Orphan: Movie Review

Orphan: Movie Review

Rating: 6/10
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Peter Saarsgard, Isabelle Fuhrman
Director: Jaume Collett-Serra
It appears the scary kids are back.
Following hot the heels of the release of Renee Zellweger in Case 39, the latest contender Orphan arrives on the scene with its posters of a young girl, asking "What's wrong with Esther?"
Kate (Farmiga) and John (Saarsgard) are two parents trying to put the pieces back of their lives after losing a third child - however, the strain is showing as Kate also battles with going back on the booze and blaming herself for her youngest daughter Max's deafness after an incident involving a lake near their home.
So as they try to get back on track, they head to the local orphanage where they're immediately charmed by 9year old Russian girl, Esther.
Esther becomes a part of their lives - and splits the younger kids - with the elder Daniel wary and Max (Aryana Engineer) being overly welcomign and in thrall of her new sister.
However, it soon becomes clear that Esther is not all she seems&.
For the majority of its (slightly long) two hour running time, Orphan is racked full of suspense - with the sense of foreboding quite overpowering at times.
It's quite an honest portrait of a family trying to get back to a normal life - both Farmiga and Saarsgard are compelling and realistic in their portrayal of a normal couple who are stretched to the limits by what's happened.
It's also pretty damn good at creeping you out in some places and taking you somewhere you don't expect to go.
Of the younger kids, newcomer Aryana Engineer gives an impressive debut performance as Max (traumatized and empowered in equal measures)- but it's Isabelle Fuhrman who provides the requisite spooks and gives you the creeps as she skulks around on screen.
Some will find the brooding build up a little slow in places - and at times the soundtrack pulls no punches in screeching its terrifying intentions (not always to the best effect).
However, where Orphan triumphs over Case 39 (sorry, comparisons are inevitable) is in its revelation toward the end - I don't want to spoil it - but the twist is quite a smart one which director Jaume Collett-Serra just about manages to credibly pull off.

Unfortunately after the sucker punch, Orphan sadly has nowhere left to go and descends into a conclusion mired in clichéd horror films - but for shocks and moments where you find your nails digging into the cinema chair before the revelation, Orphan delivers in droves as it taps into everyday fears and makes them into a horrifying reality.