The Movie...Let the Right One In

SPOILERS GALORE….Only Continue Reading if You’ve Already Enjoyed the Film!! The movie’s great and if you’re a fan of foreign, horror, coming of age, or vampires, I suggest you check it out.

But what bothered me was the unstated, though very present, undercurrents of sexuality related to a 12-year-old vampire. There is a shot in the film that shows a close up of Eli’s frontal, unpantied body. NUDITY IN A 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL? REALLY? Is that ever appropriate, except if we’re catering to degenerates? Though I didn’t recognize it as such, one of my NFriends thought the shot shows a scar. Twice during the film, Eli says that she is not a girl and her comments might be referring to the fact that she’s dead. But is that true?

We know Eli is old, surely too old to have gone through any type of surgery while she was alive for a sex change or intersexual condition. But if it is indeed a scar, that’s where the package would have been. ALSO THERE’S THE ISSUE OF HER “FATHER,” who can’t possibly be, because he isn’t old enough. So, was he selected when he too was 11 years old? As a grown man, are we to assume that their relationship is platonic or paternal? If Oskar is the chosen “father” replacement, will she become his girlfriend as he grows older? Though her body is 12, this girl has been around for a while and I think there is another aspect to this story that is only hinted at.

Ok, the sexual parts of this speculation are icky, but as many people have already mentioned, this is a dark story and I’m interested in what the filmmakers were striving for…because I don’t believe a story of this nature (12-year-old-vicious-monster-when-she-needs-to-be) would not dare to tread on such slippery, possibly tabooed, slopes. Or maybe I’m the degenerate, seeing sexual situations where none exist. Even if it’s to tell me I’m full of crap, what do YOU think?

Tags: eli, in, let, one, oskar, right, the

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by beeswax on March 30, 2009 at 6:41am: This reminds me of the harassment photographer Sally Mann endured over the artwork she made with her children.

I have to agree with thatboy -- when I saw her work the only thing that put "sex" in my mind were the people decrying and threatening and suing and publicly gnashing their teeth. Those people frighten me, frankly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by thatboy on March 30, 2009 at 6:57am: Yes, I was thinking of the controversy over Mann's work, as well as that of Mapplethorpe and Jock Sturges.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pihk on March 30, 2009 at 7:01am: I don't want a guy named "Jock" anywhere near my (non-existent) children!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Pihk on March 30, 2009 at 6:54am: That's a ridiculous assertion.

If it's a sex related topic and Mark Zajac writes about it, any assertion he makes pretty much has to be ridiculous. Yay, ~~Mary Poppins~~ Mark Zajac is BACK, baby!! Welcome back, Mark!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Headcheese on March 30, 2009 at 7:26am: Hear hear Thatboy!! I agree, also Miley Cyrus pictures with her daddy and a blankie controversy anyone? That was utterly ridiculous as well. She wasn't even nude for crying out loud! Let the Right One In doesn't even come close to child pornography and not only that, the nude shot was brief and a special effect! It wasn't even a nude shot! lol It was a fake, prosthetic scarred crotch so what the heck are we even talking about with that? The child did not do any real nudity in this film. Do ya suppose this will be as big as the Brooke Shields child nudity with body stocking controversy? It would certainly mean big publicity for LTROI!

btw - I loved this film and for anyone who didn't want to jump on the Twilight bandwagon, this film is your answer.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by eviltimes on March 30, 2009 at 8:58am: I don't understand. An obvious, I mean really obvious fake crotch shot is causing any controversy? If it was anywhere close to real I would be the first one jumping and screaming. She is a vampire. They don't have sex. They don't reproduce. They live forever. Anyone not getting this simple stuff? It's not Buffy! It's not Twilight.

It's actually an incredible 5 star experience.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by J Derek on March 30, 2009 at 10:08am: It's actually an incredible 5 star experience.

I would have said the same about my ex. At one time. :-/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Phatz on March 30, 2009 at 10:31am: eviltimes WELL SAID!! =); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Freakin Meow on March 30, 2009 at 10:33am: Ohhh, I get it.

It really IS okay... not because it was a prosthetic, and not because it was (or was not) simple nudity, but because Vampires DON'T HAVE SEX!!

Why would you want to live forever then? It totally defeats the purpose!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Snorii on March 30, 2009 at 11:51am: She gets to brag and show off that cool Fabrege puzzle egg to new generations.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by J Derek on March 30, 2009 at 12:23pm: Until the Ocean's crew tried to steal it. That'd be a funny crossover.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Snorii on March 30, 2009 at 12:25pm: I was just thinking about having a crossover between this is the Jaws "show me your scar" scene.

Vampires or sharks, you decide!; ▶ Reply to This