Sex and Fear

[gattoparde59]

This may say more about my own personality than it does about Let Me In, but here goes.

One of the major differences between Let Me In and Let the Right One In is Matt Reeves' decision to include sexuality into the mix. In an interview (sorry I don't have the exact words) Reeves stated that he was interested in the experience of adolescence and the incipient sexual feelings that come with adolescence.

In the case of Tomas Alfredson I do remember his exact words, "no sex please, we're Swedish." Both the Swedish film version and the original novel go to great lengths to establish the relationship between Oskar and Eli as a non-sexual one. There is anxiety in this relationship, but I would describe this as more of a fear of intimacy than anything else, especially on the part of Eli. It is that part of adolescence that Let the Right One In captures so well. Eli both desires and is terrified of intimacy. Think of the deleted exterior scene and the intended sequel where Eli holds Oskar's hand. Oskar is also very shy and awkward with Eli, backing away from close encounters with his new friend. At no time do I see Eli as a sexual being. If Eli personifies certain aspects of human nature, sexuality is not one of them.

Matt Reeves decides to go down a different road and this means that the relationship between Owen and Abby plays out very differently. The scene that sticks in my mind is the one where Owen is playing at peeping Tom with his telescope. (That is a very long telescope Owen has, isn't it ) Virginia is with her lover and her breasts become exposed. Then comes the important part, Virginia looks up at Owen, the hunted suddenly becomes the hunter. Owen reacts the way he does to nearly everything else in the movie, he becomes frightened. This establishes his character pretty early in the movie ircc. I think this also tells us what his relationship will be with Abby in the film: a relationship marked by both sexual desire and fear. It is that part of adolescence that Matt Reeves is most interested in.

Feel free to disagree with me, but these feelings are not reciprocated in the same way by Abby. Abby is a serial heart breaker. Why should she be anxious about intimacy with another person if she has done this thing over and over again in the past? Abby for me comes across as aggressive, self confidant, larger, and most of all older than her Swedish counterpart. She is the older woman in this relationship, leading on the reluctant Owen who is both attracted to, and terrified by his new friend.

[jetboy]

Im not sure what I believe about Abbey when it comes to her motives and if its more sexual in nature but in a way Eli seems older to me or at least wiser. I get this from the "hit back hard" scene. This showed me she has life experience that even the adults dont have and that she is so tired of doing what she does that she really wants to do good. If I take that same perspective and apply it to Abbey who says "if that doesnt work, use your knife" I would say that she isnt as wise in knowing what is really good for Owen because she isnt as weary as Eli, who is really ready to do pure good for a lonely soul.

Other times she does seem girlish but to me thats the twelve year old in her

[rgh]

I agree with your assessment, gattoparde59. What I liked so much about LTROI (film and novel) is that this relationship was a first for both Oskar and Eli, neither sure exactly how to handle it. I feel it saves (and changes) Eli, who has been alone for for so long.
In LMI, this relationship is almost like the start of a new week, business as usual. Abby's feelings for Owen may be genuine, but it just doens't seem like this is going to change anything about her life.

[gattoparde59]

Im not sure what I believe about Abbey when it comes to her motives and if its more sexual in nature but in a way Eli seems older to me or at least wiser.

That is a good description of Eli, except I think, along with rgh below that this is new experience for Eli. She is reluctant to let someone get this close to her. At the same time she feels very attracted to Oskar.

Whether Abby is sexual or not I don't really get a sense of that. It is suggested that Owen has sexual feelings, and those feelings frighten him, in the same way that Abby frightens him. Whether Abby is actually mature, or wise, she seems the dominant partner in this relationship.

[Aurora]

I also agree with gattoparde59, I'll give an example about how Abby was 'sexed up'.

It's the scene after Abby has taken a shower she's wearing a bath towel wrapped around herself but under her arms. Eli in the same scene has her shoulders covered by a towel, more like a cloak and much more covered up by comparison.

Owen definitely showed more fear than Oskar, in fact I can't actually recall him looking scared at any time in the film

[jetboy]

Owen definitely showed more fear than Oskar, in fact I can't actually recall him looking scared at any time in the film

This is true, I think even though Eli is who she is, Oskar is finally at ease with someone in his life. As for showing fear against the bullies I think he showed enough to let the audience know that he is scared, when you get backed up in a corner and let someone flick your nose, facial expression isnt really needed.

[cmfireflies]

I don't think Abby was sexualized, or whatever the correct term is. I do think that Abby was more feminine than Eli though. Particularly, there's a shot on the jungle gym where Chloe looks perfect. She looks like she stepped out of a make-up commercial or something. It was a little off putting, or maybe I was to used used o Eli having messy hair. And really, Chloe doesn't convey the same sense of vulnerability that Lina had: she's confident around Owen, almost dominating. The sense is that these things are not new to her. She's happy to have someone new and relive some happier moments, but she's done it all before. She's also comfortable with her beauty, but never seductive.

Not to say that Lina isn't feminine, just as someone else says, for Eli it was new. I also thought that LtROI was better at conveying a sense of intimacy, or longing. It somehow felt deeper how Oskar and Eli hugged, or clasped hands, but that may be personal opinion.

One thing about Owen being afraid. Did anyone else think that some of Kodi's lines were too slow and deliberate? I watched an interview and it seemed like he had a strong accent. Was he trying to mask it?

Not trying to bash on the actors here, they were both great. Just don't agree with some of the choices Reeves made.

[kahx]

I don't think Abby was sexualized, or whatever the correct term is. I do think that Abby was more feminine than Eli though. Particularly, there's a shot on the jungle gym where Chloe looks perfect. She looks like she stepped out of a make-up commercial or something. It was a little off putting, or maybe I was to used used o Eli having messy hair. And really, Chloe doesn't convey the same sense of vulnerability that Lina had: she's confident around Owen, almost dominating. The sense is that these things are not new to her. She's happy to have someone new and relive some happier moments, but she's done it all before. She's also comfortable with her beauty, but never seductive.

Not to say that Lina isn't feminine, just as someone else says, for Eli it was new. I also thought that LtROI was better at conveying a sense of intimacy, or longing. It somehow felt deeper how Oskar and Eli hugged, or clasped hands, but that may be personal opinion.

One thing about Owen being afraid. Did anyone else think that some of Kodi's lines were too slow and deliberate? I watched an interview and it seemed like he had a strong accent. Was he trying to mask it?

Not trying to bash on the actors here, they were both great. Just don't agree with some of the choices Reeves made.

Didn't she just kill someone when she looked 'make-up commercial' perfect? When she talked to Owen previously when she was hungry she did not look as good.

[rgh]

This may be a bit of a stretch to support the argument that Abby as more sexualized in LMI, but when she is in the kitchen with the "father", she initiates physical contact with him by rubbing his arm. It is then that he turns around and she caresses his face for a few moments before he asks that she not see the Owen anymore. (including link to scene since we can't get our copies until Feb) http://www.fearnet.com/videos/b20217_le ... again.html Upon review, in fact, the way she strokes his arm with her thumb sort of reminds me of the bedroom scene LTROI when Eli takes Oskars hand while he sleeps.

Eli, in the same scene, gave him little more than an emotionless touch on the cheek and a sad nod.

[gary13136]

I don't know if I could say that sexuality had been left out of the novel. Especially the scene that involved Eli and Oskar after Lacke was killed. They spent a good part of the rest of the day in bed, holding one another. Eventually they got out of bed and put on their clothes. While that isn't explicitly sexual, it is suggestive and could be interpreted sexually. But I would say that there wasn't a lot of emphasis on sexuality in the novel. There was of course more in the remake.