Why did all the bullies die? - Let Me In (2010) Discussion

[–] cassbtt 11 years ago

But the other bullies didn't try to stop Jimmy. Anyway, they brought it to this. Jimmy wasn't in the picture, before.

Maybe it's like when people tolerate their leaders who do awful things; they're not without blame.

It is, however, one of the things that sets this movie apart from most "revenge-type" films. There is this uncomfortable sense that "maybe they should't die" at the end. It's what makes things memorable, rather that simply satisfying. But it's not going to satisfy the popcorn crowd, who'd prefer the Carrie-type slaughter at the end where "they all deserved it, good!"

http://www.themanyfacesofabby.ca (including fan-fiction derivative sequel!)

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[–] Doc_Cochran 8 years ago

The original carrie isn't a popcorn movie and many innocents die in that film. I don;t know if they changed things in that shyt remake and thats all you've seen but you got it wrong kid!

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[–] GreenLantern (191) 7 years ago

Did you say you don't know if they changed things (implying you haven't watched it) in a shyt (I assume is for sh!t?) remake? So you have no idea what happened in a movie and you're saying it's bad lol.

I like both the original and the remake of Carrie movies myself. Chloe Grace Moretz owns pretty much every role I've seen her take on.

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[–] Jameron 11 years ago

Because they had already crossed the line, no chance of redemption. They weren't dealing with due process, where you get a chance to state your case, they were dealing with natural justice. They were all guilty of trying to kill Owen, either by direct action, or inaction. Abby was Judge, Jury, and Executioner.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] ImaWeabooApparantly 11 years ago

They only obeyed him out of fear.

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[–] Jameron 11 years ago

"They only obeyed him out of fear." - ImaWeabooApparantly

True, but maybe they should have defied him even though they feared him. After all, that's what Owen did. "Hit back ... harder than you dare".

Their inaction sealed their fate.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] ImaWeabooApparantly 11 years ago

You try standing up to a violent sociopath holding a knife.

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[–] Jameron 11 years ago

"You try standing up to a violent sociopath holding a knife." - ImaWeabooApparantly

What makes you think Jimmy was a sociopath? We know very little about him, it is much more likely that he is violent because he can be, and hasn't been challenged by anyone capable of stopping him, so he carries on being violent. The truth is most violent bullies have no form of psychopathy, they just like power and control.

When I said that they should have stood up to him I didn't mean specifically at the pool, I meant before then. The whole pool scenario could have been avoided. In fact it only needed Kenny to stand up to him as he was Jimmy's brother, and victim.

But moreover, standing up to your bully/facing your fears is not only part of the message of the film but it is also an admirable trait in the eyes of the "man in the street" American. I have read many posts from American audience members not being able to sympathise with characters that need to "man up", or "grow a pair", or "stop being such a pussy", no surprise that the taunt Kenny chooses to use against Owen is to call him a "little girl". Kenny is also a "little girl" when seen from his bullying brother's perspective, and Kenny also needs to "hit back". If Kenny had done so, no doubt he would still be alive today.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] snagletooth 11 years ago

"The truth is most violent bullies have no form of psychopathy, they just like power and control."

The desire for power and control with the willingness to achieve it through violence (and disregarding norms/lack of inhibition), and lack of empathy, is a pretty good definition of psychopathy.

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[–] Jameron 11 years ago

"The desire for power and control with the willingness to achieve it through violence (and disregarding norms/lack of inhibition), and lack of empathy, is a pretty good definition of psychopathy." - snagletooth

You would think so, but desire for power is not part of the recognised elements of psychopathy.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] snagletooth 11 years ago

It seems there's still a lack of agreement in the field on it.

There's the idea of the machievallian manipulative politician or executive, and the idea of the "In-cold-blood' type of killer.

Being in control at least in the immediate circumstances seems to be shared, the lack of empathy, the lack of fear.

On the other hand some putative psychopaths lack impulse control, others seem to do that well.

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[–] koffeenkreame41-1 10 years ago

Because they had already crossed the line, no chance of redemption. They weren't dealing with due process, where you get a chance to state your case, they were dealing with natural justice. They were all guilty of trying to kill Owen, either by direct action, or inaction. Abby was Judge, Jury, and Executioner.

^^This.

I am the ultimate badass,you do not wanna`*beep*'wit me!"- Pvt Hudson in Aliens.

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[–] jsn_hylnd 9 years ago

Oh wow you sound like a child. We see earlier that Kenny's behavior stems from his older brother who I believe has done more than just physically abuse him because Kenny had threatened a couple of times to stick something up Owen's ass. He was definitely worthy of redemption and the other two, only the older brother deserved punishment imo.

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[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"Oh wow you sound like a child. We see earlier that Kenny's behavior stems from his older brother who I believe has done more than just physically abuse him because Kenny had threatened a couple of times to stick something up Owen's ass. He was definitely worthy of redemption and the other two, only the older brother deserved punishment imo." - jsn hylnd

Had you read further into the thread before responding you would have found where I made very similar points to the ones that you make, regarding Kenny's learned behaviour.

As you mature, you might learn that a knee jerk race to the keyboard isn't always (if ever) the best course to take.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] jsn_hylnd 9 years ago

Then you should be more understanding of Kenny's behavior. I may have responded to the wrong person.

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[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"Then you should be more understanding of Kenny's behavior." - jsn hylnd

I understand why Kenny does what he does, and I agree that he is also a victim, as is Owen. However, my empathy (or lack, thereof) isn't based on what Jimmy did to Kenny, but on how Kenny dealt with it, or in his case, didn't deal with it.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] jsn_hylnd 9 years ago

Yeah, wish we could have seen more of his story. Maybe they explain him better in the book (just discovered the movie is based off a book) and maybe he did try to get help but no one would listen.

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[–] Jameron 9 years ago

"Yeah, wish we could have seen more of his story. Maybe they explain him better in the book (just discovered the movie is based off a book) and maybe he did try to get help but no one would listen." - jsn hylnd

The book does show how and why Kenny (Conny in the book) is the way he is, and it is different than in Let Me In. If you read the book I'm fairly sure you will have less sympathy for that character, rather than more.

You should read the book, it is by far my favourite version of this story.

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

http://tinyurl.com/LTROI-story

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[–] HarpoSpoke 11 years ago

They clearly showed disgust when Jimmy tried to drown Owen, hinting that they could be redeemed. Jimmy was the only one that really deserved to die.

The comparison with Nazi underlings is appropriate here.

I'm also reminded of a scene in Lonesome Dove where Call and Gus hang a former friend named Jake who carelessly fell in with some outlaws who murdered innocent people while he was with them. He didn't kill anyone...but he didn't try very hard to get away from them either.

Jake claimed he was planning to leave them as soon as he had the opportunity.

Gus: "A man that will go along with five killin's is taking his leaving awful slow."

~Sig~
Proud member of the Facebook Let Me In group, DoYouLikeMe.proboards, abbyandowen.webs.com

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[–] ElectricWarlock 11 years ago

I'm on your side. I think the other bullies were mean people, but just because someone is unkind doesn't mean they deserve death. I believe they wanted to punish Owen, but I don't think they wanted him dead or hurt seriously. Only Jimmy wanted that so he is the only one who should've died. They tried to ask him to stop and he just said to shut up.

Burn, witch! Burn, witch! Burn! Burn! Burn!

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[–] koffeenkreame41-1 11 years ago

They feared him but they should've done something, Owen was going to drown. He told Jimmy what happened and brought it to that point. Abby saw it and took them out.

"I am the ultimate badass, you do not wanna `*beep*` wit me!"- Hudson in Aliens.

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[–] daedalus73 10 years ago

Well who really "deserved" death in this movie? The bullies? All the people killed to feed Abby? Thomas? Or maybe just Abby?

So to answer OP's question of "Why did all the bullies die?" Because vampires.

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[–] HarpoSpoke 10 years ago

Well who really "deserved" death in this movie?

Reminded me of Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven. "Deserves got nothing to do with it".

~Sig~
Proud member of the Facebook Let Me In group, DoYouLikeMe.proboards, abbyandowen.webs.com

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[–] clickbait 11 years ago

in the orignial she let one of the bullies live, the weakest one, that didnt participate as much as the others did, dont know why Reeves wanted them all dead in his version.

~If the realistic details fails, the movie fails~

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[–] HarpoSpoke 11 years ago

in the orignial she let one of the bullies live, the weakest one, that didnt participate as much as the others did, dont know why Reeves wanted them all dead in his version.

Two different movies.

One reason might be that Eli watched Oskar quite a bit in that movie so he/she may have just been watching the whole scene play out and knew which one wasn't "participating". Actually, the fact that he/she left that one bully alive kinda proves that Eli was watching the whole time. That's the only way he/she could have known.

Abby was coming fast (note the glass spraying out over the water when she broke in), so couldn't really have known which bullies were involved more than others. It had to look like four guys trying to kill Owen to her. We of course know the difference, but she had no way to know it.

~Sig~
Proud member of the Facebook Let Me In group, DoYouLikeMe.proboards, abbyandowen.webs.com

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[–] rthenry49 11 years ago

Abby probably did not know which of the bullies was doing what, but I don't think she would have cared, anyway. I understand why the people commenting on this think that Kenny and the other two did not deserve to get killed, but that seems like a very nuanced distinction for an angry twelve year old kid to make. Especially when she is also a vampire. I don't think that fairness and justice were things that Abby gave a lot of thought to. She kills people for lunch, and these guys were trying to hurt her friend.

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[–] jsn_hylnd 9 years ago

I think in the scene where Owen is bragging to Abby about "hitting back" he should have also told her that Kenny's tormenting is coming from his brother because he witnessed just before he talked to her. That might have made be a little more picky in the killing at the end.

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[–] HarpoSpoke 9 years ago

I think in the scene where Owen is bragging to Abby about "hitting back" he should have also told her that Kenny's tormenting is coming from his brother because he witnessed just before he talked to her. That might have made be a little more picky in the killing at the end.

Interesting point!

Owen should have to share in the blame because Abby's perception of the bullies comes entirely from him.

Although to be fair, very few 12 year olds are going to be even-handed about a group of bullies picking on them. Owen would hardly be likely to show any sympathy for Kenny.

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[–] TerraFirma69 10 years ago

Please don't spoil in your thread titles.

Abby's a monster. She does monster things. Justice or deserving didn't come into it.

...then whoa, differences...

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[–] nnq2603 10 years ago

True. Abby simply does her job in her own way with her own mindset.

If there's anyone be able to survive Abby nature, then it'd only be Owen, the boy. Other than him, everyone else just about the same in her viewpoint while she's in blood-thirsty state. Did the cop deverse to die? No, but he still dead. Abby is a vampire, not a angle who save or punish human.

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[–] TerraFirma69 10 years ago

Indeed, everyone else, good or bad, was just food.

But he had value as a kindred spirit (loner) or a servant to replace the old man. Depending on which version of her motivation you subscribe to.

...then whoa, differences...

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[–] HarpoSpoke 10 years ago

If there's anyone be able to survive Abby nature, then it'd only be Owen, the boy. Other than him, everyone else just about the same in her viewpoint while she's in blood-thirsty state. Did the cop deverse to die? No, but he still dead. Abby is a vampire, not a angle who save or punish human.

It's worth considering that Abby very nearly attacked Owen when she was hungry. She only was able to contain herself long enough to run away.

I'm not sure how hungry Abby was with the bullies. That was a different motivation.

~Sig~
Proud member of the Facebook Let Me In group, DoYouLikeMe.proboards, abbyandowen.webs.com

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[–] MadDoctor61 10 years ago

How come nobody has mentioned that they were all witnesses to what Abby is. Abby had to kill them all so they wouldn't/couldn't reveal her secret.

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[–] TerraFirma69 10 years ago

Good point that.

In the original she left one of them alive (the most harmless one).

Wether anyone believed him or not, you'd imagine he was going to be messed up for life.

It may be worth noting that in the European version, the lesser bully was spared and in the US version none were. Considering European movies perhaps tend less towards happy endings and justice than their US counterparts.

...then whoa, differences...

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[–] HarpoSpoke 10 years ago

In the original she left one of them alive (the most harmless one).

Wether anyone believed him or not, you'd imagine he was going to be messed up for life.

It may be worth noting that in the European version, the lesser bully was spared and in the US version none were. Considering European movies perhaps tend less towards happy endings and justice than their US counterparts.

That difference was not insignificant to me.

It's an indication that Eli was actually watching events unfold...that's the only way to know which bully deserved to be spared. Not out of character since he/she watched Oscar a lot in the movie. Why Eli would sit there that long is an interesting question.

I would say Abby arrived full speed and angry thus had no idea if any of the bullies were not guilty. The roar as she enters and the spray of glass over the surface of the pool are good clues there. Good support for the psychic link theory between Owen and Abby.

~Sig~
Proud member of the Facebook Let Me In group, DoYouLikeMe.proboards, abbyandowen.webs.com

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[–] cassbtt 10 years ago

the most harmless one

But I hated that kid. He was the one humming the piggy song all the time.

http://www.themanyfacesofabby.ca

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[–] realbullet 10 years ago

But in the Swedish version, that child was well off to the side. He had gotten disgusted with the bullying and sat on the bleachers. The book goes one step further -- he is the one who lets Eli in.

I don't think whether you hated the kid had any bearing on Eli's decision.

👿 I know something you don't know ... I am ambidextrous!

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[–] Seth_Rogue_One 10 years ago

Feck em, let them burn in hell 

Also Abby wasn't Jesus, so damn redemption, sweet revenge 

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!

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