Written by Steve 'Frosty' Weintraub

Currently playing in limited release is a film that’s winning all sorts of awards and it’s also capturing the heart of almost every critic that’s seen it. It’s called “Let the Right One in” and I’ve also fallen under its spell.

But before getting to what the film is about…

For me, the horror genre is like being in an abusive relationship with no end in sight. Sure, decades ago the genre was alive and well, with filmmakers like John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper making films that had a soul. Their films had meaning, and they weren’t just about the almighty dollar.

But for the last number of years, the horror genre has been a joke. Almost every film I’ve seen is a waste of time, energy, and they just bring the genre down with their low grades effects and even worse scripts.

But…every once in awhile something comes along that’s completely unexpected and it reminds you why you love movies.

That’s “Let the Right One In.” Trust me, it’s great. And it’s something you need to seek out and watch immediately.

The film has tells the story of an introverted and bullied 12-year-old boy whose wish for a friend is answered when a young girl moves into the apartment next door. However, the girl’s arrival coincides with a series of grisly murders, and their relationship is understandably complicated when the boy learns that his new friend is a vampire.

Director Tomas Alfredson manages to do so much…but the film is extremely minimalistic. It’s not loaded with explosions or violence. The film does just enough, and never too much. Trust me, this film belongs with all the greats of the genre and as more and more people see it… it’ll be a film that everyone eventually seeks out. In fact, Hollywood has already bought the remake rights, with the director of Cloverfield making it his next project.

Anyway, I recently was able to speak with director Tomas Alfredson about making the film and the interview is below. And if you’d like to watch some movie clips from “Let the Right One in”, click here.

Tomas Alfredson

  • What would he like to tell people about the movie
  • A lot of the stuff that happens in the movie happens off screen. Was that an artistic choice or was it a budgetary choice
  • What is his reaction to be so well received from both critics and audiences
  • How difficult was it to find the two kids
  • Is it weird for him that the film is already in the planning stages for being remade in America
  • What is he working on now – doing a stage play in Stockholm
  • I ask if he’s going to make a movie in America next