by Hayley Charlesworth
Scandinavia has been the place on everybody’s lips in terms of culture in the past decade. Film, television and literature have been flooded with their typically cold, atmospheric thrillers, from the Millenium Trilogy books and films, through to TV shows like Borgen and The Killing. One of the big Scandinavian hits was Let the Right One In, a vampire novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and later adapted for cinema by Tomas Alfredson (who brought a very Scandinavian flair to the English-speaking world with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) While the film was an absolute triumph, spawning a lesser American remake in Let Me In, the book remains one of the great vampire novels of recent times.
Scandinavia has been the place on everybody’s lips in terms of culture in the past decade. Film, television and literature have been flooded with their typically cold, atmospheric thrillers, from the Millenium Trilogy books and films, through to TV shows like Borgen and The Killing. One of the big Scandinavian hits was Let the Right One In, a vampire novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist and later adapted for cinema by Tomas Alfredson (who brought a very Scandinavian flair to the English-speaking world with Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.) While the film was an absolute triumph, spawning a lesser American remake in Let Me In, the book remains one of the great vampire novels of recent times.
Let the Right One In details the story of Oskar, a young Swedish boy with a love for crime and forensics, and the victim of vicious bullies at school. One day, Oskar befriends Eli, a child the same age as Oskar who lives with a man called Håkan, a former teacher who was caught in possession of child pornography. Eventually, Eli is revealed to be a vampire over 200 years old, and there are yet other secrets about Eli’s identity to be revealed. As Oskar and Eli’s friendship develops, his courage to retaliate against his bullies grows, while Håkan’s madness and obsession only intensifies.
Let the Right One In focuses on some very difficult and controversial themes. To take a list from Wikipedia, we have existential anxiety, fatherlessness, alcoholism, school bullying, paedophilia, child transgenderism, and murder. The transgender element is perhaps one of the most interesting and unique aspects of the story, as Eli’s entire identity, including her gender, remains somewhat ambiguous throughout, although she styles herself as a young girl. Meanwhile, the most uncomfortable aspect reading the novel is undoubtedly the paedophilia, and for this reason, Let the Right One In is definitely not a novel for everyone. What makes it such a difficult read is the fact that a lot of the narrative is told from the perspective of Håkan, meaning that we are forced to experience some events as he does and read about his justifications. While harrowing, it is also brilliant how Lindqvist presents Håkan: as a monster, but still as a human with many complexities.
Ultimately, though, Let the Right One In is the story of Eli and Oskar, and for this reason it is considered a romantic horror. Again, their relationship is a strange one: innocent, given that Oskar is 12 years old, Eli likewise physically, but complicated by Eli’s true age. While considered romantic, however, it is not an actual romance, but more a deep, intensive connection that could be considered the strongest of friendships. It is all in the interpretation of the reader what the nature of their relationship is, but what is without doubt is that Oskar will do whatever he can to protect Eli, and Eli will kill to protect Oskar.
While it’s not what I would usually recommend, if you’re not sure whether or not Let the Right One In is the right book for you, watch the film first (the Swedish one, not the remake). While remaining faithful to the story, the film nevertheless does not delve into the book’s uncomfortable themes in as much depth. If the film captures your attention (which it should, because it’s wonderful), then definitely give the book a shot. It is a beautifully written, engrossing read, and for an audience that is receptive to it, a necessary one.
Let the Right One In focuses on some very difficult and controversial themes. To take a list from Wikipedia, we have existential anxiety, fatherlessness, alcoholism, school bullying, paedophilia, child transgenderism, and murder. The transgender element is perhaps one of the most interesting and unique aspects of the story, as Eli’s entire identity, including her gender, remains somewhat ambiguous throughout, although she styles herself as a young girl. Meanwhile, the most uncomfortable aspect reading the novel is undoubtedly the paedophilia, and for this reason, Let the Right One In is definitely not a novel for everyone. What makes it such a difficult read is the fact that a lot of the narrative is told from the perspective of Håkan, meaning that we are forced to experience some events as he does and read about his justifications. While harrowing, it is also brilliant how Lindqvist presents Håkan: as a monster, but still as a human with many complexities.
Ultimately, though, Let the Right One In is the story of Eli and Oskar, and for this reason it is considered a romantic horror. Again, their relationship is a strange one: innocent, given that Oskar is 12 years old, Eli likewise physically, but complicated by Eli’s true age. While considered romantic, however, it is not an actual romance, but more a deep, intensive connection that could be considered the strongest of friendships. It is all in the interpretation of the reader what the nature of their relationship is, but what is without doubt is that Oskar will do whatever he can to protect Eli, and Eli will kill to protect Oskar.
While it’s not what I would usually recommend, if you’re not sure whether or not Let the Right One In is the right book for you, watch the film first (the Swedish one, not the remake). While remaining faithful to the story, the film nevertheless does not delve into the book’s uncomfortable themes in as much depth. If the film captures your attention (which it should, because it’s wonderful), then definitely give the book a shot. It is a beautifully written, engrossing read, and for an audience that is receptive to it, a necessary one.
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