<P> In adapting the film, a few adjustments were made, such as changing the names of the protagonists to Owen and Abby, and moving the setting from the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg to "a small New Mexico town ." Reeves was also asked to change the ages of the main characters, but he refused, saying that "would ruin the essence of the story and change everything completely...we need that childlike innocence ." He also told his actors to not watch the original film beforehand so "we could make our own version but stay very true to the essence of the story ." The filmmakers have noted that "they intend to forge a unique identity for Let Me In, placing it firmly in an American context", while at the same time paying respect to the original . In comparing his adaptation to the Swedish one, Reeves admitted to not adding many different details from the book that weren't in the original film, stating that "the story was so big that you couldn't really add a lot of stuff in without taking away the focus of the coming of age story so I tried to have allusions and references to stuff in the book ." Reeves also admitted to borrowing elements from the Swedish film, stating "There are things that (Lindqvist) adapted brilliantly in the movie and I borrowed from that because I thought he did a great adaptation . But there are some things that hopefully don't detract and fit into the context of the story . It's a mixture of details from the book, the original film and things that grew out of adapting it ." In adapting the story for American audiences, Reeves stated that keeping the 1980s time period within the film was critical in exploring the theme of good and evil . He used Ronald Reagan's "evil empire speech" as an example of American thought during that period . Reeves stated, "The idea of Reagan's' evil empire' speech and that whole sort of school of thought was that evil was something that was outside of us . Evil was' Other,' it was over there, it was the Soviets". Reeves felt that this idea was central to the main character Owen, as he "would be grappling with these very, very dark feelings but being in a kind of American town where there was that sort of (Reagan era) mindset and religiousness . How would you fit in? How would you feel about yourself being confused and being 12 or 13 years old and not knowing what it means that you wish you could kill those kids who were terrorizing you every day? The humanity of that ." </P> <P> In July 2009, audition tapes were leaked to the Internet, showing Chloë Grace Moretz, Mary Mouser, and Ariel Winter auditioning for the role of the vampire, Abby . Smit - McPhee, in an interview with The Herald Sun, hinted that he may have landed the role as Owen . The casting of Moretz and Smit - McPhee in the leading roles was confirmed on October 1, 2009, along with the addition of Richard Jenkins as Abby's adult companion . In a press release, director Matt Reeves described Smit - McPhee, Moretz and Jenkins as his "absolute dream cast", and added that he "couldn't be more excited to be working with them ." Both Smit - McPhee and Moretz were cast before the release of The Road or Kick - Ass, and the films' directors John Hillcoat and Matthew Vaughn, respectively, each praised the young actors and recommended them to Reeves . </P> <P> Principal photography began in Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 2, 2009 . Filming took place in several different New Mexico locations, before concluding in Albuquerque in January 2010 . A large section of the film was filmed at Los Alamos High School in Los Alamos, New Mexico . Los Alamos County granted a special request from the film's director and producer to name the town in the movie "Los Alamos, New Mexico ." The local police department lent the film crew 1980s style uniforms and patrol cars to use for the film and over 100 local teenagers were cast as extras . Reeves felt that Lindqvist's story was very naturalistic and wanted the film to be shot the same way . After viewing Bright Star, he hired Greig Fraser as his cinematographer because he admired Fraser's work with natural light on the film . Shortly before filming, Reeves sought advice from Steven Spielberg for directing child actors . Spielberg instructed Reeves to have the two leads each keep a diary in character with the intention of sharing with Reeves what they wrote in it . Reeves stated, "It was all a process of trying to, not only guide them, but in places, trying to let them guide me toward their perspective . That was important ." </P> <P> Method Studios was contracted to handle the film's visual effects work . The studio's supervisor Sean Faden, worked alongside the film's visual effects supervisor, Brad Parker throughout the production . Several of the film's scenes proved to be a challenge for the team . Director Reeves wanted the "car - crash" sequence to appear as if it were filmed uncut in first - person . Several plates were shot with the first involving actor Jenkins backing the car out of the gas station and swerving, the second plate shot had a model of the car capable of being spun mechanically on a "rotisserie" in front of a blue screen which could simulate the car's roll down the hill . Jenkins' stunt double and a dummy were placed in the car as the rotisserie spun with additional effects work used to animate the dummy as the car rolled . The two shots were then combined to deceive the viewer into believing that it was one complete shot . Houdini software was used for much of the film's shots which involved Abby in her vampiric form . Faden noted the techniques used in another challenging shot important to Abby's character in which she begins bleeding when she enters Owen's apartment without invitation . Faden stated, "Normally in such a scene, the character would be shot on set, dressed in blood . But in this case, the timing of the bleeding was so dependent on the emotional beats of the scene that this technique wouldn't have allowed us enough control ." Actress Chloë Grace Moretz was first shot with minimal prosthetic blood applied to her face for reference . Then using techniques utilized in a prior Method Studios film, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Faden had the Houdini software track Moretz's shaking movements and render the gradual release of blood from her face . </P>

Where was the movie let me in filmed
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