Film Review Weekend!

This weekend I saw 2 films, one that was just recently released and the other was out last year but finally got around to Netflixing it.

The first is Let the Right One In. Now if your a vampire fan, you know what that phrase really stands for. You have to invite a vampire in. They cannot enter a residence of there own accord SO you need to make sure to let the right one in.

John Ajvide Lindqvist adapts his own novel for the screen and blends vampire lore with one of the creepiest coming of age stories in a long time and director Tomas Alfredson hits the spike in the chest with this one with his understated mood and setting.

Seeing it with a group of friends hungry for something other than a WB Twilight vampire tween romp, we really got what we lusted for. Moody and eery in tone, the lead boy, Oskar, (Kare Hedebrant) is dealing with the usual pangs of adolescence. Bullies, divorce, and now a vampire who he has more in common with than anyone in school. 

Eli, (Lina Leandersson) is the new kid in town and with no backstory as to where she came from or how old she really is, lends a great tone to the mystery of this "12" year old. Her protector, the Renfield of the cast, is well played and used by her to get fed from the locals. One thing that bothered me was instead of going for the bums and drifters around town for her meals, the killings were too local and were known people.

As for the gore factor, very sparingly and well used throughout the film. The cat scene will make you laugh but the finale is the scene worth waiting for. Each kill hits you with short startling bursts when you least expect it. 

The light score is very good at setting the mood and I highly recommend it. It can be slow and feel a bit long but for a long awaited good vampire flick, this is the right one.

The Fall is a very good storytelling film along the same feel of Pans Labrynth and Baron Munchausen. Tarsem Singh, who directed The Cell with Jennifer Lopez, along with David Fincher and Spike Jones, brings the same dreamscape imagery to this film but again goes back and forth between the story a bed ridden stuntman is telling a little girl staying in the same hospital and also tricking her into getting more morphine to help kill himself.  Catinca Untaru is a breath of fresh air as the little girl who is swept away in the fable he makes up. She must be ad-libbing half the dialogue and just being herself because you can't take your eyes off her.

The Fall is shot within 18 countries and with incredible costumes by Eiko Ishioka.

If you like stunning visuals and incredible characters, find this gem and give it a watch and get lost in it. Now!