Let Me In

  • Review Date: September 27, 2010
  • R
  • Genre: Horror
  • 2010
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Vampire remake is much gorier than Twilight.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Let Me In is a very gory remake of the 2008 Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In. It has similarly somber mood, more blood, and a bit less mystery. Both movies include some fairly controversial elements -- such as a 12-year-old girl disrobing (nothing is shown) and climbing into bed with a 12-year-old boy (nothing happens). There's also teen bullying and smoking, strong language (including "f--k" and "s--t"), and many disturbing and frightening images (lots of which are soaked in gushing blood). Teens who are looking for something weightier than what the Twilight saga has to offer will appreciate the strong characters and performances, but it's not age-appropriate for younger viewers -- or anyone with a low tolerance for gore.

  • Main character Owen is an awkward kid who's dealing with life in a miserable little town, an absent dad, and a mother who's a distant religious fanatic. Bullies threaten him at school, and he has no friends until he meets a vampire girl about his age. It's nice that Owen finally connects with someone, but needless to say, theirs is a rather unhealthy relationship. Their behavior together is often irresponsible -- it includes lying, too much sexual tension for such a young age, revenge, and running away. And the girl actually kills several people with no consequences.
  • Owen is a quiet misfit who can't quite connect to anyone until he makes friends with vampire Abby. Unfortunately, she's the wrong kind of influence, so neither of their characters can be seen as a positive role model. The adults in the movie don't fare much better; most of them seem miserable, trapped by their sorry fates, and unable to connect with the children in a meaningful way.
  • Bloody attacks, sucking of blood, gushing blood, neck snapping, strangling, disposal of dead bodies, thumb slicing, suicide, a face burned with acid, scary vampire images, bodies bursting into flame, and attempted drowning. There's a car accident that's shown from inside the car. A 12-year-old boy plays with a kitchen knife. Also severe and violent bullying among the middle schoolers; the hero fights back by hitting a bully in the side of the head with a large stick. In one death scene, viewers can see a pulsing vein in the victim's neck slowly stop moving.
  • In one controversial scene, the 12-year-old vampire girl takes off her clothes (nothing is shown) and climbs into bed with the 12-year-old boy. There's no hint of sex or even kissing, but the boy does choose this moment to ask the girl to go steady. Later the boy and the girl share an awkward, sexually charged moment alone in a secret room, though nothing happens. Otherwise, the boy spies on his neighbors and catches a man and a woman about to have sex. Viewers see a naked breast and kissing. Some bullies at school try to remove a girl's bathing suit (the act is more malicious than sexual).
  • Strong language throughout, including many uses of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as "Jesus," "Jesus Christ," and "God" (alll used as exclamations) and "goddamn," "pissed," "ass," and "crap."
  • Most brands/logos are used to help establish the movie's 1983 setting: Rubik's Cube, Ms. Pac-Man, KISS.
  • Several secondary characters, all teens, are seen smoking cigarettes. One of the main adult characters smokes regularly.

What's the story?

The slightly odd Owen (Kodi Smit-McPhee) lives a lonely existence in wintry New Mexico, circa 1983. His parents are divorced, he has no friends, and he's the target of merciless bullies. One night he meets his new neighbor, Abby (Chloe Grace Moretz), who seems even odder than Owen: She doesn't go to school, she can't eat candy, and she can solve a Rubik's Cube. Abby warns Owen that they can't be friends, but they make a connection anyway -- and by the time that Owen learns that she's a vampire, it's too late -- she's his only friend, and she has begun to help him come out of his shell. How long can a friendship like this last? Will Owen survive his bullies long enough to find out?


Is it any good?

 

For this American remake, director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) has kept very close to the much-loved, critically acclaimed Swedish original Let the Right One In, including its hushed, wintry atmosphere and deliberate pacing. The new film adds in more intense, gory sequences (and some particularly awful CG effects), as well as some more "explanatory" sequences that provide more information on the characters; there's less mystery here.

The more obvious gore has the effect of neutralizing the movie's climactic sequence. In the original, it's a shocker, but here it's yet another gory scene in a long line of them. As a remake, it resides in the shadow of the original, and there's no real comparison. But the expert performances by youngsters Kodi Smit-McPhee and Chloe Grace Moretz go a long way in rescuing the new movie. These tender, emotionally mature characters provide the centerpiece for a very intense, effective coming-of-age story.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about the film's violence and blood and gore. How did it affect you?

  • Is fighting back a good way to deal with bullies? Did Owen's actions help his situation? What are some other ways of dealing with bullies?

  • Owen clearly needed someone to reach out to, but is Abby the right choice? Who else could he have reached out to?


This review of Let Me In was written by
Teen, 15 years old
October 9, 2010
 
Amazing Remake
This film was amazing, I was just like everyone else, worried that they made a remake so quickly, but Chloe Moretz and Smit-Mcphee show amazing chemistry and proved themselves to be extremely good actors. This film followed the movie very well and it also got the tone of the original just right, all in all, mesmerizing.
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Teen, 14 years old
April 25, 2011
 
amazing remake
I just watch it and it's amazing movie, for everyone who as a medium tolerence in gore,(we see a young women burning,a girl is attacking a dectetive alot is off screen but we see that he as no leg,and the girl dismenbered the bullies we see a head in the water(very closely)alot is did of screen but we see legs,arms,...)there's a little bit of nudity we see a young couple having sex and the girl naked climb in the bed we dont see naked nothing happened,(I cry when the girl leave)see this movie if you're mature and a medium tolerence in gore,not a very scary movie but the attack are violent and sometime gory and always bloody,THIS MOVIE IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Teen, 13 years old
March 26, 2011
 
Very good horror flick with a great plot. Mature teens can handle
My MPAA Rating, PG-13: Strong bloody horror violence, string language, sexual situations, frightening/disturbing moments of intense bloody violence, strong bullying, and teen smoking
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Parent
July 8, 2011
 
Let Me In Review
I found this to be an awesome movie with great meaning and special effects, though I would not recommend this for children under 12. I myself am only 10 but I have a very high tolerence for gore and other children my age may not. The part that I found the most grotesque was the part when Abby's caretaker/former boyfriend poured acid on his face. There is not much sexual content in the movie except when Abby and Owen very lightly peck each other on the lips. It was wonderful to see a vampire movie that didn't make vampires seem evil, but also did not glorify vampirism. I also loved how it was not petty and laden with teenage stereotypes as with films such as The Vampire Diaries and The Twilight Saga, but more serious and dark. Two thumbs up for Let Me In!
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Parent of an infant, 2, 4, 7, and 11 year old
February 2, 2011
 
BAD PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU LET A KID 14 AND UNDER WATCH THIS MOVIE THEN YOU ARE A BAD PARENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Teen, 13 years old
April 15, 2011
 
A good vampire movie with gore
This was a good movie although there was some blood and a fair amount of death.
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Teen, 15 years old
February 9, 2011
 
violent
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Adult
December 12, 2010
 
Excellent and awsome remake of a creepy scary and dark vampire movie.
A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. well here comes the remake of a classic and one of the most scariest, creepiest and darkest vampire tale LET THE RIGHT ONE IN which was a Swedish film that not just me but everyone that have seen it absolutely loved it. its a horror romantic drama thriller about a vampire girl and her friendship with a bullied young boy. its very bold, smart and extreme fun to watch movie, i was waiting anxiously for this movie to watch and i finally did. i would say it is a good if not better remake. it looks and it is good the way it is. good job. My favorite HIT GIRL lol Chloe Moretz is back yaay, she is just fantastic actress, she really looks very matured and a fine lady even in this age, i am so looking forward to her movies and her acting performances in the future and i know she will rock it. she is superb in this movie. good looking and charming. good face expressions and co-ordiantion. she is good. and yes Kodi Smit McPhee was the best choice for this character. 100% made for this character, he did a fantastic job in it. other actors like Richard Jenkins and Elias Koteas are decent too but these two are the main characters in it. they steals the show completely. good performances. very good direction, i am impressed. screenplay is perfect very good, not slow or boring very engaging. no empty or hollow. plot is very good, love it, simple but very heavy. extremely creepy movie. the make up done for when Chloe's character shows her eyes and else as she feeds is very scary, loved it. very bold, bloody scenes. i love these kind of movies so much. some scenes in this movie were really jaw dropping and filmed with a unique and good style. the whole dark cold environment that have been created is very good, very creepy and scary. good cinematography. an absolutely delight to watch this R rated vampire flick with young characters in it. the romance or friendship that goes between them is terrific. this movie has extra ordinary visual details and good performances and the music is great too. very gritty and chilling movie, it kept me to edge of the seat even concerning slow moving plot which is not boring or tiring to watch at any place. interesting, fun to watch and creeping entertaining movie. a well made movie. the scariest movie of the year. mind and bone chilling horror drama thriller. MUST WATCH.
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Teen, 13 years old
April 3, 2011
 
Great movie, not deserving of an R-rating!
GREAT MOVIE AND NOT TO INAPPROPRIATE! sOME VIOLENCE THOUGH!
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Kid, 10 years old
October 1, 2010
 
Cool, like Kick-Butt...
I would see this... when I'm 18... it looks PG-13. The trailer scared me a little...
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This review of Let Me In was written by
Studio:Overture Films
Director:Matt Reeves
Cast:Chloe Grace Moretz, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Richard Jenkins
Genre:Horror
Run time:115 minutes
Theatrical release date:October 1, 2010
DVD release date:February 1, 2011
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:strong bloody horror violence, language and a brief sexual situation

This review of Let Me In was written by
 

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