Let the Right One In

Staffan’s prized trophy for pistol shooting symbolizes skill, expertise, and tenacity. Staffan takes pride in his abilities. When Tommy steals the trophy, he essentially steals what makes Staffan himself—vanity, a belief in order, and a holier-than-thou attitude all mixed up into a policeman who shoots well. Ironically, Tommy uses the trophy to gruesomely bludgeon Håkan, proving that one doesn’t need to be an expert to be tenacious and skilled at hitting a target. Symbolically, Tommy’s use of the trophy as a weapon against the zombified horror Håkan has become also represents order triumphing (in a limited way) over chaos. 

Oskar’s Rubik’s Cubes represent puzzles, games, and questions. He works on the Cube without figuring out its mysteries, yet when he gives it to Eli, Eli figures it out quickly. Eli loves to play games, as does Oskar. Yet the Cube also becomes a weapon for both good and ill. Oskar hits Lacke in the head with the Cube to protect Eli, and the force of the blow causes Lacke to fall. Eli then bites and kills Lacke. The Cube represents both innocence and mystery—it has different sides and different colors—and is therefore a symbol of Eli as well.