Last year, a little indie, Swedish film called Let the Right One in made a splash on the art house circuit as an artfully crafted vampire story about two adolescents—a bullied boy and a seemingly 12-year-old vampire girl. Cloverfield director Matt Reeves saw it and said "I was just hooked," reports the LA Times. He'll be remaking the film under the title Let Me In, and has recently finished a second draft of the script. He's now scouting locations for film's snowy settings.
When Let the Right One In stormed the indie market, it created a powerful cult following. Most who've seen it agree it's high on the list of best vampire flicks. (And just so we're on the same page, Twilight would not be near the top of that list.) We know imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but there are two sides to that coin.
Diehards see an American remake as a slap in the face. They think that it shouldn't be remade—not a film this endearing, and definitely not this soon. Right now, the project is scheduled for fall 2010—a mere two years after the original. Reeves himself has acknowledged the criticism, saying, "There's this cynicism that I'll come in and trash it, when in fact I have nothing but respect for the film.... I hope people give us a chance."
But even those open to a remake aren't completely sold yet. Will it be filmed in Cloverfield's shaky, hand-held camera style? Will it be just as riveting in its own right? Or, perhaps Let Me In will give the original more exposure if those in the larger moviegoing public hear about Reeves' adaptation, and seek out the original.
What are your thoughts on the remake?
