|
Movies •Books •Music •Food •Tv Shows •Technology •Politics •Video Games •Parenting •Fashion •Green Living •more >

Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Orphan » User review

Orphan
Orphan

A 2009 American horror film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra

< read all 6 reviews

THEY ADOPTED THE CHILD FROM HELL

  • Dec 12, 2010
Exclusive to the Lunch Network
Rating:
+3
Desperate to watch something last night, I flipped this movie on.  I really was not expecting much as it seems good horror is hard to find.  I ended up watching "Orphan" - was I disappointed?  Well, it is hard to say; this film completely irritated me at times with it's sometimes lousy dialogue, it's occasional unrealistic scenes, the husband's ignorance - yet it totally engrossed me.



John and Kate Coleman (played by Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) have 2 children; Max, a daughter who is deaf and mute, and Daniel their son. Kate lost their third baby during childbirth and the couple have decided to adopt a daughter so they can "spread the love they would have given to their lost baby."  They go to Sister Abigail who runs an orphanage for girls.  John is mesmerized by Esther, a 9 year old Russian girl who is so sweet it makes you wanna puke.  She is extremely bright and articulate and they can not resist - they bring her home.  Esther and Max get along right away, but Daniel does not like her at all and appears jealous.



Before long, Kate realizes something is not right with this child; Esther is on her best behavior around her new father, but starts showing some odd behavior with Kate.  Kate tries to convince John that Esther is not what she seems, but he refuses to listen.  Even Kate's psychiatrist is fooled by Esther and does not believe her.  Without giving any spoilers, I can say that when Esther finds out that Sister Abigail has told the couple she is going to look in to Esther's past because bad things happen when she's around, the Sister meets her demise on her way home.  I will say that poor Daniel goes through hell when he tries to get proof of her evilness.  I will also tell you there is a surprise toward the end of the film that will totally freak you out.  

Beware though of the silliness of some of the scenes; how does a child get into the ICU so easily to smother her brother?  How does a small child like Max, who witnesses the terror that Esther has bestowed, not act nervous, traumatized, sad, or SOMETHING during the film?  Why does Sister Abigail go to their house to warn the couple, when she knew the children were there in the house the whole time?   How do the police go into the house and not see mother and child outside in the snow - alone - with the sadistic Esther? And why in the crap did they have to make John such an irritating and stupid husband? Honestly, I wanted to reach into the TV and slap the crap out of him.



Despite lots of unrealistic scenes, bad writing, bad acting by the main characters, and weak writing, this film engrossed me nonetheless. Isabelle Fuhrman, who plays Esther, was outstanding in her character role; even though you hate her, she was mesmerizing and was the sole reason this movie remained so watchable.  Not to mention you really are desperate at this point to find out why she is so evil!

If you can get past the stupidity, ignore the irritability you may feel at the characters, and forget about the unrealistic scenes, this movie may very well entertain you until the freaky end.  
THEY ADOPTED THE CHILD FROM HELL THEY ADOPTED THE CHILD FROM HELL THEY ADOPTED THE CHILD FROM HELL THEY ADOPTED THE CHILD FROM HELL

What did you think of this review?

Helpful
18
Thought-Provoking
18
Fun to Read
18
Well-Organized
18
Post a Comment
December 21, 2010
Looks like a fun watch, especially when there's nothing else to watch, lol. Will have to check it out one of these days. :)
 
December 17, 2010
I could tell from the TV ads that this just wasn't going to be anything I wanted to see. Crazy kid movies have worn out their welcome with me. I did see a good vampire movie last week though. Woop had reviewed it and I had planned on seeing it when it had its theatrical release, but it closed so quickly I never got the chance. It's called DAYBREAKERS and I think you might like it--it's not your run of the mill vampire flick at all.
December 17, 2010
Thank you QueenB!!
December 18, 2010
I'll probably see this when it comes to On Deman--just because so many other people (like you) seem to have enjoyed it so much. You never can tell sometimes.
December 19, 2010
I think you may enjoy it just for the crazy acting -- but the eerie feeling you get with Esther may well be worth it!! And the ending.......whew!! Let me know if you see it; I'd really be interested in your view of it!!
December 20, 2010
Someone was telling me that it made a list of 10 best horror flix of the decade on some TV show. But from the other films he mentioned...well...
December 20, 2010
LOL - I wouldn't say it was a decade winner, but it was pretty memorizing to say the least; the creepiness of it and the ending especially. I really do hope you see it!!
December 20, 2010
Unfortunately he also told me the ending so no big surprises when I see it.
December 20, 2010
Oh for the love of God -- a spoiler!! Well that ruined it for sure!!
December 21, 2010
The ultimate spolier!
December 21, 2010
I know -- that sucks!
December 21, 2010
Especially for me. I like to be surprised and I think this one would have done it.
December 21, 2010
It would have been a total surprise - as goofy as some of the writing was, that was the one thing you did not see coming at all!!
 
December 13, 2010
This was a crazy little flick, I feel about the same as you about it. Great review.
December 13, 2010
Thank you Alex!
 
December 13, 2010
You are totally right about the stupidness of some of this movie but it really does have that car crash thing going for it where you just cant turn it off! And the ending omg i really didnt see that one coming! Great review.
December 13, 2010
Thank you! Amazing how a movie so dumb could be so tantalizing! Thank you for the read and comment!
 
December 13, 2010
You are totally right about the stupidness of some of this movie but it really does have that car crash thing going for it where you just cant turn it off! And the ending omg i really didnt see that one coming! Great review.
December 13, 2010
I think it was because the actress who played Esther was very convincing in her role.
December 13, 2010
Its really a kid who plays the girl isnt it?
December 13, 2010
Here's a pic of the girl who played Esther -- and I agree that she was the reason the movie was so gripping.

 
December 12, 2010
Honestly, I saw this because of Vera Farmiga. This had some good scenes but the story was a little flimsy. Nice one, Brenda!
December 13, 2010
Thanks Woo - I agree with you; I had not even heard of the movie till I turned it on and as much as I fussed about the stupidity, I couldn't stop watching it... Go figure....LOL
 
December 12, 2010
LOL...once again, I totally agree with you (surprise, surprise)! It was HORRIBLE but, I still watched the entire thing and it did keep me engrossed, somehow. Great review, Brenda!
December 12, 2010
Thanks Samantha -- weird movie; I was bitching about the stupidness to my husband, but yet I couldn't stop watching it LOL
December 12, 2010
I did the same thing to my fiance LOL and he kept saying...well, then WHY ARE YOU WATCHING IT?!?! And I said, I dunno, I can't stop...
December 13, 2010
Whoa -- you and I are soooo much alike it's scary!! LOL Was your fiance the same as my hubby and didn't find anything stupid about it?
December 13, 2010
OK, I think somehow either we were separated at birth or you're my spiritual doppelganger ;p Cuz now it's just strange and yes, he had no clue what I was talking about LOL...
December 13, 2010
LMAO -- I love the doppelganger comment!! I'm almost afraid to ask; when is your birthday??
 
1
More Orphan reviews
review by . October 29, 2009
posted in Movie Hype
Horror Comes In Small Packages...?
      The taboo subject of killer tykes on the loose have always been touched on by filmmakers; “The Good Son”, “Joshua”, “Pet Semetary”, the Korean film “Hansel and Gretel”, “The Bad Seed” are good examples. Even Troma came up with the utterly awesome “Beware: Children at Play” (in my opinion is the one that really pushed the envelope) and “Grace” which was a grand spectacle of utter discomfort. …
review by . October 19, 2011
posted in Movie Hype
*** out of ****     Movies about adopted children from Hell make me happy any day. Of course, sometimes a bad one comes along to ruin a potentially good time, but more than often, I walk out of such movies satisfied with the new ideas that the filmmaker has explored, and the new evil kid that they have successfully introduced. I like to believe that "The Omen" popularized the trend of killer kids in movies, and while few can truly outweigh that one in spectacle and quality, there …
review by . July 10, 2011
For that small selection of motion pictures that approach greatness and fall far short of it, this is a particularly notable entry. In the '70s, no major studio would touch something this audacious, and no filmmaker who engaged it would dare to dilute it to satisfy tender sensibilities. However, this is an age in which the whims of hysterical hausfrauen and other gluttonous, shrieking, hypersensitive demographics determine commercial success and failure, in which anything that's not distributed …
Quick Tip by . July 09, 2010
posted in Movie Hype
this movie is a trip. its a pretty good story but the ending is the best part. a total suprise!
review by . December 08, 2009
posted in Movie Hype
Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, and CCH Pounder give excellent performances, but it's the kiddies who steal the show in "Orphan."     Farmiga and Sarsgaard star as Kate and John Coleman, a successful and loving (or so it seems at first) couple with two children and the desire to adopt another when Kate's third child is stillborn. They believe that they've found the perfect child in Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), a nine-year-old Russian orphan who is sugary sweet, highly intelligent, …
Quick Tip by . July 12, 2010
posted in Movie Hype
WOW i had no idea what this movie was going to be about i dont want to spoil this for any one.
Quick Tip by . July 06, 2010
posted in Movie Hype
So scary!
review by . October 16, 2009
For those of you that like thrillers like "Single White Female," "Fatal Attraction," or "Audition," this is another shocker in the same vein. Although "Orphan" has some genuine thrills and scares, it made me feel a little unclean at times.    When "Orphan" begins, we meet the Colemans: Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Saargard), and their children Daniel (Jimmy Bennett) and Max (Arayana Engineer). After the stillborn death of their third child, Kate and John decide to adopt …
see all Orphan reviews (6)
About the reviewer
Brenda ()
Ranked #71
I love to read mysteries and thrillers; I am addicted to scary psychological thrillers and horror movies; "The Exorcist" and "Silence of the Lambs" being 2 of my favorites. I love … more
Consider the Source

Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.

You
Butterfly1961
Your ratings:
Fear
Fear
Saw III
Saw III
Psycho
Psycho
Movie poster
Saw II
rate more to improve this
Recent reviews by Butterfly1961
MRSA - Don't Make The Mistake Of Misdiagnosing This Infection
IT'S EASY TO MISS THE SIGNS OF THIS STAFF INFECTION …
a review of MRSA - Don't Make The Mistake Of Misdiagnosing ...
'We Bought A Zoo' Starring Matt Damon
A Charming, Heartwarming And Engaging Film For The …
a review of We Bought a Zoo
Dark Shadows
A Visually Beautiful Gothic-Like And Delightful Film …
a review of Dark Shadows (2012 Film)
see more reviews
About this movie

Wiki

A husband and wife who lose a baby adopt a 9-year-old girl who is not nearly as innocent as she claims to be.Genres:Suspense/Horror and Thriller Release Date:July 24th, 2009 (wide) MPAA Rating:R for disturbing violent content, some sexuality and language. Distributors:Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution See Full Details

A bad seed with a Russian accent, 9-year-old Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) is a nasty little girl with a nasty little plan. Unfortunately, this malevolent tyke has landed in the home of adoptive parents Kate and John (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard), an unsuspecting couple with two kids of their own and considerable grief over recent family tragedies. It doesn't take long for Esther to make her creepy presence known, as broken limbs on the playground and torched tree houses can attest. Give this movie some credit--the psychological underpinnings are all set carefully in place: Maternal trauma? Check. Backyard pond as emotionally charged danger zone? Check. Feminist parable about husbands not listening to troubled wives? Check. The casting of reputable actors such as Farmiga and Sarsgaard also ups the movie's class quotient; Farmiga in particular has an emotional workout, and this gifted actress strikes few false notes even as the scenario becomes increasingly lurid. (There's some déjà vu here: Farmiga also played a mother realizing her kid was "not right" inJoshua, a much superior film.) Director Jaume Collet-Serra, ofHouse of...
view wiki

Tags

Movies, Horror, Suspense, Horror Movies, Thriller, Thriller Movies, Jaume Colletserra
see all

Details

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra
Release Date: July 24, 2009
MPAA Rating: R
Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution, Warner Home Video
see all (6)
First to Review

"Adult, Character Driven Horror Film or another words "Good Son" times 5"
© 2013 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people.
()
This is you!
Ranked #
Last login
Member since
reviews
comments
ratings
questions
compliments
lists