European Films

The film’s impressive first sequence sets the tone for all that is to follow: a prolonged shot of snow gently descending in the dark of night gives way to a mesmerizing image of a pale young blond, almost an albino, who stands in front of the window in nothing but his briefs. He touches his mirror image – the image is actually doubled and slightly distorted because of insulated glazing – and intones "Squeal like a pig!"

It is an unusual start for any film, let alone a film based on a children’s novel and is especially noteworthy because it is unafraid of silence and the absence of action (younger children might get twitchy). It also reveals the underlying theme of the film in a visually inventive manner: the story might see the young Oskar (Kåre Hedebrant) battle his demons with the help of a friend (as yet unseen), but the things he is really facing underneath it all are his own insecurity and fears – a classical part of any coming-of-age story.

Though intelligent because he "reads" as he succinctly explains a police officer who is impressed by his knowledge, Oskar is bullied in school by a couple of stronger boys and he never fights back. All he hopes for is a friend, and when Eli (Lina Leandersson), a girl his age, moves in next door, he is not easily put off by her warning that she does not want to be friends. Sure, she’s a bit strange; impervious to the cold and always about at night, but she also seems to be nice and understanding and encourages him to stand up for himself against his bullies.

As the relationship between the 12-year-olds develops, a series of murders is shown in quite some detail, with the main aim of the murderer appearing to be to tap blood from his victims (he hangs them upside down, slashes them open and uses a funnel and jerry can to get what he needs). Alfredson’s handling of tone is very important in these scenes, stressing the matter-of-factness of the work and not the gore and gruesomeness, which makes it surprisingly easy to accept the murders as part of what is in essence a sweet prepubescent love story that just happens to be disguised as an anti-bullying pamphlet with supernatural overtones.

The film's most touching sequence involves Oskar asking Eli out after having invited her in. The scene takes place in bed late at night but carries no sexual charge, just an overwhelming sweetness that does not want to go away -- another demonstration of the director's mastery of tone. 

Acting from Hedebrant is strong and technically, the film is also superb, starting with Dutch-Swedish director of photography Hoyte Van Hoytema’s breathtaking visuals. The editing of Tomas Alfredson and Daniel Jonsäter works well for an adult audience but might prove too measured for adolescents and people with a short attention span. Johan Söderqvist's orchestral score enhances the different yet coherent moods with brio.