The cgi - Let Me In (2010) Discussion

[–] HarpoSpoke 9 years ago

And the reveal of the caretaker being with her since he was twelve killed this movie.

I liked those things for a few reasons:

1-The cgi showed me that Abby is a dual entity similar to the novel in both the appearance and the inhuman way the vampire side moved.

2-Knowing that Abby and Thomas had a backstory/history added some pathos to the story for me. I especially love how it encouraged me to use my imagination to speculate about what they've been through for 40-50 years. The picture also didn't strike me as "boyfriend/girlfriend" so I get more of a "brother/sister" vibe from their relationship. Thomas was much more of a sympathetic character for me due to this. His death impacted me far more than in the Swedish version. Hakan just kinda creeped me out. The only real clue I got from him was that look he gave Eli in the cab. Pedo alert!

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[–] wakedemons3 9 years ago

Huh?? In what possible way did finding out her "dad" was actually her brother kill the movie? What the hell are you talking about?

Are you not entertained?!

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[–] Bu54Lb 9 years ago

Brother? 

http://flickr.com/photos/55196522@N05/sets/72157625135851207/detail/

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[–] wakedemons3 9 years ago

Uh yeah... her helper was her brother. They showed a picture of them both as kids next to each other. He aged, while she didn't.

Are you not entertained?!

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[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"Uh yeah... her helper was her brother. They showed a picture of them both as kids next to each other. He aged, while she didn't." - wakedemons3

That's an interesting take, and it would work too.

What the majority of people (okay, pretty much all) who have an opinion about that photo think, is that the "father" (Thomas) was a boy that Abby befriended, which lead to him becoming her blood procurer. This is taken as foreshadowing of what Owen will become, and is the nub of the "cycle theory".

The "cycle theory", in case you have never come across it, involves Abby deliberately seducing young, lonely, vulnerable boys (maybe girls as well) into falling in love with her so that when they are old enough they can start killing people for their blood. Disposing of them when they become inefficient or a liability, only to replace them with a new infatuated victim. I have never liked this theory.

Your idea that Thomas is Abby's brother undermines completely the idea that Abby is an experienced cold manipulator of innocents, but rather she is a lonely girl in need of non-familial love who has never manipulated anyone into killing for her (assuming Thomas did so out of brotherly love).

Personally, I find Abby not being a cold manipulator of innocents to be a much more horrific scenario than if she were.

Nice.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] wakedemons3 9 years ago

I didn't realize any set of standardized theories existed. I assumed when I saw the movie they were siblings and that's that. Interesting.

Are you not entertained?!

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[–] cassbtt 9 years ago

You know, that's a perfectly reasonable assumption. Only those who were aware of the Swedish book and movie this was based on would "know" otherwise. The older man's behaviour sort of suits a cranky, envious(?) older brother.

Still, "Oh well, they're siblings" leaves a lot of interesting and unanswered questions.

http://www.catconsulting.ca/themanyfacesofabby/index.htm

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[–] FrodoPotter 8 years ago

But if he is her brother. Why would he ask her to 'please stop seeing that boy' (Owen)?

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[–] Jameron 8 years ago

"But if he is her brother. Why would he ask her to 'please stop seeing that boy' (Owen)?" - FrodoPotter

Assuming that Thomas is Abby's brother (I'm not sure I agree with this, I just thought it was a nice theory)

There could be multiple reasons...

Jealousy - Thomas would have had his sister to himself for decades, an exclusive relationship. Owen taking up some of Abby's thoughts and time could make Thomas feel insecure and jealous. Don't forget that Thomas has been almost as isolated as Abby for the past fortyish years, his emotional growth has been stipend almost as much as Abby's.

Fear for Owen - Thomas knows what his sister is, and what she can do to people. Yes, I know Thomas kills people, but that doesn't mean that he is an uncaring monster. Part of this story's power is that people are not only one thing, the world isn't black and white. You, yourself, have acknowledged as much in another thread when you say that Abby is "5% to 25% feelings for Owen, 75% to 95% just needing a caretaker replacement imho."

Security reasons - This one is obvious, even to me. With Owen spending time with Abby the truth about them is likely to come out, leading to the modern equivalent of pitch forks and flaming torches, and that is the last thing Thomas or Abby would want.

Fear for his own position - The very real danger that Owen could fall in love with Abby and volunteer to help with the blood collecting, eventually leading to Thomas being pushed to the sidelines because of his attitude and mistakes.

There are probably more, but these are just off the top of my head.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] FrodoPotter 8 years ago

Thought about it again, and Thomas clearly is not her brother. Because we know Abby to be about 250 years old right? So her brother would be long dead in that case.
The deleted flashback scene that shows Abby being attacked by a vampire also clearly has the feel of it happening many centuries ago, not like 50 years ago (which would have to be the case if her brother is still be alive).
So no, Thomas is just the previous guy Abby had chosen, and now Owen is his replacement.

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[–] Jameron 8 years ago

"Thought about it again, and Thomas clearly is not her brother. Because we know Abby to be about 250 years old right?" - FrodoPotter

There is nothing in the film to tell us how old Abby is. Statements from actors, or deleted scenes are not canon. I know the author's intent, and Reeves' stated view of Abby's age, but this didn't make it into the film. The film remains ambiguous about Abby's age with "I've been twelve for a very long time". A "very long time" to a twelve year old could be forty or fifty years.

Like I said previously, I don't think Thomas is Abby's brother, but the film doesn't rule it out, and it's an interesting thought.

"So no, Thomas is just the previous guy Abby had chosen, and now Owen is his replacement." - FrodoPotter

Or maybe Abby has real feelings for Owen, just as she once had for Thomas?

There is a statement from Thomas' counterpart in the novel ... "Real love is to offer your life at the feet of another..." If Reeves brought that sentiment into Let Me In for Thomas, that would explain why he chose to kill for Abby, and why he stayed with her all these years, he has no life of his own, his life belongs to Abby. Also, Håkan (Thomas' counterpart) is a middle aged man when he meets Eli (Abby's counterpart) in the novel, and decides to help Eli survive.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] cassbtt 8 years ago

I barely remember the logic to my point, since I wrote it many months ago. But sure there are domineering siblings who'd say such a thing to a (younger) sibling who wants to, say, go out with some unapproved somebody.

But yeah, his tone of voice sounds like a dumped or soon-to-be-dumped boy-pal.

http://www.catconsulting.ca/themanyfacesofabby/index.htm

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[–] HarpoSpoke 8 years ago

I barely remember the logic to my point, since I wrote it many months ago. But sure there are domineering siblings who'd say such a thing to a (younger) sibling who wants to, say, go out with some unapproved somebody.

But yeah, his tone of voice sounds like a dumped or soon-to-be-dumped boy-pal.

I recently saw an episode of Dexter where one of the male characters was being over protective of his sister with regard to a new boyfriend. Definitely fits the theory here.

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[–] Bu54Lb 9 years ago

No it was her lover and provider.

http://flickr.com/photos/55196522@N05/sets/72157625135851207/detail/

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[–] HarpoSpoke 9 years ago

No it was her lover and provider.

My take is that this wasn't true at the time of the photo. Their body language in the photo doesn't seem overly affectionate. Plus....he's smaller than her. Not typical for a 12 year old girl to have a crush on a smaller boy.

Maybe it happened later, but I don't think it started out that way.

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[–] cassbtt 9 years ago

At that age, lots of girls are taller than boys. I remember...!

http://www.catconsulting.ca/themanyfacesofabby/index.htm

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[–] HarpoSpoke 9 years ago

At that age, lots of girls are taller than boys. I remember...!

Oh that's definitely true. I remember that too. :D

But for a movie, those kinds of choices are made on purpose. I doubt Reeves would have cast a shorter actor than Moretz for instance. (or they would have tried to hide it)

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[–] cassbtt 9 years ago

Ha, well, Moretz sure hasn't kept up with Kodi since 2010! 5'4" vs. 6'2"

http://www.catconsulting.ca/themanyfacesofabby/index.htm

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[–] HarpoSpoke 9 years ago

Ha, well, Moretz sure hasn't kept up with Kodi since 2010! 5'4" vs. 6'2"

No kidding! Kodi is going to have to grow into his face or his career might suffer. I haven't seen him lately actually. He'll probably "even out" by age 25.

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[–] cassbtt 9 years ago

Brother?

Urp, yeah, just the respondent's interpretation of Harpo's opinion about the relationship. Power of suggestion.

http://www.catconsulting.ca/themanyfacesofabby/index.htm

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[–] jamescraig2000 8 years ago

Agreed that the CGI mainly in the tunnel scene was cringy. I don't know why the tree climb wasn't as bad. I did really like the hospital climb though. It made you search for her.

I did a re-edit with my own touch. I took the part right as the guy picks her up and she wraps herself over him with the screech and cut to Owen eating dinner with his mother ( I cut that out in the beginning) . I thought of a bit of a humorous stab since she was eating dinner now so was he.

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This is my sig Not that ^

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