Orphan (2009)

August 16, 2022 1:33 PM

Devastated by the loss of their unborn baby, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, both feel drawn to a little girl (a then-ten-year-old Isabelle Fuhrman) named Esther, and soon the couple take their new daughter home. But when a dangerous series of events unfolds, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind the child's angelic exterior. Note: a prequel with a now 25 year-old Isabelle Fuhrman playing a younger version of the same character, is in theaters and streaming this Friday.

Also starring CCH Pounder, Margo Martingale, and Jimmy Bennett. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra.

57% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Currently streaming in the US on the Paramount+ service. Also available for digital rental on multiple outlets. JustWatch listing.

posted by DirtyOldTown (2 comments total)

This movie is a bit more bonkers than the average evil kid movie, and the fact that they're using forced perspective and body doubles to let Fuhrman play the same character in a prequel when she is actually 25 years old is even more bonkers.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 1:39 PM on August 16, 2022 [4 favorites]

I just watched this one and thought it was surprisingly good. I mean, it's an evil kid movie, you've seen it a thousand times before, but it has a lot of weird little flourishes like how they are in family therapy discussing the evil kid and a bunch of meat packers are loading up a van with carcasses out the window. The pervy black light paintings were also a nice touch, and there were some good visuals with the swirling snow.

I sort of wanted a different explanation for why the kid is so evil besides "she's a psychopath" but I guess that's why they made the prequel we've all apparently been clamoring for these past thirteen years.
posted by whir at 9:31 PM on August 23, 2022