‘Let The Right One In’ Remake Looks to Set Up Shop in Colorado

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 30, 2009

lettherightoneinremake

Last year, I had the chance to see a film that was almost universally well-liked by anyone who laid eyes on it. Especially during a year where the hype for another certain vampire film was building to a fever-pitch, Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In turned the genre on its head a bit, and delved into an incredibly moving story about growing up and falling in love. With a perpetually 12-year old girl who rips out people’s throats for nourishment.

Of course it was inevitable that someone from the U.S. snatch it up for a remake, and we found out late last year that the lucky winner would be Matt Reeves – the director of Cloverfield.

The LA Times actually got a chance to speak with the director about the project – which is now called Let Me In and seems to be coming along smoothly – and found out that the script has the story set in Colorado, where location scouts are digging around as we speak.

The money quote:

[Reeves] recently finished a second draft of the script, currently set in Reagan-era Colorado, and is scouting locations, looking to maintain the original story’s chilly, snow-swept environs. The film is scheduled for a fall 2010 theatrical release.

Okay. I could almost live with the idea of this being remade, with the not-nearly-as-cool title, with the fact that a guy who basically directed an hour and a half-long chase scene is in charge – but to think that Colorado is an equitable substitute for the cold nothingness of rural Sweden is absurd. I’ve been to Colorado. Yes, it’s cold. But it’s not desolate. Perhaps there isn’t really a spot in the U.S. that could carry that wasteland sort of feeling, but that was a major part of the original film’s appeal. The intense cold and feeling of isolation was a character itself. So why not make it in Alaska? Or Montana? I suppose shooting in the Pacific Northwest is out of the question…

Anyway, it may seem nitpicky, but Colorado is just too safe. Watching the horror unfold in an exotic place heightened that sense, and it seems like the production is curbing itself by placing it in a really well-known, highly accessible, very livable state.

Please, please, please don’t set this at a ski resort.

Still, it’s set in the early 80s, so at least we’ll still get the bad sweaters, though, huh?

What do you think?

Related Reading:

Comment Policy: No hate speech allowed. If you must argue, please debate intelligently. Comments containing selected keywords or outbound links will be put into moderation to help prevent spam. Film School Rejects reserves the right to delete comments and ban anyone who doesn't follow the rules. We also reserve the right to modify any curse words in your comments and make you look like an idiot. Thank You!

klown013

Actually, they changed the name for the Swedish version. This one is using the actual name of the book. And I always thought Colorado was pretty desolate. Of course there are busy area's but it's not like some US states where there is pretty much not an unused inch of ground. The movie changed a lot from the book, this movie will be different from the other movie, blah blah. Which ever version people were exposed to first is probably going to be their favorite version of the story. Let the bashing begin.

Swede

I have to correct you on a small point. The name of the book litterally translates to 'let the right one in', so the Swedish version did stay true to the book.

Andrew

Having lived most of my life in Colorado I can attest to the abundance of desolate locations. One advantage that we have here is that we really do have an incredibly diverse landscape to choose from. There are stretches of road that when driven on during winter can make you feel very very alone as though you are the last person left on the planet.

Cole_Abaius

On second thought, the presence of a ton of orange 1982 Denver Broncos sweatshirts will be pretty frightening.

Judson

A bummer for those who will settle for the U.S. version and not take the time to seek out the original which is such a good movie.

Phoghat

I found it through FSR and can honestly say "how can it be improved?"

malena

i wish they would leave this film alone. srysly.

E.Brown

Don't forget that Kubrick's "The Shining" took place in Colorado. As long as it's not Denver or Boulder the location could be great. Imagine it being closer to something like the location of the Overlook Hotel.

Cole_Abaius

Not a bad point, but there's also a balance to be had. The great thing about the original is the feeling desolation even within the small town. The buildings are all that Cold War era filing cabinet style that just doesn't exist in America. There are people around, and you still feel alone.

I'm wondering (skeptically) if there is a small town that will have that same harsh, cold feeling. Above all, I'm just thinking that it'll be hard to get an other-worldly feel from, you know, Colorado.

Curtis G

I will in no way support this movie, and will do everything in my power to keep those around me from not seeing this horrid mistake. Let the Right One In was one of my favorite movies of last year and there is no reason why It should be remade.

‘Let The Right One In’ Remake Looks to Set Up Shop in Colorado

Related Topics:

Related Reading: