Why does she need to be invited in? - Låt den rätte komma in (2008) Discussion

[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"I didn't understand this part which I think is the most important. Why you must invite her to come in before she gets into a room or a house?" - angham

Eli is a vampire, and as such, requires an invitation from someone that lives there in order to enter a home. It is classic vampire lore.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] ModarNow 9 years ago

Eli is a vampire, and as such, requires an invitation from someone that lives there in order to enter a home. It is classic vampire lore.

I see!!! I should read more about vampires! thx

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[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

And as part of the lore, I think it lends itself to the idea of a kind of seduction by the vampire.

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[–] Jameron 9 years ago

But more symbolically, in the case of this story, Oskar inviting Eli into his home is the same as him inviting Eli into his life. As well as tying in to the title, as in, letting the right one in (to your heart).

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] dongregg-953-168798 9 years ago

Right, Jammer. JAL respects the lore, but he turns it on its head to good effect. Both children have to decide to let the right one into their life. This is so clear when Oskar invites Eli into his bedroom and his bed for the innocent reason of they just want to be together.

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[–] SaliceMcD 9 years ago

Oskar does answer, "No," when Eli climbs into his bed naked and bloody and asks, "Is this gross?" but I don't recall his having been in any way invited there by Oskar.

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[–] Jameron 8 years ago

"Oskar does answer, "No," when Eli climbs into his bed naked and bloody and asks, "Is this gross?" but I don't recall his having been in any way invited there by Oskar." - SaliceMcD

There is a conversation with Eli outside the window where he says "You have to say I can come in", or words to that effect.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

I think I remember that conversation, just not in conjunction with E's getting into bed with O. It's been a while! But I'm sure you're right.

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[–] Jameron 8 years ago

"I think I remember that conversation, just not in conjunction with E's getting into bed with O" - SaliceMcD

Ah. Eli wasn't directly invited into Oskar's bed, you are correct. I misread your post, I thought you were referring to Eli being invited into Oskar's room.

Although, once in, Oskar didn't reject Eli, but accepted his presence.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

In all fairness, No, you didn't misread my post. When I wrote "there," I was referring to the room, not the bed, specifically. So you're absolutely right!

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[–] svalinanikola 8 years ago

It's one of the sillier aspects from the vampire lore, but this movie did an amazing job of incorporating it so it doesn't seem silly at all.

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[–] SaliceMcD 8 years ago

I'm not so sure it's silly, actually. It serves as an early and then ongoing test of a vampire's guile and charm, seemingly necessary for his/her survival - at least, in a civilized, "indoor" world.

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[–] dongregg-953-168798 8 years ago

I'm not so sure it's silly, actually. It serves as an early and then ongoing test of a vampire's guile and charm, seemingly necessary for his/her survival - at least, in a civilized, "indoor" world.

I agree, and on another forum, I playfully made a strictly naturalistic case for the rise of vampirism and, in particular, the need to be invited in.

Vampires cannot evolve (unless they can reproduce sexually, and I'm not aware of that being in the lore), but the contagious element can evolve. That is, there would be variant strains of it. Strains that tended to be passed on in the infecting and turning of others would use any genetic edge. Cutting to the chase, polite, well-mannered vampires could get in and kill out of the public eye. Sub-strains could evolve to the point where it blindly became a requirement, one with negative consequences if not followed. Like bleeding from the eyes and ears (!).

How did the vampire gene get started in the first place? As a variant of the genetic form of porphyria cutanea tarda (q.v.). Carriers avoid light and seek iron rich food, such as raw meat and blood. There is also the non-inherited form, acquired for example by abusing one's liver to the extent that it doesn't metabolize iron properly. In the inherited form, it's a gene that produces an enzyme that doesn't work well to metabolize dietary iron into a useable form.

"We never really grow up. We just learn how to act in public."

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[–] lombano 8 years ago

The invitation rule comes from Dracula. Some have interpreted it as evil only being able to enter your heart if you invite it. In LTROI I'd say it's about others needing your invitation to enter your life. Remember Oskar also needs to be allowed into Eli's place - first by Eli opening the door, and later with the glass door, which Eli first shuts. They both get one another's permission to enter their hearts.

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[–] dongregg-953-168798 8 years ago

lombano. On target as usual. Good to see your name after so long.

"We never really grow up. We just learn how to act in public."

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[–] corey (774) 3 years ago

I believe in the 1931 film "Dracula", Bela Lugosi remained standing at the doorway until he was invited into the house.

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