The Month of Horror Day 27: Let Me In

Basement contributor Matt Bellamy has taken it upon himself to watch and review at least one horror movie a day for the month of October . . . because he's awesome that way! Today Bellamy risks the wrath of movie nerds everywhere by liking a remake more than the original!?! Shame!

I am going to catch some heat for this but I prefer this American remake in just about every way to the Swedish original. Yes, I know that the original Let The Right One In is held up on a pedestal and even the mere mention of a remake was blasphemous when it was first mentioned but I think that director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) pulled it off in a very big way. It's filmed in a very classy and slow burn manner which is how the material should be handled as it allows the atmosphere to organically build and the characters to realistically grow, and that's where this story truly excels is in the character department. Chloe Grace Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee play the two children that the film revolves around, one is just a normal adolescent boy and the other is a world weary vampire forever stuck in a young girl's body. The two young actors are absolutely fantastic and you believe every interaction between them, and (dare I say it in a horror write up?) even bond in a realistic and sweet way to the point you honestly believe the young boy is falling in love with his new non-human friend, growing increasingly fascinated by her as he realizes she is not what she appears to be. Don't let that "L word" turn your stomach too much, there is plenty of real horror here as blood is spilled, throats are torn out, bodies dismembered, and even people set on fire! 'Let Me In' is easily one of the most touching horror flick I've seen, well, ever actually. I am a very big fan of this remake and will defend it to everyone who says it should never exist in the first place--it does, it's fantastic, deal with it! If you've never seen any iteration of the material then I say you should absolutely seek this out, it came and went in theatres way too quickly and demands a watch.

Comments

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends. With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher. When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up. Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila! Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink. The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink. The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices. In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors. The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort. It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ". I know I remember them. This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present. With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good. It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters. This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's. In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking. I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e

Search This Blog