We, The Infected

After many hours lurking around this forum and reading the great conversations you guys have about this beautiful book/film I thought I may as well join in. I guess I've become as "infected" as the rest of you. Let the Right One In is one of many films I come back to time and time again, it just seems to get stronger with repeated viewings. The one thing that draws me to this movie is it's visual style and how the sound and images work together. Hoyte van Hoytema did an amazing job capturing the atmosphere of the story, the shot choices between Oscar and Eli on the Jungle gym are wonderfully done.The film has an almost "ethereal" quality to it. The setting seems so grounded and normal but with these extraordinary disturbing events taking place. This got me thinking of similar films, not in terms of story specifically but in terms of visual style and atmosphere. I seem quite drawn to this kind of aesthetic and am constantly seeking out similar films. Here's a few that come to mind...

Upstream Color - Has a strange almost woozy atmosphere, quite Terrance Malik like in places. Like LTROI I sometimes put this on just to absorb the atmosphere, like playing a favourite record.

Under the Skin - I think John Ajvide Lindqvist has mentioned being a fan of this; the book is well worth a read too. Has an amazing soundtrack and some wonderfully still silent scenes similar to LTROI.

Anyone else got any other suggestions? I'm quite interested in watching more Swedish cinema if anyone has any good suggestions.

Hi Aphelion and thanks for finally posting.

The one that comes to mind for me is My Life as a Dog from the 1980s. A love story with children. Other than that I can't think of a movie more dead opposite from Let the Right One In,. More of a feel good type of movie, but it does share the idea of love not being an easy thing, even for kids. Also there is a certain gender bending going one with one of the main characters. I'll be curious to see what other people post.

Good topic.

The only lovers left alive.
A quiet, artistic, underclimatic love story between two vampires. They are adults but still.

Watched that the other night, great film and soundtrack. Reminded me of Poppy Z Brite's early horror novels in places.

Oh yes it was so beautiful.
Didn't beat LTROI tho..

It's hard to find a similar film to LTROI. (My opinion only) annnnnd..... Welcome! Another lurker who came out of the shadows and joined the club. WOOO HOOO

Welcome to WTI, Aphelion. Good question, but here's the thing: the aspects that you mentioned -- the scenes seem so grounded and normal and yet are part of an ethereal whole that Hoyt and Tomas have conjured, including the incidental sounds along with the soundtrack -- these aspects are what really make the film hard to compare to other film experiences I've had. I guess Wings of Desire comes to mind. The poem of Peter Handke. The great cast. Peter Faulk's cameo role.

The love story is surely just as fraught with obstacles for Damiel (Bruno Ganz) and Marion (Solveig Dommartin) as the love story in LTROI is for Oskar and Eli.

If I think of other films, I post again.

Welcome to the forum. If i can come up with any movie I will post it. I agree about Under The Skin, I liked the soundtrack from the movie.

Hey Aphelion, welcome.

Don't have an answer to your question. Stumped.

I need to find Under the Skin.

Anyway, welcome!

Recently watched Spring and I’d say it has a few things in common with LTROI.
To start off, it’s essentially a boy meets girl story, as well. The main protagonist, Evan, flees from his life, which is going off the rails, to Italy where he falls for a woman named Louise. Yet, while not being a vampire, this lady keeps a secret about her “supernatural”, true nature, that’s being revealed to Evan at some point later in the film. There’re a few horror elements to it, but it’s more like a Sci-Fi-Mystery touch added to a romance that’s also good for an occasional laugh, due to the conversations of the two main actors.