Review: Orphan (2009)

by Evan A. Salazar

I am of the persuasion that the horror genre over the past decade has really dropped the ball. I can't think of the last time I saw a trailer for or read a review of a horror movie that looked in the least bit appealing. And not only appealing to my tastes, but just simply done well. As there is for everything, there are exceptions to this rule. That's a given. But for as long as I can remember, all Hollywood seems to muster up are either remakes of foreign horror films or boring and safe PG-13 "jump!" movies. Nothing compelling or artfully shot or very horrifying, really. But as I said, there are exceptions to this rule. Orphan happens to be one of those.

Orphan centers around a family that, after the tragedy of a miscarriage, are looking to adopt a new child to have as a part of their family. The parents, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard), are loving people who, even though have their marital issues, truly have their family's best intentions in mind. On the day they go to the orphanage to find someone, they meet Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), who is bright, creative, polite, and charming. The parent's are obviously smitten with her and decide right there to adopt her.

Esther doesn't seem to get along very well with her new brother, but her new younger sister takes to her right away. Kate as well is very affectionate towards Esther, who is a model child. But of course, as this is a horror film, Esther starts to crack a bit. She screams wildly and ferociously when a girl at school attempts to make fun of her. She walks in on Kate and John having sex (in the kitchen no less), and when Kate attempts to explain to Esther what it was she saw, Esther knowingly tells her that she's aware they were "fucking." She manipulates. She acts cruel. Sometimes, she acts shockingly violent. The list starts to pile on and as do the questions. Where exactly is Esther from? Why does she seem to have a wider breadth of knowledge than other kids her age? By the time the questions start to be asked, it's too late.

What is first so unique about Orphan is how well it's shot. The first scene in particular, which is a dream sequence, is not only unsettling because of what happens, but how it was shot. Lights bleed and stream, colors are muted, the lighting is dramatic. It's an incredibly jarring and frightening sequence. The rest of the film is shot in a claustrophobic manor (but to it's advantage, which in some other movies is not the case) with dim lighting that evokes a very certain sense of dread. The cinematography makes the films taut and compelling drama just that much more so.

And that's the thing: this movie is also a drama. The script is surprisingly well-written (even when sticking to some age old cliches that permeate all horror/thriller movies) and filled with human emotion and melodrama. You feel for characters, hate others, and take sides, but it's not done in a bullying "The script says hate this person!" way. It's done in subtler way, a much more humanistic way. I can't say I was expecting that from a movie like this. The human drama is there, and that keeps just us just as compelled as the tension and suspense of what Esther is going to do next does. 

On another tip, this movie is R. And I mean, it's R. Fuck PG-13 horror, this is how it's done. This movie doesn't skimp on the gore and terror and some parts are genuinely cringe-worthy. Is it the goriest thing I have ever seen? No, not by a long shot (that award goes to the ultra-ultra-ultra violent Japanese movie Machine Girl). But this movie uses it's scene of gore very effectively and definitely gets it's point across. That's honestly one of my main problems with recent horror films: they're rated PG-13. Now, I get it, I understand, horror films can be horror films without gore or blood or violence. I know that. But it's just dumb when a filmmaker is making a horror film that uses violence, but because they're so worried about their box office draw, skimp on the good stuff so their movie can be rated PG-13 and reach a wider audience. How pathetic. Off screen violence is a bore and nowadays laughable instead of menacing. Horror films prime directive are to horrify and push your buttons. How is that possible when people try to think of ways to make them safer?

That's all besides the point, though. The point is that this movie is made well. The performances are convincing and well done, the suspense is taut and unnerving, the violence disturbing and gruesome, and the general tone of the film hits all the right marks. This is, simply, a solid movie. If you spent the time, I'm sure you could find things to nitpick in the story or in any other aspect of it, but why would you? This is an effective movie and one that really surprised me. Consider me impressed.