrote: | | I found the book on Barnes and Noble website after seeing on line that it's not in any library in town. It seemed to get really good reviews. Was the film released in the US? Oh and I can see where you got your avatar. |
Yes, the film was released in the US. It's available on DVD, though if you watch it on DVD make sure you see the version with the theatrical subtitles (the first DVDs to be released in the US had low-quality subtitles, inferior to the theatrical ones - later copies come out with the theatrical subs). There exists a dubbed version, but you'd really, really, really miss out with that one - some of the voices in the dubbed version are horrible (Eli's is just ridiculous), whereas in the original the voice acting is amazing, particularly that of Elif Ceylan, who plays Eli's voice.
My avatar is from from page 5 of the following link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/35118410@N04/
It's Eli, of course.
_________________
I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading). |
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Tim_Tex
Bunnies!!!
Joined: Jul 03, 2004
Age: 29
Posts: 30835
Location: To Be Determined
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:19 pm Post subject: |
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I may need to look into this.
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Sometimes I feel very sorry for the Coyote. Sometimes I wish he'd catch him.
If he caught him, there wouldn't be any more Road Runner. You wouldn't like that, would you? |
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ZEGH8578
I Chew Teeth
Joined: Feb 15, 2009
Posts: 3253
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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ive gotten it recommended from all directions, but havent had the chance yet.
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"That's your excuse for everything isn't it - being dead?" |
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pbcoll
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2100
Location: England
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | | pbcoll wrote: | | Aimless wrote: | | sounds good-who wrote it? |
John Ajvide Lindqvist. The original Swedish title is 'Låt den rätte komma in'
| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | Fantastic film. Absolutely chilling.
I haven't read the book, but I wouldn't call the film uplifting at all. Quite the opposite, actually. |
I thought the ending was intensely bittersweet in both film and book, but still uplifting. |
I don't feel like we can discuss this with out spoiling things for the many people who haven't seen it, but I have to ask, did the book end in the same general way?
I can't help but feel that that thing wasn't capable of anything kind-hearted - all it did was simply use the vulnerable to aid its own selfish self-preservation. It was pure evil.
I get chills thinking about the intense degree of devious evil depicted in that movie. |
Yes, the book ended in the same general way. The film's mostly faithful to the book (though there are some plot differences), but it's more ambiguous whereas the book is more in-depth - the film I regard as the most family-friendly version of the book you could make that would still be faithful to the book's spirit and core plot. I agree we would spoil it for others if we discuss it here, but the nature of Eli is discussed extensively on the LTROI fansite and on the ImDb boards, for example on this thread, which discusses the ending and the nature of the Oskar-Eli relationship. Obviously, threads on both sites are full of spoilers.
_________________
I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading). |
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Aimless
the cat says "meh"
Joined: Apr 02, 2009
Posts: 2072
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| I'll try to find it with subtitles. I read fast. |
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pakled
"Bless his Heart"
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Age: 52
Posts: 6736
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| Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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hmm...can't believe I've missed a Morrissey song...but please let me get what I want, lawd knows it would be the first time...
Will have to check it out
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anahl nathrak, uth vas bethude, doth yel dyenvey... |
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Jaejoongfangirl
Deinonychus
Joined: Oct 20, 2007
Posts: 342
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:48 am Post subject: |
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| pbcoll wrote: | | Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | | pbcoll wrote: | | Aimless wrote: | | sounds good-who wrote it? |
John Ajvide Lindqvist. The original Swedish title is 'Låt den rätte komma in'
| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | Fantastic film. Absolutely chilling.
I haven't read the book, but I wouldn't call the film uplifting at all. Quite the opposite, actually. |
I thought the ending was intensely bittersweet in both film and book, but still uplifting. |
I don't feel like we can discuss this with out spoiling things for the many people who haven't seen it, but I have to ask, did the book end in the same general way?
I can't help but feel that that thing wasn't capable of anything kind-hearted - all it did was simply use the vulnerable to aid its own selfish self-preservation. It was pure evil.
I get chills thinking about the intense degree of devious evil depicted in that movie. |
Yes, the book ended in the same general way. The film's mostly faithful to the book (though there are some plot differences), but it's more ambiguous whereas the book is more in-depth - the film I regard as the most family-friendly version of the book you could make that would still be faithful to the book's spirit and core plot. I agree we would spoil it for others if we discuss it here, but the nature of Eli is discussed extensively on the LTROI fansite and on the ImDb boards, for example on this thread, which discusses the ending and the nature of the Oskar-Eli relationship. Obviously, threads on both sites are full of spoilers. |
Oh, so the film is the family friendly one? 
I'm pretty sure I know some of the book-spoilers, just from reading film reviews that mentioned them. I don't want to click on those links/threads quite yet though, because I think I'd like to read it first.
I'll have to find this book and read it soon. Should be interesting.
Thanks for starting this thread, pbcoll - more people need to hear about/see this movie. |
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Woodfish
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Aug 23, 2009
Posts: 54
Location: alternating between Lothlórien and Rivendell
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:09 am Post subject: |
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I've got "Låt den rätte komma in" (its title in Swedish) on my reading list. Will most likely be the next book I read.
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Adults are obsolete children. ~Dr. Seuss |
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pbcoll
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 15, 2007
Posts: 2100
Location: England
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| Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Jaejoongfangirl wrote: | Oh, so the film is the family friendly one?
I'm pretty sure I know some of the book-spoilers, just from reading film reviews that mentioned them. I don't want to click on those links/threads quite yet though, because I think I'd like to read it first.
I'll have to find this book and read it soon. Should be interesting.
Thanks for starting this thread, pbcoll - more people need to hear about/see this movie. |
No problem. What are in my opinion the three most horrific scenes from the book are all missing from the film, though one of them was very nearly included.
_________________
I am the steppenwolf that never learned to dance. (Sedaka)
El hombre es una bestia famélica, envidiosa e insaciable. (Francisco Tario)
I'm male by the way (yes, I know my avatar is misleading). |
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