English – (18PL) – 3 September 2009 – Horror/Thriller
Distributed by: Warner BrosRunning time: 122 minutes
Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Producer: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran
Writer: Alex Mace (story), David Leslie Johnson (screenplay)
Casts: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett
Plot: Young mother Kate Coleman is devastated by the loss of her baby (and her inability to conceive again). She and her husband John decides to adopt nine-year-old Esther, in order to fill the empty space in their broken hearts. However, little did they know the child they adopted would turn out to be anything other than what they had hoped for.
The Verdict:
Orphan has created a scare among those who wants to adopt a kid and the movie committed some capital sin by putting forward such a controversial display. The movie is not a calm enjoyable story about adopting a sweet girl, but the true question of what is wrong with Esther is simply dominating the movie. You will truly enjoy the gruesome but from some technical point of view, this is just so mediocre.
The story deals with the pain Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John Coleman (Peter Sarsgaard) had to deal on their marriage after Kate's third child was stillborn. On a trip to a local orphanage, they decide to adopt Esther (Isabella Fuhrman), a 9-year-old Russian girl with good English command. Kate grows suspicious when Esther begins to behave strange, expresses far more understanding about sex and has tendency towards violence. Despite Kate's alarm, John does not believe and it leaves Kate to prove that there is something wrong about Esther.As mentioned earlier, Orphan blows the world by its controversial subject matter. First, the subject of adoption that is manipulated at such that the implications may pronounce in the society, and secondly, the stigmata and portraying the shadowy past of Eastern Europe inside what apparently normal and sweet little girl but quickly evaporates into violence and cruelty.
The story may not be easy to follow, but let us be honest; Orphan is nothing more than a sleazy, disgusting and filthy portrayal for an attempt to create horror. Let's not forget that the plot building is ample but sluggish and slow. The first hour deals in collecting details but the second half turns into mania of exposing suspense. The psychological is also enough but could be over the top, excess and exaggerating. However, those elements of surprise are too minimal, creating some sort of well expected story to garnish here.
The main thing is Orphan is never been scary but it takes on gruesome and gory elements to turn into fears. The concept is smart and creative, using a charming child actor to make things upside down even inside the guts of one watching it.
The one attraction here is the child actors. Isabella Fuhrman definitely steals all the limelight with a strong performance, adapting well with her Russian background and possesses creepy evilness that very frightening. She is terrific. Also in the credits are Max (Aryana Engineer) and Daniel (Jimmy Bennett), the Coleman's children whom create a good chemistry bonding about love and hate with Esther.
The sleaziness is such a disturbing fact in the movie. Using normal effects, the story is louder itself. Effects are minimal and the cinematographic styles are sometimes too rigid, probably suitable as a Christmas rather than a summer-produced horror. But those are not important! The essential critical perceived here is that Orphan is a disgusting, rigid, slow and poorly developed albeit entertaining psycho-thriller. You may enjoy or may not after all.THE RATING…
STORY – 2.5 stars
CASTS – 4.5 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY – 3.0 stars
EFFECTS – 3.0 stars
Overall – 3.0 stars
Green-Tea-O-Meter: 13.0