Say what you want about the need for an English language adaptation (as if you need anybody’s blessing), but it’s hard to find fault in this blood-soaked poster. See it full-size after the cut, along with a few quotes drained from MTV‘s interview with director Matt Reeves.
In advance of the October 1 premiere of Let Me In, Matt Reeves is on hand for a preview presentation and panel discussion at Comic Con.
“I was blown away,” he said of seeing the film for the first time. “I guess what excites me about the story, from the first time I saw it to when I read Lindqvist’s book, is the way he was able to take the trappings of a genre vampire story and essentially smuggle in this coming of age love story. So it’s one of the things I particularly responded to. I love the relationship [between Oskar and Eli].”
As much as he appreciates the story, Reeves has a very clear idea of how he sees “Let Me In” standing apart from its inspiration. “I hope in what we’ve done that there’s a sense of suspense and dread. I don’t know if that will feel different [from the original, but it’s something] I’m really anxious to see.”
One interesting fact Reeves shared is that he actually wrote Lindqvist a letter after seeing the film and reading the book, but before getting started on the remake. “He had done this thing about pre-adolescence, the pain of pre-adolescence/adolescence, [the] juxtaposition and confusion about being on the cusp of entering your teen years and looking at the world of adults around you. The whole idea of [Oskar] not understanding how to deal with his feelings of helplessness and rage, the idea of growing up and being bullied. All of that stuff I totally related to.
Reeves got this reply from Lindqvist:
‘I saw Cloverfield and I really liked Cloverfield because it was a very fresh spin on a very old, tried and true story, and that’s really what I was trying to do with [my book]. But I’m actually even more excited now [hearing from you] because it’s actually the story of my childhood, this book. It’s a semi-autobiography, minus the vampires.’
