Ghosts and Vampires

Let The Right One In
A totally unique story of a young, bullied boy who befriends a girl who's a vampire. Heart-stopping displays of vampire legend (ex: vamps burning up due to a speck of sunlight) and moving moments of interaction between two lonely kids ensue. It's about kids and it captures the whole schoolyard "phenomenon" just right. The way the kids act at school in the film is very true to life. Also, the film sets one of the oddest yet most effective atmospheres of the year. Snowy Sweden sets the stage for a very sinister tone that evokes the perfect grounds for a thriller. Yet this film has much more than just peoples' necks being bit to shreds, also telling a very emotional story. Who knew vampires were so sensitive? A-


Ghost Town
This Ricky Gervais-Greg Kinear vehicle was a total flop in the US, and I can see why. First, the story may come across as being inaccessible, though it really isn't. Also, the comedy comes across as slightly old-fashioned in the world of Judd Apatow and Borat. Yet I almost liked the old-fashioned, simplistic feel to it. There's no tension or pressure in the film, just a simple romantic comedy of a misanthropic dentist who sees ghosts. The thing is, it ended up becoming forgettable. The comedy wasn't engaging enough. Really the only laughs come from Gervais, who walks the tightrope of playing an insanely unlikable character. Yet Gervais keeps the character from getting annoying and injects the performance with sarcastic wit. In the end, will I remember the film in a month? Naw. But was it sort of pleasant while I was watching? Yeah, kinda. B-