I may rule out the possibility of ever have kids, my own or adopted.
Orphan (2009)
Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax)
The Prologue
What’s wrong with kids these days huh? After watching and reviewing Case 39 for Horrorphilia I decided it was only right that I hurry up and watch Orphan, a film that shares a lot in common with Case 39 and a film that you could find listed on many year end Top 10′s in the horror community.
After seeing this movie I can now understand what all the hype was all about and I’m also very shocked that this great movie has the same director as the crappy House Of Wax!
The Movie
A husband and wife who recently lost their baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be. And let me be the first to say that “not nearly as innocent” is the understatement of the year when spoken about Esther here in Orphan. Kids can be very VERY creepy in movies and this one perhaps takes the cake out of all the kids I’ve seen. The worst part is how she can turn the evil and goody two shoe both on and off at the drop of a hat.
While there are many great things one could say about this movie above all else how about the acting of one Isabelle Fuhrman? Good lord folks I have no clue why this kid isn’t getting award after award for this role of a 9 year old girl with a whole heck of a lot of issues. That’s a hell of a range for such a young actor and while I bragged on Jodelle Ferland in Case 39 (who was very good) Isabelle Fuhrman in the role of Esther may just be the best performance out of anyone I’ve seen in all the films I’ve seen from 2009.
Orphan as a whole is a movie that can play with your emotions. It can pull on your heart strings, it can make you happy, and it can make you afraid all within the two hours the film runs. A rather long run time but one that doesn’t stick out that much due to the content of the film. I do have a slight complaint that it runs a little long but this is the sort of film that can still make it work regardless.
This film is by no means a gore fest and I always like that sorta stuff but what you do get with this film is very cringe worthy and disturbing to see, as brief as it is. Also from a psychological stand point the movie shows us just how people can be manipulated very easily by just the right person and how maybe at times we give people (mostly kids) the benefit of the doubt when perhaps we shouldn’t.
I was lucky enough to not have the ending of this movie spoiled for me before seeing it, something that at times can be very hard to do in movies in regards to the internet now days. I of course won’t spoil it for you here but take my word on it folks, it’s a GREAT twist!
The Conclusion
It plays with your emotions, it get you on the edge of your seat, and it knocks you for a loop at the end, what more could a person want in a movie? For sure one of THE best from 2009, if not THE best in my mind.
If you have not watched it then I’d strongly recommend watching it asap. It does run a little long, it doesn’t have as much blood as most of you might want, but it’s a great film over all.
The Rating (8.5/10)
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