Growing up with divorced parents, “Oskar” (Kåre Hedebrant) often finds himself targeted by bullies at school, and at night he fantasizes about standing up to them in the snowy park near his Stockholm home. One evening, he meets the girl who lives next door, and over several nights they begin a friendship. Her name is “Eli” (Lina Leandersson), and she’s an unusual young woman. Although she's twelve like him, she doesn't know her birthday, and she's incredibly skilled at solving Rubik's cubes—something I always struggled with, usually having to take mine apart just to put it back together. Meanwhile, their town is shaken by the discovery of several bodies drained of blood, leading one to wonder if “Oskar” might be able to connect the dots and whether he’s in more danger from his new friend than from the kids who pick on him at school. We know from the start who's responsible for what, so it isn't really a mystery. It is, however, a story about young love as both children deal with their own problems. There are occasional moments of violence, but it’s not overly graphic. For much of the film, the unpleasantness is carried out by her equally mysterious guardian “Håkan” (Per Ragnar), allowing the narrative to focus on some of the subtle hints she gives her new friend. The phrase "isn't a girl" could mean many things; she may only be twelve years old, but how long has she been that age? Perhaps she sees in “Oskar” someone who can protect her. At the same time, “Oskar” needs to decide whether seeking revenge on his bullies is the right thing to do or if he should move forward and embrace the positive feelings he has for “Eli,” which seem to be returned. Both actors are very good throughout; their dialogue feels natural and authentically childlike, and even though the story deals with some disturbing subjects, those elements don't detract from the film’s overall warmth, and there’s even a bit of humor mixed in. The cold scenery, the dark evenings, the nearby woods, and the steady rhythm of the story create an unusual feeling of comfort for this type of movie, making it surprisingly compelling. If you were hoping to see Peter Cushing or Brad Pitt, then this isn't it—otherwise, it’s worth watching.

Source on TMDB