I never got around to the 2008 Swedish film “Let the Right One In,” so I will take the word of my critical colleagues at the Toronto press screening that Matt Reeves’ American remake “Let Me In” follows the original virtually shot by shot.

All I know is that it’s the scariest, most elegantly filmed vampire movie I’ve seen in years. Chloe Moritz of “Kick-Ass” proves she’s no one-hit wonder as a blood-craving 12-year-old (at least she claims to be 12 “more or less”) whose habits are not being satisfied with the supposed father (Richard Jenkins) she lives with.

Kodi Smit-McPhee, a young Australian who’s the creepiest kid actor since Haley Joel Osment saw dead people, is very effective as a bullied student Moritz’ character befriends.

I wasn’t crazy about Reeves’ shakycam mock doc “Cloverfield,” but “Let Me In” offers a highly atmospheric view of Los Alamos, N.M. in the dead of winter where the sense of dread slowly buildings. There are several extremely well-staged set pieces that people will be talking about.

Overture, which could use a hit, will release “Let Me In,” a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, on Oct. 1.

Incidentally, the same people who are complaining this is too close to the original would probably be complaining if it were too different from the Swedish version.