MTV talked to Matt Reeves, the director of Cloverfield and the upcoming dumb remake of Let the Right One In, and they got him on the record saying something very poorly:
I think it could be a really touching haunting and terrifying film.
Yeah, Matt, it already is.
In fairness to Reeves, he did say that the book and original movie are ‘terrific,’ but since everything he wants to get out of his version was already accomplished, what’s the point?
Reeves is looking to set the remake in the 80s, like the original, but unlike the original I bet he drowns us in 80s culture. He also wants to keep the snowy environment, and is thinking of setting it in Littleton, Colorado – Columbine! Edgy! Already in the subtext of the movie! The fact that the guy is thinking of going that glaringly obvious removes any hope I had in the first place.
Reeves also thinks that this could be a really American movie. “The movie and the book are incredibly Swedish yet there’s something so universal about the tale of this kid and something that in the context of an American story could be completely different while being very consistent with the original story. There’s something about it that can be an American mythic tale.”
Here’s what’s funny – the movie ISN’T incredibly Swedish, unless you’re talking about it being atmospheric and quiet. If you made that exact same movie, shot for shot, but in English, nobody would say ‘What a strangely Swedish film!’
I’m sure that Matt Reeves means the best, but his insistence on making this movie – and, according to him, possibly making it very, very soon – marks him as something of an infidel. In defense of the infidel, though, it sounds like he wants to keep the kids 12 years old, something I found to be vital to the story of the original.
19 comments
I still haven't seen the original, but I agree; what's the point in recreating something that was done (apparently) so well… and so soon after the original?
Matt Reeves is a fucker head.
With this remake marking the beginnings of a new dawn of Hammer Films, its a shame that it's going to be SO American. The Wake Wood seems more appropriate. There are plenty of other original literary properties out there that could be filmed, instead of making a remake of this modern classic.
Devin, we all know you love this movie, and we all know enough about you to know that you'll try to scuttle the remake before it happens. Nobody likes remakes, and you giving room to this (OBVIOUS) money grab just legitimizes it. I think the best offense is to just let it go now. We all know that Let the Right One In is going to be the number one spot on your top whatever of this year, and what remake is ever better??
What in the poop stink? Remaking it already? Argle Bargle!
Get over it, Devin. The remake is happening. Whiny Nitpicking every time some remake related info gets released regarding let the right one in makes you look like a childishly petty nerd. Oh wait, you are one. By the way people, The dvd screener to Let the Right one in is available on the net. Check it out and buy the movie when it comes out on dvd. Its a good little flick. Not the next coming like some are saying, but its worth your time.
I think that Reeves' comments are par for the course with Hollywood remakes of foreign films, where the original is seen more as the catalyst for the birth of a great American movie than a valid cinematic entity in its own right. Sort of like a serial killer seeing a fellow human being as just a spiffy skin for them to wear. That's clinically psychotic behavior, isn't it?
it just sucks that when this movie comes out that it will erase every copy of the swedish original and no one will ever get to see or WANT to see the original because EVERYBODY only cares about remakes…wait a minute..no it wont
Wholly damn ridiculous. The only (ONLY) good thing that can come out of this is people spreading the gospel of the original to see it before the remake comes out (kind of like the strange amount of people who i've seen actually read watchmen in the last months). No matter what I just can't help but be incensed by this. But why would anyone ever want to remake such a perfect movie?
Oh yeah. Money.
"Upcoming dumb remake"? So you've seen it already? Considering around half of your articles are dedicated to how much more qualified you are to write about cinema than the average internet hack, your display of pre-judgement, bias and hypocrisy here kind of throws all that cringeworthy self-aggrandizement out of the window. Cheers!
Just saw this (the original, not the remake, i don't have a time machine…yet) tonight, and it was fantastic. And I really can't see them making a true remake to this. There is no way a studio is going to be OK with that last scene. No way, they'll pussy it up.
With the film market the way it is, and only The Departed actually being a good or great remake of a modern foreign movie, why bother? Park Chanwook and others like him are doing valid work, better than American directors in many cases. I hate that the foreign markets are treated like a story pitch.
Yes Devin, Reeves is an ass for being optimistic about the movie he wants to make! To think he had the balls to to answer a question about how his movie will be other than "I'm just doing this for the money and it will be total crap compared to the original." I have not seen the original and it might be great and Reeves movie might be terrible but this is just one of those Devin ax grinding rants
@#1 – What's the big confusion? It's a good movie, but it's in a foreign language so no paying American mainstream audience will see it. Hollywood is starving for good material in pre-visualized form (which is why most books without a backlog of illustrated editions don't get fair consideration). It's a big bag of money in the middle of the floor. Whether this guy fucks it up or not is another issue all together (no Hipster Douchebags!!), but after the terrible run of original filmmakers doing their own US remakes maybe it's s good idea to let someone local try.
Asking "the director of Cloverfield" about what constitutes a good film is one ladder step above asking the same from Uwe Boll, Brett Rattner or Paul Dubya Anderson.
Until those unfortunates learn to take in subtitles and visuals at the same time get used to American remakes. Cue truckers standing over people in the cinema exclaiming "Weeeelllll! Looks like we got ourselves a reader!" à la Bill Hicks joke.
I absolutly hate the fact that they are planning a remake. The original was amazing, I loved it, the only movie for me that is in real competition with The Dark Knight for my best film of the year. Why does hollywood always feel the need to fuck with great films. If only people in this country could read or werent so lazy and actually go to a movie that they cant spend half the time with their face in a bag of popcorn and the other half admiring explosions and car chases.
This guy should be ashamed of himself but he comes across as pretty shameless. A typical souless hollywood suit who sees $ where a creative person might see something entirely different.
I hope he uses hand-held cameras without steadies and shakes the shit out of the camera so we can puke. He's really good at that!
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