MovieChat Forums > Låt den rätte komma in (2008) Discussion > For new fans

For new fans

posted 9 years ago by dongregg-953-168798
18 replies | jump to latest

I'm seeing new user names here of folks who clearly like LTROI and are willing to discuss it intelligently. There is a fan discussion site, started in 2009, that has tons of cool stuff -- the discussions, fan fictions, fan art, and areas of related interest, such as discussions of JAL's other stories.

http://let-the-right-one-in.com

It's a free site, but I'm told that unregistered guests will see some banner ads. I don't remember seeing them, but I probably joined too quickly to remember them.

Go to the Board Index to see a list of all the threads. Here are some cool ones:

Let the Right One In (Film):

"Monster or Child--A Narrative Weakness in the Film." This is a (polite but) gloves-off discussion of Eli's motives.

Fan Art:

"Coming in from the Cold." Some of Daniel Ether's drawings for PeteMork's monumental fan fiction.

Fan Fictions:

"Kristina." A story so engaging that it takes your breath away.

"The Goldsmith." New, still in process.

"little Funny Fictions." Mostly light-hearted, short vignettes. One dear one is not to be missed. On screen 6, there is the tale of Eli's winter visits to old Farmer Halvard. "Trykk. Trykk." (Tap. Tap.)

I hope you visit. And if you're into LTROI as much as I am, I hope you'll stay a while.

[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

Picking up a new members on We The Infected who have become very active. Not sure why the surge.

http://let-the-right-one-in.com

[–] gorillagrodd30 9 years ago

I just recently watched the movie for the first time. I saw this thread so signed up on your site.Thanks for the link. Im in the process of reading the book. i will probably post more on your site after i finish.

[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

Outstanding! I'll keep an eye out for you.

[–] jamespenson 8 years ago

I registered a couple of days ago and am looking forward to participating:)
thanks.

banjoist123

[–] dongregg-953-168798 8 years ago

I'm looking forward to your first post! :)

[–] jamespenson 8 years ago

Thanks:) I admit I have become completely obsessed with this movie/book, and I've got stuff to post, for sure.

banjoist123

[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

The WTI site has had a slew of visitors logged on, as many as 43 at the same time. Anybody have a clue as to why the surge in interest?

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

Quality prevails?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] Old_Man_From_Scene_24 9 years ago

Your avatar is outstanding.

"All these squares make a circle."

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

Why, thank you very much, Ainsley. So nice of you to say 

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- - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] Old_Man_From_Scene_24 9 years ago

I'll have to give that site a go. I was so enthralled by the book and movie at 15 that I'm in the process of writing a FanFic-based sequel, as seems to be the norm. That was five years ago and I did delete it from FF because I thought I was going to discontinue entirely, but it'll be back up and hopefully completed at some point in the next couple of years. Before it was taken down it was one of the most popular in the "Låt den rätte komma in" book section of the site.

Fan discussion sounds interesting.

"All these squares make a circle."

[–] SaliceMcD 9 years ago

By no means do I mean to challenge or discredit the overwhelmingly positive response to this film by those of you here and elsewhere; that would be meaningless and ridiculous. My initial response was the same - but please don't hate me for saying that a few minutes' further thought left me instead disgusted and somewhat angry.

IMO Eli is a manipulative user who's cruel to her aging, faltering caretaker and looking to seduce, perhaps, her next. Any signs of affection from him were seen by me in retrospect as guile honed over perhaps (leaving the book aside; I haven't read it so am guessing) hundreds of years.

I see him show no gratitude or affection whatsoever to Håkan, who gives his life to Eli; s/he takes it cunningly - feigning concern for her "Papa" to locate him - and without a parting word - unless I missed one - nor any grief.

Any tears Eli shed over killing were to me of self-pity.

I feel strongly that the film should have shown or at least somehow have hinted to us Håkan's motivation for serving Eli as he did. Not knowing it left me feeling that something about Eli was being withheld, and I felt the implication, if this omission was intentional, was that it was a negative characteristic, to put it mildly.

Young "lovers" who could never be running away together; to what end, what fate, for Oskar? Life as a murderer serving this creature for as long as he's of use, and not caught, then being replaced as was his predecessor, or a young boy "turned" into another Eli? And after what happened at the pool, they won't be caught in a country the size of Sweden, two 12 year olds? Probably crass of me to apply mundane practicality to this sort of film, but that's just how my mind works; sorry!

Don't misunderstand me; I think the girl who played Eli was incredible, and am not faulting her performance in the least. As I said, she had me totally sold, initially. Instead, I feel I was the victim of a very, very well-executed con job by the filmmakers.

I respect all opinions here and mean no offense. This was, however, my - admittedly secondary - reaction to the film. With that said, I would recommend it most highly to anyone. Great, great movie, as are all that make one think . . . and then think some more.

Just "discussing!"

[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

Young "lovers" who could never be running away together; to what end, what fate, for Oskar? Life as a murderer serving this creature for as long as he's of use, and not caught, then being replaced as was his predecessor, or a young boy "turned" into another Eli? And after what happened at the pool, they won't be caught in a country the size of Sweden, two 12 year olds? Probably crass of me to apply mundane practicality to this sort of film, but that's just how my mind works; sorry!

Your mind works just fine, as does your heart.

Mundane practicality is what hooked me. How would a real 12-year-old vampire live? Not like the campy, opulent vampires as previously presented on the screen. How about poor, stinky, and bored?

As for Oscar's fate, I didn't think for one second that he would be the new Håkan. Too young, too much of a weenie. I knew that their relationship was something totally new and unexpected for both of them.

Of course, a lovingly written follow-up short story, Let the Old Dreams Die, clarifies that point.

To what end? To what fate?

What will happen to them? Good things. Bad things. Life will happen to them.

[–] jidici 9 years ago

@SaliceMcD - I too had this second reaction and quite frankly took it to a horribly black black place instantaneously. It became literally the complete opposite of the initial reaction which was life. First reaction "life" second reaction "death". But this is a theme in the movie I think. When one is down and out mentally/spiritually, like Oskar, one desires love and life but the thing holding a person back is fear and hatred, the fear that trying something new, like sticking up for oneself, may end up worse than if that person didnt try at all. This possibility is represented in the realization that Oskar could end up like the caretaker. I even think this theme of opposites is used throughout the film like the black night sky on the bright white snow.

I ask though that you consider that the movie didnt make this second reaction you had a fact but a possibility, a possibility that many passionate fans dont see, dont want to see, and maybe rightfully so. What I mean by that is of course the "rational" side of the brain will say that Oskar will grow older while Eli stays the same and theyll be constantly on the run where Oskars facial expressions will start to look like Hakans and Eli will have to find someone else. But is the "rational" brain the one to listen to? Sometimes sure but many times it can keep a person stuck. The hopeful bright ending is basically heaven on earth, its life and love and fun and adventure and happiness etc and to believe in that in the face of so much darkness in the world requires faith I think. To quote Ozzy Osbourne "you got to believe in foolish miracles". I think this movie is a very spiritually themed movie.

Sorry if this got too heavy, but your post got me thinking about this movie...again.

[–] drakkar 9 years ago

IMO Eli is a manipulative user who's cruel to her aging, faltering caretaker

Is he, really? When disposing of Jocke's dead (and large) body, Håkan shows both strength and quick thinking. It's just that he is a terrible killer, like most people. What does that tell you? Perhaps that he hasn't been doing it for very long?

I see him show no gratitude or affection whatsoever to Håkan, who gives his life to Eli..

Another sign of their acquaintance being a relatively new one. And, for the record, Eli did show signs of grief when he finished off Håkan.

I feel strongly that the film should have shown or at least somehow have hinted to us Håkan's motivation for serving Eli as he did.

It does hint about that, twice. The answer is that Håkan is a paedophile, who "fancies children for the wrong reasons", quoting the director.

Young "lovers" who could never be running away together; to what end, what fate, for Oskar?

And, also, to what fate for Eli?
That's the mesmerizing question. Both Eli and Oskar break out from their respective life patterns, and we leave them as they take the leap into the unknown, together.

...what fate, for Oskar? Life as a murderer serving this creature for as long as he's of use, and not caught, then being replaced as was his predecessor, or a young boy "turned" into another Eli?

The last perhaps, but not the first.
Eli's new caretaker must be an adult, since he/she must hire apartments, and kill and procure blood for Eli. A kid like Oskar cannot take that position, that's out of the question.

For the heart life is simple. It beats as long as it can.

[–] SaliceMcD 9 years ago

Thanks for your replies - and for not slamming me! (jidici, it heartens me to know I'm not completely alone re my reactions.)

I'm struggling to recover from a painful eye condition that makes it hard to read and write, but will respond further when I can.

BTW, I plan to read the book, and LTODD. Although you all likely know what happens in the latter, I'll be circumspect . . .

Do you think it's right or fair of someone of Eli's advanced years (per the book) and supposed (?) maturity to grant Oskar's very youthful 12-year-old "romantic" wish, assuming this is how it goes down, by turning him? I can't help but view this as a selfish act; Eli's wanting someone to join him in his sad (to me) existence. At the same time, I can see the appeal of this situation, at least academically.

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"Do you think it's right or fair of someone of Eli's advanced years (per the book) and supposed (?) maturity to grant Oskar's very youthful 12-year-old "romantic" wish, assuming this is how it goes down, by turning him? I can't help but view this as a selfish act; Eli's wanting someone to join him in his sad (to me) existence. At the same time, I can see the appeal of this situation, at least academically." - SaliceMcD

You should read the book, any answer you get here will be spoilery. But if you don't care about spoilers, read on ... Eli is stuck at age twelve, both physically and mentally. He has experienced things throughout his long life but he processes it all as a twelve year old. Not as a modern twelve year old, mind you, but a twelve year old from over two hundred years ago. Eli and Oskar both share a youthful and "romantic" wish to love and be loved, it is not one wishing to end their sadness at the selfish expense of another, but the joining of two lives so that they can heal each other.

.

- - - - - - - - - - -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e3tGxnFKfE

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

[–] dongregg-953-168798 8 years ago

Durn. I can't really discuss this without including spoilers. I'll just say that at least one fan fiction writer on We, the Infected has Eli carrying a huge (but somewhat childlike) burden of guilt for agreeing to turn Oskar.