User:Auto~enwiki/Differences

This should be the complete differences section, per 23:36, 15 April 2009.

Differences from the novel
There is additional backstory present in the novel for many of the characters that is missing in the film. Additionally, some characters, like Oskar's older friend Tommy, are absent altogether from the film version. The novel also presents Eli as an androgynous boy, who had been castrated centuries before by a sadistic vampire nobleman. This issue is handled more ambiguously in the film, where a brief scene in which Eli is changing into a dress offers a glimpse of a suggestive scar but no explicit elaboration. According to an interview with the director, as the film was originally conceived, flashbacks explained the androgynous aspect in more detail, but these scenes were eventually cut. Furthermore, in the novel, Eli is repeatedly shown to have a playful, carefree side, particularly when she is in Oskar's company, something that is not very evident in the film, which portrays her almost exclusively as a somber, enigmatic, and tragic figure. Other changes from the book include toning down Håkan's impact on the plot, excluding his pederastic attraction to Eli. In the novel, Eli takes advantage of this attraction to persuade Håkan to make the final murder. Rather than dying at the hospital, Håkan becomes "undead" and comes after Eli, resulting in considerably more violence and gore than in the film.

Even more differences, from back in March

Differences from the novel
There is additional backstory present in the novel for many of the characters that is missing in the film. Additionally, some characters, like Oskar's older friend Tommy, are absent altogether from the film version. The novel also presents Eli as an androgynous boy, who had been castrated centuries before by a sadistic vampire nobleman. This issue is handled more ambiguously in the film, where a brief scene in which Eli is changing into a dress offers a glimpse of a suggestive scar but no explicit elaboration. According to an interview with the director as the film was originally conceived, flashbacks explained the androgynous aspect in more detail, but these scenes were eventually cut. Other changes from the book include toning down Håkan's impact on the plot, excluding his pederastic attraction to Eli. In the novel, Eli takes advantage of this attraction to persuade Håkan to make the final murder. Rather than dying at the hospital, in the novel, Håkan becomes a zombie and comes after Eli. Below is an abbreviated list of novel/film differences.

- In the film, Eli is portrayed almost exclusively as a somber, enigmatic, and tragic figure. In the novel, although very lonely and desperate for companionship, she is repeatedly shown to have a playful and carefree side, particularly when she is in Oskar's company.

- In the novel, Håkan does not botch the murder in the woods, as he does in the film, where he leaves the gallon of blood behind.

- The characters of Tommy, Yvonne (Tommy's mother), and Staffan, a policeman who is dating Yvonne and also investigating the mysterious killings in the area, are all absent from the film. Eli purchases blood from Tommy at one point, not wanting to kill him because he is Oskar's friend.

- In the novel, Håkan survives the fall from the hospital window (a policeman who was guarding Håkan interrupts Eli while she is feeding on him, causing her to flee, after which Håkan attempts suicide by throwing himself out the window) and becomes a zombie-like "undead" creature. Although there is a massive manhunt for him, he manages to make his way back to the Blackeberg apartment building, where he attempts to rape Eli in a basement room. Eli manages to fight him off and lock him in a safety shelter, where unbeknownst to her, Tommy is hiding. A traumatized Tommy beats the now-blind but still dangerous Håkan to a pulp.

- There is considerably more police involvement in the novel. The police manage to discover Håkan's identity and actually come close to catching Eli, who barely escapes with Oskar's help.

- The names of the three bullies are changed from the novel. In the novel, the trio is composed of Jonny, Micke, and Tomas. The latter two are also considerably less reluctant participants than their film counterparts. Micke, however, plays an important role in the climax of the novel by inviting Eli into the pool house.

- Several scenes in the film are out sequence compared to the novel. For example, in the film, Eli visits Oskar's bedroom after going to see Håkan at the hospital. In the novel, however, she goes to Oskar after killing an old lady and setting her house on fire. The hospital visit takes place much later in the novel.

- Some important plot points, such as the revelation of Eli's gender, the capture of Håkan, and the killing of Lacke, are staged quite differently in the film. Also many scenes from the novel, particularly those involving Oskar and Eli, have been combined or shortened in the film.

- The last note that Eli leaves for Oskar ("Do you want to meet me tonight?") is much longer in the novel, and repeatedly comments on her loneliness and her fear of losing Oskar.

- Eli leaves Oskar three notes in the novel. The "To flee is life, to linger, death" note (a paraphrased line from Romeo and Juliet) is actually the second note she leaves him.

- Eli has the ability to spout sharp teeth, claws, and bat-like wings in the novel, something that is only hinted at or altogether missing from the film. She also has the ability to heal at an accelerated rate.