LettheRightOneIn.jpg
The Next Selection in the Pajiba Movie Club Is ...

The Pajiba Movie Club / Dustin Rowles

Miscellaneous | October 13, 2009 | Comments (43)

After two successful edition of Pajiba Movie Club — most recently featuring a lively discussion of race as it pertained to a zombie movie — we are moving ahead with a third. It’s close to Halloween, so it seems appropriate that we tackle another horror movie, of sorts. More importantly, as George, who made this recommendation, notes: “Seeing as the no doubt horrid New Moon will be released this November, and the even worse Transylmania will be released two weeks after New Moon, why don’t we watch a vampire movie this month that’s actually good. Let the Right One In is a deep, phenomenal Swedish film that’s available to watch on Netflix Instant.”

It’s a great recommendation, too, because Let the Right One In is a film on the must-see list of a lot of folks who just haven’t had a good excuse to pull the trigger. This is that excuse, and a timely one at that, since Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) already has an American remake in the works. Don’t be that person who sees the watered-down American version first. Let the Right One In is a creepy, touching, fantastic vampire film, every bit as good as all the hype you’ve heard about it.

The next installment of the Pajiba Movie Club will take place the Tuesday before Halloween: On Tuesday, October 27th. Once again, we’re going to run it at 3:00 p.m. EST, to ensure that our European readers can get in early on the discussion, particularly since it’s that part of the world responsible for this gem.

Reminders will be issued between now and then. Otherwise, we’ll see you there.


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Comments

Looks like Roseanne finally lost her shit on that little brat while DJ lurks in the shadows with his creepy ass.

Posted by: Kballs at October 13, 2009 8:10 AM

Oh thank God, I movie I actually have! Yay! God bless your little, underage heart, George!

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at October 13, 2009 8:57 AM

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Posted by: nadine at October 13, 2009 9:01 AM

Jeremy, aren't you technically under-age State-side? Pot meet Kettle. BOOM.
(Yes, I do enjoy irony, why do you ask?)

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at October 13, 2009 9:14 AM

Has anyone read the book that this film is based on (same title, by Swedish writer John Lindqvist)?

How do we feel about book spoilers being allowed in the discussion? If you have only ever seen the movie there are a lot more details about the origin of Eli and the older gentleman who... well, anyway I'm not going to spoil anything here but I do know that there are a lot of things the movie chose not to reveal or to keep ambiguous that the novel gets into.

So what does Pajiba think? Do we view it as a stand-alone film and let the movie speak for itself? Or do we bust out the book-to-movie comparisons and shed some high-wattage light on the story and the characters? Does that add to the discussion or detract from it?

Posted by: Yossarian at October 13, 2009 9:18 AM

Optimus: Oh darn, you're right...Although that depends on the activity. I can still smoke, join the army and fuck, so I got that going for me. HIGH FIVE!

Posted by: Jeremy Feist at October 13, 2009 9:32 AM

Yossarian

I just happen to have this link handy, can't think why:

http://www.pajiba.com/book_reviews/let-the-right-one-in-book-review.php

Though I don't know how people will feel about book vs movie in the movie thread, there was some discussion there about what was left in and what wasn't.

Posted by: Carrie at October 13, 2009 9:38 AM

I have read rumors that the subtitles in the DVD version SUCK FLAMING MONKEY BALLS. I have read rumors that the subtitles in the DVD bear no resemblance to the subtitles that were shown in the theatre.

Can anyone confirm this? Has anyone seen the theatre version and the DVD version and can compare the subtitles, please?

Posted by: BWeaves at October 13, 2009 9:46 AM

@BWeaves - you're absolutely right. When it was released in the U.S., they dumbed-down the subtitles. You can find the real version on Netflix or via torrent if you're so inclined.

Having read the book and having seen both versions of the film, you MUST watch the correct subtitles in order to retain what the true meaning is about.

Posted by: Matt at October 13, 2009 10:01 AM

In Algeria flaming monkey balls are traditionally served in pitta bread. Tabouli is generally served as a side dish.

Anyway, I want to have babies with this film.

Posted by: TSF at October 13, 2009 10:05 AM

Huh. Well where the hell was I two months ago when that was posted? (also: only nine commments? Where the hell was everybody else?)

As much as a part of me wants to open the floodgates for all the juicy back story from the novel I do think it would have a dampening effect on the discussion. Where the movie was purposefully vague and open-ended it allows people to come up with their own interpretations of characters and events. That's part of the fun of the movie club. The trouble with bringing the book into that discussion is that the book version can take on a perceived authority (no, no, this is the what really happened) and tyrannize the conversation.

That said, there are some big revelations in the book that don't get explored by the movie... if there are a lot of people who, let's face it, are never going to read the book on their own there might be a lot of curiosity out there.

Posted by: Yossarian at October 13, 2009 10:05 AM

I just watched most of it on Sunday. Excellent choice. (Shut up, I fell asleep after a long day of movie watchin')

Posted by: admin at October 13, 2009 10:10 AM

@BWeaves - you're absolutely right. When it was released in the U.S., they dumbed-down the subtitles. You can find the real version on Netflix or via torrent if you're so inclined.

Having read the book and having seen both versions of the film, you MUST watch the correct subtitles in order to retain what the true meaning is about.

Posted by: Matt at October 13, 2009 10:01 AM
---
So I've only seen the THIRD best version? (Original > theater subtitles > DVD subtitles.) And I was so excited about the club doing a movie I'd seen in the last year and liked a lot, and now I find out it wasn't any good.

Dumbed down how? Or should I save this discussion for 10/27?

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at October 13, 2009 10:15 AM

Yay! I loved this movie. Even with the dumbed down subtitles. And have it on DVD. With the dumbed down subtitles, I'm sure.

I for one have not yet read the book (it's on my list for Cannonball II: Electric Bookaloo: In My Pants: Not Without My Library Card: Mother May I Read With Danger). Personally, I don't worry about spoilers; however, I think if we're discussing a film, the discussion should be limited to what's in the film, and how it creates meaning in and of itself. Certainly it could be interesting to discuss the difference in meaning between the book and the film. But really, only if you've both read it and seen it. At least, for me.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverpuppet at October 13, 2009 10:20 AM

@ TCFKAB
Re: Dumbed down subtitles


Here is a link to a horror movie blog that gives some examples. Typical movie studio stupidity, possibly done to reduce the amount of text so slow readers could keep up. I think there is a bit of an overreaction, it's not like the DVD version is utter crap, but it does come off a little dumbed down, not to mention completely unnecessary (you're marketing to the art film set, so other then the people who took Crouching Tiger back to Blockbuster because they talked funny, seriously, wtf?)

Let The Wrong Subtitles In

Posted by: Yossarian at October 13, 2009 10:23 AM

RE: the initial DVD subtitles

After several months of scouring the local stores since I learned about the subtitle debacle, I very recently found at Best Buy the newest DVD release of the film. This re-release has the theatrical subtitles, as opposed to the more literal translation that they used for the original DVD and BD releases.

The initial DVD and BD versions had the subtitles denoted (on the back cover) as:

Subtitles: English, Spanish

The updated DVD version (I have yet to find a BD redux) states:

Subtitles: English (Theatrical), Spanish

So, get to lookin'.
Target will probably be your best bet, since the studio said that the re-releases would go to Target first, and that is where I've heard of the most finds, in the web searches I've done.
I lucked-out at my local Best Buy, since the Target on my end of town apparently sucks the same set of flaming monkey balls that BWeaves read about above.

Posted by: Rykker at October 13, 2009 10:48 AM

Question: have we confirmed that the streaming Netflix version has the theatrical subtitles?

I was lucky enough to see it in the theater, but I'd love to watch it again. However, I don't want monkey ball subtitles.

I also have the book but haven't read it. I may try to read it before movie club, but. . . it ain't short.

Posted by: MM at October 13, 2009 11:22 AM

AW HELL YES!!

This is a movie that demands great discussion! I also think, having read the book, that including the book in the discussion could lead to some really interesting debates over why the director chose to remain vague on some of the major plot points in the book (specifically the history of the girl's relationship with her guardian). Before reading the book I had a wildly different interpretation of the ending, and I think both interpretations are valid and worth exploring, especially since the director made a conscious decision to leave it very ambiguous.

I am so excited!

Posted by: AES at October 13, 2009 11:24 AM

I don't know about the difference in subtitles. I watched the Netflix DVD version and they didn't seem "off."

However, the DUBBING was atrocious. My 13-y.o. was watching it with me, and in the first five minutes, she asked if we could put it on subtitles because the dubbing was so terrible it was ruining the movie.

Posted by: Wednesday at October 13, 2009 11:27 AM

The book may be long but it is a REALLY fast read, or at least it was for me: couldn't put it down...

Posted by: gunter at October 13, 2009 1:21 PM

I saw it in the theater and own it on DVD. I think I got the "dumbed down" version, and I really didn't notice much difference. Maybe it was because I'd already seen it. . .

Anyway, love both the book and the movie. I think enough was left out of the movie for it to stand on its own, so only the nastiest of I've-Read-The-Bookers should have difficulty separating the two for discussion.

Posted by: Minty at October 13, 2009 1:39 PM

Thud

That was the sound of my head hitting the desk when I saw the most commonly used image from Let the Right One In next to the phrase "The Pajiba Movie Club."

Now that I've recovered, let me praise the site once again for embracing the smart side of my favorite genre. I'm sure it's just because of Halloween coming up, and I'm OK with that. I won't really get to describe horror in a straightforward way again until January, when the glut of really bad is released in theaters.

Posted by: Robert at October 13, 2009 1:41 PM

Ugh -- I hate this movie. A zillion shots of a preternaturally pale kid standing against a snow background as snot streams down his nose does not make a deep, intelligent, modern classic. It just makes me want to smack that kid upside the head and tell him to get to a tanning booth.

It also really annoys me that the people who love this movie nearly always do so for the wrong reasons -- they completely misunderstand the central theme. That said, I'm really looking forward to Lurking on that comment thread, because it will be interesting to see how many other people agree with my take (as to the theme -- not as to my opinion that this movie is a steaming toilet full of half-digested Indian takeout disguised as "art" through the use of what a 10th-grader would think is great cinematography).

And who knows -- maybe reading the opinions of such an intelligent, literary bunch will change my mind and demonstrate that I am in fact a philistine for not loving pale kids dripping snot onto the snow.

Posted by: VampireSlug at October 13, 2009 2:01 PM

I adore this movie, good choice George!!!

And yes, the version on Instant Netflix has the good subtitles.

Posted by: myysharona (formerly Sharon) at October 13, 2009 2:08 PM

Absolutely loved Let the Right one In. Possibly because it's completely unafraid to make vampires the monsters they should be, while at the same time being able to get audience sympathy for one, which is a hard balancing act to pull off. Also the cinematography and the setting. Creepy Scandinavian winters - awesome.

Re: the book, I actually like the movie's story more than the book's story. It's tighter, subtler, and more ambiguous. I think that going into Eli's backstory is a mistake the same way that getting into the backstory of the crash-landed ship in Alien would be a mistake.

Posted by: Royalewithcheese at October 13, 2009 2:13 PM

VampireSlug,

Hate the movie all you want, but quit hating on pale-skinned people. They're Scandinavian, for fuck's sake. It's not like they have a choice.

/person of Scandinavian descent

Posted by: MM at October 13, 2009 2:38 PM

Holy crap, Robert, that was the exact same reaction I had!!

I've been dying for an excuse to bump this to the top of my queue. Yay, yay, YAY!!! :D

Posted by: Jelinas at October 13, 2009 2:51 PM

MM -- I have blond(ish) hair and blue eyes myself, and I meant no offense to Scandinavian people nor to pale people -- except the kid in that film. He really annoys me.

Posted by: VampireSlug at October 13, 2009 3:15 PM

I'm with Vampire Slug, but maybe not for the same reasons.
I'd rented the movie (based on Pajiblets hazzahs) a few months back.
Possibly, I just didn't "get it" (whatever that It factor *should* have
been though, I'm not sure of either).
It just felt like a slow, dark, rather aimless picture. Zombies, horror,
Halloween, vampires (lumped collectively, yes) just aren't my bag
anyway, but I did try to give it a go. Both with deaf subtitles and with
dubbed in English speech. I'll give it a 3 of 10.
I'll cruise the comment thread, post Movie Club discussion and see if
I can glean any goodies on what might have been so wonderful.
There's my 5 cents worth.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 3:55 PM

I'm with Vampire Slug, but maybe not for the same reasons.
I'd rented the movie (based on Pajiblets hazzahs) a few months back.
Possibly, I just didn't "get it" (whatever that It factor *should* have
been though, I'm not sure of either).
It just felt like a slow, dark, rather aimless picture. Zombies, horror,
Halloween, vampires (lumped collectively, yes) just aren't my bag
anyway, but I did try to give it a go. Both with deaf subtitles and with
dubbed in English speech. I'll give it a 3 of 10.
I'll cruise the comment thread, post Movie Club discussion and see if
I can glean any goodies on what might have been so wonderful.
There's my 5 cents worth.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 3:57 PM

I blame the work computer here for the double post.
Cuz I din touch nuttin.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 3:59 PM

Two horror movies in a row? C'mon.

Posted by: superasente at October 13, 2009 3:59 PM

I blame the work computer here for the double post.
Cuz I din touch nuttin.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 4:00 PM

I blame the work computer here for the double post.
Cuz I din touch nuttin.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 4:02 PM

I blame the work computer here for the double post.
Cuz I din touch nuttin.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 13, 2009 4:03 PM

I loved this movie. I am not eloquent enough to say why, but it really touched my heart. I loved the young actors. They played their roles so well..innocent, sweet, earnest, and so moving.

Posted by: dee at October 13, 2009 4:42 PM

dern hit post to fast..

all while showing how awful it was for the girl to yearn for blood, and what it took for her to get it. And how mean children sometimes are. God those kids were horrible.

Posted by: dee at October 13, 2009 4:51 PM

Longtime lurker, first time commenter. I had to come out of the woodwork when I saw that Pajiba was going to delve into this one. My buddy Cecil and I podcast about movies and this one was suggested by a listener. Despite initial misgivings, I have to say this was an absolutely fantastic film. I'm not trying to redirect traffic or anything evil, but if anyone is interested you can find us on itunes if you search everyones a critc or you can go to our site and listen at everyonesacritic.org Our review is spoiler-riffic btw, so if you do mosey over for a listen, fair warning.

Posted by: Tom at October 13, 2009 5:47 PM

Another long-time lurker coming out to comment on this.

I saw the movie first, then read the book. I would actually recommend this order.

The movie is long and slow but it's one of the creepiest things I've seen in a long time. By the time it ended, my shoulders were firmly planted in my ears. I also appreciated that it was also a "real" vampire story--not a romance with a supernatural element thrown in.

The book disturbed me. There are several things--terrible things--that are alluded to in the movie but are made explicit in the book. More than once I had to put the book down and take a deep breath.

In the end, though, they both left me more sad than creeped out or disturbed. It wasn't quite the hollowed-out, hand-me-the-razor-blade sad I felt after The Road, but it was close. As with The Road, I'm not sure "liked" is the right word but I'm glad I experienced them both.

And...I'm out.

Posted by: Ally at October 13, 2009 7:05 PM

Yossarian, Thanks for that link ... I guess, because that is some rank bitchery there, that is.

Umm ... butchery, rank butchery. But I left "bitchery" there because of course.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at October 14, 2009 12:51 AM

I love this movie but hadn't thoroughly explored its depths until I listened to the free movie review podcast "Everyone's A Critic" covering *Let the Right One In*. Tom and Cecil, the guys who host this podcast are both INTELLIGENT and FREAKING HILARIOUS (they also swear like me), which not only kept my attention, but the layers they dissect and examine for this movie are easy-to-understand-philosophical and uber entertaining in a smartass kind of way. I recommend it - www.everyonesacritic.org

Posted by: S. McNabb at October 14, 2009 12:19 PM

Long time lurker, first time commenter...

I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! I saw it in theatres so imagine my disappointment when I get the horrible dumbed down English subtitled one. At least the English dub follows the original theatrical lines (but sooo atrocious to hear! Aargh!!).

I can't wait to get the new DVD with the English theatrical subtitles. That will make me a very happy camper.

I want to get the book altho I already read spoilers. Vampire books/movies are my thing (good ones anyway!) and I understood where the movie was going before even getting the book. Maybe cos I'm used to reading such disturbing things?! Yeah, I think I might need to tone down on the horror movies/novels for a while...

Posted by: Kat at October 14, 2009 12:31 PM

Greetings my American cousins!
The last thing I want to do is turn this comment section into some sort of congratulatory, back-slapping, cheesefest, but after reading S.McNabb's recommendation of www.everyonesacritic.org I have to pipe up in agreement. They covered this excellent movie a couple of shows back and produced one of the most entertaining episodes I've listened to.
It's an intelligent, grown-up, reviews podcast for intelligent grown-ups.
(Jesus. People pay good money for that kind of tag line!!!!!)

Posted by: Andy's procrastinating pencil at October 14, 2009 4:12 PM





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