Originally posted on another site on 25 January 2010.
I had seen the posters for Orphan but didn’t really think much more about it until G arrived home with the DVD. He said he’d seen the preview on the internet and thought we’d both enjoy it.
The movie is a suspense thriller about a couple who adopt a nine year old girl shortly after the stillbirth of their third child. The marriage is on edge. The mother is finding it hard to cope with her loss. And then Ester comes into their lives. Everything is sweet for a while and then things start to happen. Nasty things. Deadly things. Things that will make the hairs on your neck stand on end and your skin crawl. It had me on the edge of the seat. It was creepy, suspenseful and – something that doesn’t happen to me often – it affected my sleep that night (I kept thinking someone was in the room with me, in the dark, and I couldn’t sleep because of it). I guess sinister children have that affect on me!
It was a movie that felt cliché in some ways, yet spoke to me in volumes in others. The young actress, twelve year old Isabelle Fuhrman, who played nine year old Ester was superb in every way. Without giving away any details, she had me totally convinced she was what they said she was. Her acting ability at such a young age is outstanding and she deserves an award for her role in this movie (I never think of things like awards when I’m watching a movie, so she really did impress me). In fact, whoever cast this movie did a great job. The characters fitted together well and complimented each other.
Some movies are watched and forgotten within days, this movie will remain strong in my mind for some time to come. The chilling plot plus the exceptional cast make a movie that I can highly recommend…but don’t let your kids watch it, it might give them ideas!