Vampire films are gaining popularity in many countries. Most of these vampire films portray one-dimensional romance or horror stories. Unlike other vampire films, Let the Right One In is a complex film and novel that can be interpreted to reflect social problems in Sweden. The film and novel illustrate a divide between youth and adults in Swedish society. These different age groups are represented by different characters. The Swedish vampire Eli is not simply a monster, but is a complex character that the audience can sympathize with because she seems like a twelve-year-old girl. Although Eli is not a human child, Eli represents young people struggling against the dangers of Swedish society. Eli must kill to survive and the victims can pose a danger to the Swedish welfare state. According to Wright, "in contrast to the vampire figures of countless previous films, Eli derives no pleasure from luring, attacking, and killing human victims, preferring to let Hakan do the slaughter for her" (60). For example, Eli kills Locke when Hakan is unable to provide her blood. The audience feels sympathy for Eli because “later, as he leans forward over Jocke's limp body, his posture conveys pain, regret, and remorse” (Wright 60). The audience doesn't see Eli as a monster because Eli would die if he didn't feed on humans. Furthermore, Eli's victims are not people who have families and spend their time drinking at a local Chinese restaurant. Eli's victims could represent a drain on Swedish welfare. Eli might choose people like Jocke and Virginia because they have no jobs and live on welfare. Maybe Eli killed Virginia and Jocke because these characters pose a danger to... middle of the card... Skar and herself. According to Wright, “although the central characters are children, the psychological and interpersonal issues addressed by the film are potentially relevant to audiences of all ages” (57-8). Therefore, the film may be able to raise awareness of the issues of both adults and children. Since vampire films are popular, Let the Right One In is able to attract a large audience and expose a large number of people to the problems of Swedish society. Not only should children fight against dangers, but adults should also protect them from the issues raised in the film and novel. Works Cited Lindqvist, John. Let the law in. New York, NY: Thomas Dunne Books St. Martin's Griffin, 2007. Print.Wright, Rockelle. "Vampire in the Stockholm suburbs; Let the Right One In and gender hybridization." Scandinavian Film Journal. 1.1 (2010): 55-70. Press.