Let the Right One In

As Episode 1 of "Let the Right One In" (2022 release; 10 episodes of about an hour each) opens, we are introduced to Mark as he is on a train, with a large box next to him, later revealed as containing his young-looking vampire daughter Ellie. Mark and Ellie are returning to New York for reasons unknown. Neighboring their apartment is a single mom and her 11 or 12 yo son. AS it happens, the mom is a police detective and at the start of a grizzly investigation into a suspicious death,,, At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: you may recall that on 2008 a brilliant Swedish film "Let the Right One In" (based on the Swedish novel of the same name) was released, which in turn led to the 2010 Hollywood remake "Let Me In", quite good but not the sensation that was the Swedish original (and it bombed at the US box office). Now a decade+ Andrew Hinderaker ("Away") brings us this TV series, "inspired" by the Swedish novel. Based solely on the opening episode (the only one available at this time), I can't help but wonder what the point of it is. The premise is of course the same as before: a man and his vampire daughter who looks like a 12 yo girl but in reality we don't know how old she really is, try to survive the best they can (the opening episode is tellingly titled "Anything For Blood"), while in a parallel story the vampire girl befriends the neighboring boy. If you've seen the original Swedish movie or even the Hollywood remake, chances are that you will ponder one thought: "why this TV series?". That certainly is my sense at this point. It's not that Episode 1 was "bad" but it feels unnecessary. I'll certainly give it a couple of additional episodes before making up my mind whether to stick with it or whether to bail.

I'm not sure why IMDb has this listed as Episode 1 premiering on October 9. I saw Episode 1 three days ago (October 6) when it started streaming on Showtime. Future episodes will be released on a weekly basis. If you are curious about the latest re-imagining of one of the best and most original vampire stories in the last 20 years, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

*UPDATE* I've now seen the next 2 episodes. And I've upgraded my rating to 7 stars, even to my own surprise. Really liking the flow of this mini-series.

*UPDATE* 11/21/22 We are now 7 episodes into this, and after a so-so start, this mini-series has really found its own groove. Episode 7 in particular in very strong, as it finally reveals the origin story of whatever happened to Ellie some 10 years ago, and also what happened to her mom.

Both the original Swedish and its American counterpart borrow the Stephen King theme of making the horrors of adolescence into real monsters. The lead characters, Oskar and Ellie, are latchkey kids in a dismal blue collar town. Oskar lives and unhappy life of being bullied at school and making his own dinner alone at night. Ellie spends all her life looking out a window and hoping for a friend. They cure their loneliness by befriending each other.

The book on which the movies is based is much more horrifying that either movie suggests. The relationship between Ellie (or Abby) and her father is not wholesome. Ellie's history is truly brutal. The ending is more graphic and gothic than hopeful.

Each movie gets further from the original novel.

So far, the series follows the path taken by the movies. It doesn't ask why. It doesn't care why. Instead, it wants to cure Ellie, when those of us who saw the movie know that Ellie doesn't want a cure.

Whether or not the search of the "original" monster can sustain the series yet, I can't tell. It seems to meander, has way too many characters, and so far does little to develop the two principal characters. Since they are the heart of both the book and the films, that may be a problem as time goes on.

Still, given the current state of drek when it comes to originality in Hollywood, I would rather watch the remake of remake of the film version of a novel than about 90% of programming.

The actors are good. The story is interesting. And i hope the show continues to expand the story.

Let's give it a chance.

I was skeptical since a movie is being redone I to a series. That doesn't always work very well. I really wanted to give this a perfect score but just can't after only 3 episodes. The issues I had with the original movie as well as the American version is that I was left with so many questions. Immediately this series is giving the impression those questions may get answered. It has expanded upon the original story and seems to be setting up a nice plot for the viewer to get enthralled with. Add to it violence, gore, and effects that were only teased in the movies. All said this has the hal.arks of an excellent horror series with a likeable cast.

Never rated anything this high right out the gate after only 2 episodes.. I feel this is one of the best done series i've seen in a while. I'm talking filming, editing, etc. We'll see how well eveything else goes as it progresses. I watched the original Swedish film many years ago and while I've never read the book ( so that doesn't cloud my judgement) I loved the 2008 film and so far I'm really liking this. I love Demian Bishir he is excellent in this the only thing is the relationship with Elenor and Isah makes the entire story and I feel the actor playing the boy doesn't doesn't have the skill for the part. Also on a side note why does the mother constantly berate her son in one scene tells him to take off the blazer/jacket it will make him a target?!? I understand the kid's bullied but her and her detective make derogatory comments about him? She seems to make him feel worse about himself? Any ways I'm going to have to rewatch last night episode because I started it a 4am and fell asleep half way thru. So far I am really liking this! I hope all 10 episodes live up to the first 2!

What idiot cancelled this show? It is clearly a good show regardless of whether it lives up to the movie it was based on. The acting is good and the characters pull you right into the narrative.

I binged watched this show, finishing the entire first season in a couple of days. I enjoyed the build up. I just don't understand how the executives that cancelled this show couldn't see the value in it. How could a show liek Webdreams last three years and they cancel this show in its first season? Who hires these executives that makes clearly bad decisions?

Please stop promoting reality shows while you cancel clearly good dramas.