Newspaper Clipping Importance

[ZWD40]

By the same token, you will not find many serial killers who were not fed milk as children. We even see that Oskar has glass of milk in the scene where he lies to Yvonne about how he scratched his face. Q.E.D.

Sorry. I just wanted to point out that causal relationships can be slippery things. Lying, thievery, and sociopathy may all have a cause in common, but that doesn't mean that they necessarily have causal relationships with each other.

we're sinker lower and lower

[Ash]

The most common thing about serial killers is that they have little in common. Apart from the fact that almost all are described by those that knew them, do so as normal, everyday people. Wolfchild's comment is valid in that there has been no cause and effect relationship proven between "criminal types" and the norm. Causality is much up to situationality, in that we would all commit a serious crime if a particular situation offers itself. The reason we don't is that these situations don't often occur, apart from driving through a red light or two. Would you not want to kill someone that raped and murdered your daughter? As for killing loads of innocent people?, well that was Eli, but we all seem to love her because she "has to". She didn't actually, she could have just let herself die in chapter one.

[ZWD40]

Psycho profilers not recognized itt

Gears and chains, people. Gears and chains

[gattoparde59]

My impression reading the novel is that Johnajvide has a very optimistic view of human nature. Most people do not want to hurt other people. That seemed to be the whole point of the "hollow" woman explaining to Eli why there are "so few" vampires. The mostly wind up like Virginia. That someone would want to actually hurt other people is very rare and very monstrous. Serial killers are extremely rare, but they attract attention way out of proportion to their numbers.

Oskar is interested in morbid subjects, reads about true crime and horror novels. People who are attracted to stories about violence and murder are neither very rare or monstrous. Many of the members of this forum became interested in Let The Right One In because they have a keen interest in horror movies. Does that make all of them sadistic monsters?

I have interpreted Oskar interest in morbid subjects as a reflection of the anger that is bottled up inside of him. Part of this anger is a result of the bullying. Part of it is self-loathing. Part of this is also anger at the people who are close to him. (I think even Eli catches some of this )

I feel that this dark side of Oskar is not the real Oskar. The novel was written with the same design as the film. We are presented first with this disturbing character (not Eli, Oskar) and then we learn why he is this way, and that this dark side of him is not the real Oskar.

Rather like solving a puzzle or a riddle, don't you think?

[rgh]

As for killing loads of innocent people?, well that was Eli, but we all seem to love her because she "has to". She didn't actually, she could have just let herself die in chapter one.

I think it is easy to say that, but at the end of the day, how many people would really kill themselves (or let themselves die) instead of killing others? The survival instinct is powerful, and in Eli's case, there is an additional force driving her to feed. This external force denies Eli her free will not to kill. At best, she seems to be able to re-direct who her victims will be to protect someone she loves.

[ZWD40]

Most people do not want to hurt other people. That seemed to be the whole point of the "hollow" woman explaining to Eli why there are "so few" vampires. The mostly wind up like Virginia.

What is the source of this? Was this mentioned by JAL or TA in some interviews? Was this in one of JAL's other novels? I cannot remember if this was discussed by eli and the woman in the novel.

I feel that this dark side of Oskar is not the real Oskar.

This is what most people will see after reading the novel or watching the movie, naturally, and I agree with that. That is how I see him too to this day. Because this Oskar in the film/novel went from the darkness and into the "light"
Compare that to a pure white innocent boy, and then getting corrupted. Of course the lasting impression of him when discussed later on is that he is an evil person. Because the story ends with him being evil. There is no other event that we are aware of that could interject and/or contradict that view

[Wolfchild]

Most people do not want to hurt other people. That seemed to be the whole point of the "hollow" woman explaining to Eli why there are "so few" vampires. The mostly wind up like Virginia.

What is the source of this? Was this mentioned by JAL or TA in some interviews? Was this in one of JAL's other novels? I cannot remember if this was discussed by eli and the woman in the novel.

That encounter was discussed to death (and beyond ) in this thread, and the relevant passage is quoted here.

[ZWD40]

the relevant passage is quoted here.

thanks wolf