Invitations

[FBM]

Hello,

I saw the movie and read the book for the first time last week, and am trying to puzzle out the particulars of this brand of vampire. The invitation taboo is novel -- when used at all in other settings, the invitation requirement appears to be a physical barrier (Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer can actually lean against open air in the doorway without falling through) or otherwise inviolate. But only in LtROI do we see a vampire violate the ban, with painful consequences.

Based on my read of the book, here are the specifics:
-Must be invited into any building, or discrete, individually owned section of building (say, an apartment).
-Must be invited into any new portal (so that even if invited through a front door, must ask again to go through a back door or window).
-Anyone inside the building may give the invitation, not just one who lives there (as seen at the pool).

Does that sound right? Does anyone have anything to add to that? I personally think the definition of what invokes the ban is a little tricky -- for instance, would going into an apartment building require and invite as does entering an apartment? Why would a public area that is only used briefly (the pool) be included? Would a school and individual classrooms each warrant an invite?

Thanks,
FBM

[Ka Faraq Gatri]

I recently watched The Lost Boys again for the 1st time in a decade and it has an interesting take on the whole invitation thing.

vampires can enter any structure without invitation, though if they do happen to get an invite it renders the occupants defenseless aka holy water, garlic etc have no effect also they need an invite every-time they enter to remain invulnerable

[Raven Eyes]

Vampires needing to be invited dates further back. It is mentioned by Van Helsing in Dracula,"He may not enter anywhere at the first, Unless there be some of the household who bid him to come; though afterwards he can come as he please." I can also remember it in the novel of Salem's Lot (the vampire children knocking on a window asking their friend to let them in and what happens when they are refused an invite).

[jonjon_z]

Hello FBM and Raven Eyes. Welcome!

-Must be invited into any new portal (so that even if invited through a front door, must ask again to go through a back door or window).

This didn't dawn on me until now when you mentioned it. Eli needed two invites to come into the hospital. Nice catch FBM. But then this raises the question, "How could Eli fly back to her apartment through her window without Hakan?"

I recently watched The Lost Boys again for the 1st time in a decade and it has an interesting take on the whole invitation thing.

Speaking of Lost Boys, it was the only film/literature that suggested you could cure a vampire by killing the one who infected him/her. Just an interesting tidbit.

[bore]

This didn't dawn on me until now when you mentioned it. Eli needed two invites to come into the hospital. Nice catch FBM. But then this raises the question, "How could Eli fly back to her apartment through her window without Hakan?"

Does Eli really need to be invited into his own home?
No one else really lives there so if you don't count Eli it's just an empty apartment.

[jonjon_z]

Yea that's right. I was starting to think the invitation at the front entrance wasn't a invitation at all. JAL just beckoned Eli to go "right through those doors".

[Ash]

A part of me says JAL must be sitting back and laughing at us quibbling over minor details like these. But another part of me says they wouldn't have dubbed over Miss Leandersson if they weren't themselves obsessed with minor details.
Then what is considered a minor detail? A missed invitation here and there, or dubbing over the major actor because her voice didn't sound right? You be the judge.

[drakkar]

A part of me says JAL must be sitting back and laughing at us quibbling over minor details like these.

Depends what you mean with "laughing at": In a recent TV interview about "Let the Old Dreams Die" (discussed on the board here viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2680&start=50), the host asks JAL if there has been any speculations about what happened after LTROI ends, on what JAL replies "there is this fantastic american forum ..), so I sense the forum is treated with respect, both from JAL and from Ordfront. On some occations JAL has offered serious and very informative comments to what most people (like my wife ) would call nitpicking about minor details.

[a_contemplative_life]

Wouldn't surprise me if JAL thought we are slightly neurotic, but since our neurosis involves his work, he's probably cool with it.

[bore]

A part of me says JAL must be sitting back and laughing at us quibbling over minor details like these.

In the Swedish commentary track to the movie JAL and TA quibbles a bit about the invitation "bloopers".
Part of me says that JAL is a bit irritated by by the inconsistency in the book.