Orphan
After losing their baby, a married couple adopt 9-year old Esther, who may not be as innocent as she seems.
- Released: 2009-07-24
- Runtime: 123 minutes
- Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thrillers
- Stars: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett, Margo Martindale, Karel Roden, Aryana Engineer, Rosemary Dunsmore, Jamie Young, Lorry Ayers, Brendan Wall, Genelle Williams, Mustafa Abdelkarim, Landon Norris, Julien Elia, Leni Parker, Gemma James Smith, Pia Ajango, Matthew Raudsepp, Sugith Varughese, Luis Oliva, Ferelith Young, Andrew Shaver
- Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Comments
- matchalemonc - 27 April 2024
Kinda wasted time
One star for the acting. This movie makes no sense. Why isn't anyone thinking like a normal human in this film? Like, what???
One star for Max though. I love her. She's adorable and the only person who didn't do anything wrong. I mean, even her brother wasn't completely innocent as he was mean and talked trash. She is completely innocent, with no dark history. Well it doesn't mean the others deserved what happened to them, and I don't think what happened to them really makes sense. But yeah, I'm just expressing empathy. Poor girl was totally an angel, used and betrayed by someone she trusted, forced to witness violent murders. She must have felt so awful for defending and trusting the wrong person and being so traumatized by this event. - eddiemacraith - 28 October 2023
Really interesting and shocking twist
This is a bit of an underrated horror movie and I found this very good. The twist is very shocking but I will not tell anyone who may not have seen this movie or want to watch this movie in the future but it is one of the best twists in horror movie history. All of this movie is very good. I knew that this film was going to be very interesting and that is why I decided to watch it. But I have to tell you that this should be known as the second orphan because orphan first kill shows what happens before she gets adopted by this family. It shows the house fire that put her up for adoption in orphan first kill. I recommend this movie for people over the age of 11. - RalphLovesHorrorMovies - 1 August 2023
a must-watch for horror enthusiasts
"Orphan" is a gripping and thrilling horror film that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and starring Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther, the film delivers a chilling performance that lingers long after the credits roll.
One of the film's greatest strengths is its unique and unexpected storyline. "Orphan" takes the traditional concept of an adopted child and subverts it into a terrifying tale of deception and horror. The twists and turns keep viewers guessing, and the shocking revelations add depth to the plot, making it more than just a typical horror movie.
The standout performance by Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther is nothing short of outstanding. Her portrayal of the seemingly innocent and vulnerable orphan who hides a dark secret is hauntingly convincing. Fuhrman's ability to switch between charming and sinister seamlessly adds to the film's suspense and leaves a lasting impression.
Moreover, the film's atmospheric cinematography and eerie settings create a chilling ambiance that heightens the sense of dread throughout. The use of shadows and subdued lighting adds to the film's overall tension, keeping the audience in a state of unease.
The film also explores deeper themes such as parental instincts and the consequences of past actions, giving it more substance than the average horror flick. It delves into the complexities of family dynamics and raises questions about trust and the lengths one would go to protect their loved ones.
In addition to the compelling story and strong performances, "Orphan" benefits from its well-paced narrative. The film builds suspense steadily, leading to a nail-biting climax that delivers a shocking finale.
In conclusion, "Orphan" is a chilling and well-crafted horror film that stands out in the genre. With its unexpected storyline, stellar performances, and atmospheric visuals, the film offers an enthralling cinematic experience. It's a must-watch for horror enthusiasts and anyone looking for a riveting and thought-provoking thriller. - lonnielongino - 1 November 2022
Nice plot twist
Orphan is a very well acted thriller that keeps your attention from start to end. Isabelle Furhman did an excellent job of portraying a Russian orphan that was adopted by a young family that had been traumatized by a stillborn birth. Vera Farmiga plays the mother who lost her child to perfection. Also she is a recovering alcoholic and intertwined both aspects very well.
There is immediately an undertone that something isn't right with the young girl. She is overtly sexual for a supposed 9 year old. She doesn't get along or act like any of the other children and is immediately bullied because of this. There are several suspicious deaths that we know are the fault of the orphan & the mother suspects this,but the other adults are suspicious of the mother,thinking she is jealous of the new girl.
The big plot twist comes to light near the end, as it turns out the orphan isn't who she claims to be. In fact she isn't even Russian,she is Estonian. And is not 9 years old, but a grown woman with a rare glandular disorder. Nice plot twist that explains a lot of questions associated with her.
My only real gripe is there is a big build up for the ending but it never delivered any answers. We never find out for sure if the husband or the son are actually dead. Also the orphan while being left to drown is also not confirmed. I guess they were trying to leave it open for a sequel. But instead this year, they have announced a prequel instead. - nadezhdax-33333 - 9 September 2022
Had potential
Orphan really had the potential to be a good horror/thriller but the plot would just get way to nonsensical at times and the completely unbelievable chain of events make it feel like it's just going from one illogical scene to the next. It's begins well, but worsens (with increasing momentum) as the story unfolds. On the positives, the acting is fairly solid all round, especially from the 12 year old actress who played Esther. There nothing particularly wrong with the script or the competent directing from Collet. It really is just the boneheaded story that lets it all down. There's definitely a good film in here somewhere but that sadly isn't enough to save it. - mackelley - 26 August 2022
Early 2000s Horror at its finest! 👧🏻🔪
Major SPOILERS ahead.
Orphan is one of my favorite horror films from the early 2000s. Mainly because Isabelle Fuhrman gives a phenomenal performance as Esther, especially considering at the time she was just 10 years old during the production of this film. There are so many layers to her character that she needs to portray subtly, and she does so magnificently! Playing a 33-year-old woman the size of a child who's pretending to be a 9-year-old little girl must've been a tremendous challenge. Also, it's the main twist of the film! And I FREAKING LOVE IT. There's nothing supernatural involved, she isn't being followed around by a demonic entity, she doesn't happen to be the spawn of Satan. Nothing like that at all. Esther has a rare condition called hypopituitary disorder, which causes Proportional dwarfism, and makes her look much younger than she actually is.
Moreover, Vera Farmiga gives a fantastic performance as the foster mother who adopts Esther, and then is progressively tormented throughout the whole movie by her past mistakes, a crumbling marriage, and of course by Esther herself who wants her out of the picture for her own sinister reasons.
However, as much as I adore this film, I do have a couple of flaws with it. My first gripe is there were a few too many false jump scares. It's gets a little distracting and repetitive when you can feel the progressive build up to the loud jolt of noise that will soon burst from the speakers each time, reminding you it's only a horror movie.
Annnnd my second issue has nothing to do with Peter Sarsgaard, the actor who portrays Vera Farmiga's husband, who's delivering an exceptional performance as well. But rather his oblivious and painfully gullible character. This man had more than blinders on when it came to Esther's unusual behavior, he had his eyes completely shut!
Overall, this has become one of my favorites over the last few years, and I'm very excited to see the prequel titled Orphan: First Kill.
