This Norwegian vampire movie is a love story as much as it’s a horror flick, and Tomas Alfredson’s movie is so beautifully shot, the scenes of bloodsucking are almost transcendent. The story concerns Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), a shy 12-year-old who’s regularly bullied at school. When it turns out his new 12-year-old neighbor Leni (Lina Leandersson) is also a loner, he falls in love with her, taking her advice to “hit back” when he’s attacked. Oskar starts hitting the weights and the next time the bully comes to get him, he’s ready. But Leni is soon the scourge of the town after several witnesses see her attacking her victims. When she’s forced to leave, Oskar has to decide if he should follow. The young characters in this film are well-defined and its tragic story is compelling, you’ll find it compelling even if you’re not a fan of the genre. Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque. At 8:55 p.m. Thursday, March 5 and at 9:40 p.m. Saturday, March 7. HHH

This article appears in Mar 4-10, 2009.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.