LucasChad

I’ve only seen the US remake, but it should interest you that it was co-produced by Hammer Studios that actually helped usher in its renaissance including making more movies like The Resident featuring Christopher Lee and the two Woman in Black films.

me

i wonder if argentina is going to be covered. and more important: i want that version of blody tears that was playing on the background

Félix

I’ve seen both versions back to back after reading the book.
If I remember correctly, the Swedish version is more accurate to the book but a bit slower and the remake is a bit easier to watch. I prefered the original but I would say watch both since they are not exactly the same.

Tom Bowman

The music in the background of this video sounds like a cover of Bloody Tears very appropriate for a review of a vampire film.

Valkian

This film is excellent. The remake is indeed pretty good but definitely inferior to the original.

John Gallagher

Hey James, what’s the name of the Bloody Tears remix used in this video?

Yggdrasil

Insomnia was made in Norway (though the main actor is Swedish). Good video otherwise!

Magnificent

Tried to tip you (James Rolfe) about this movie many years ago. This is one of my favorite horror films. I really like how the director, Tomas Alfredson, leaves things thats going on outisde the frame and force you to fill in the pieces yourself by listening the sound of whats happening. Something he has become known for doing in his films.

Gavin

This is much better than the American remake, saying that I don’t really even rate the remake, I find it pretty pointless.

Jimmy

After years & years, you finally mention “The Phantom Carriage”! I’m so happy! Now there’s 1 more from the 1920s & 1 more from the 1960s that I can’t wait for you to mention.

Linus

I’m from Sweden and I hate this movie. Find it to be so boring and slow.

Also Insomnia is a Norwegian film, the main character is Swedish but the movie was both made and set i Norway and if you look up Country of origin on IMDb it sais Norway.

gabriel duarte

bloody tears in the background!

Falling Stream

I remember thinking this was a poor adaptation of the book, should probably rewatch it and see what I think with an older mind.
Couple of thinks from the book though: Håkan is a pedophile so there is definitely lust/love involved.
The book also describes Eli being Elias (boy name) as human and was castrated before turning vampire.

Hugo

Greetings from Sweden! I have been looking forward to this one and a obvious choice for Sweden. Remember reading the book in middle of early highschool. We then visited the sites from the book/movie since I come from the same city. Blackeberg Stockholm. The subway scene is one of the favorites.

Mina

I was hoping you’d review this!

I read the book and it’s fantastic, but there’s a lot of subplots that aren’t super necessary. The movie does a great job telling the story and developing the characters and trimming the fat, but the book is still worth checking out if only for the clarity and the extra gore.

Emanuel

I’ve seen both versions of this film, and I can’t really decide which one I enjoy more. I wouldn’t call the remake unnecessary, as subtitles are difficult for some viewers and the remake’s acting is decent enough to where not much of the original story is lost. Both are excellent in their own right…one in.

Freddy V.

“Insomnia” is a Norwegian movie! The movie was filmed in Tromsø, in northern Norway. I live here. The lead actor, Stellan Skarsgård, is Swedish. But that’s the only Swedish part about the movie. Everything else is Norwegian. And we’re damn proud of it, haha.

(Fun fact: The director’s brother was my Norwegian teacher in high school.)

Kyouka Suigetsu

I actually remember seeing a review by Maven of the Eventide on Vampire Reviews, apparently from about 4 years ago. She covers both of the films in brief and even addresses the aspect brought up by James at the end, which I think might be trans subtext, iirc

Fiore1300

I’ve seen the US remake, which I really liked. I’ll definitely have to check out the original now though!

Victor

I can recomend a swedish horror movie called the visitors (1988) a hounted house movie from sweden! There is even a english dubb for the film!

EduTuk

The background music is Castlevania – Bloddy Tears (Lo Pan Synthwave remix)

jamie

Award winning but still such an underrated film. Love both versions.

Victor W

Where is the review? This was a synopsis. And Insomnia is Norwegian so your fun end trivia is not even correct. Come on… You don’t even try.

Rafa

The remake is not fine at all, not one bit…

M Workman

Sorry guys, The remake is a FAR superior film, just like Reeves Planet of the Apes movies are far superior to its original counterparts. Everything about the remake is better, the acting, cinematography, and music. Also the story is better, it’s made clear that the man is in love with her, and he was watching after her since he was a little boy.
Reeves is a genius. Anyone that says the original is better is just a film snob poser.

dustpan

Another Swedish horror movie that has finally been rescued from IMDB limbo is the White Reindeer. I believe it was made in the early 1950’s.

Aaron S

You’ve convinced me, I’ll check it out. Great Bloody Tears mix, by the way. To all the people shitting their pants because Insomnia was made in Norway and not Sweden, cool your jets. It was a mistake, get over it. Especially you Victor W, James and his crew have been busting their ass for years to make fun content. Don’t be an asshole. Keep up the good work Cinemassacre!

Matthew Kirshenblatt

I had only seen this version with my late partner earlier in our relationship one winter at her place, and not the American remake. I absolutely loved the dynamics between the vampire, her helper, and the boy. I recommend this film for sure.

Fabio

Man enjoying the arranged covers of Castlevania games all throughout the month that you use as background music..and in theme with the movies subjects too. Thanks for the series !

Matt

Thanks for these videos this year, definitely completing my Halloween feel.

Stave

Well at least a bad cover of Bloody Tears is more appropriate than that bad cover of Gerudo Valley was.

Cory

The remake, frankly, is meh. Literally only made because most American’s can’t stand watching anything with subtitles and only to cash in on the success of the original. At least that’s how I see it. It also didn’t have the feel the original one did. It is by far a worse film, even if it has better visuals.