Directed By: William Brent Bell
Starring: Isabelle Fuhrman, Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Matthew Finlan
Plot Summary: Esther’s terrifying saga continues in this thrilling prequel to the original and shocking horror hit, Orphan. After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. Yet, an unexpected twist arises that pits her against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.
The first Orphan film released in 2009 and, despite not being based on a previous IP, the film managed to pull in near $80 million on a $20 million budget. This in no small part thanks to its talented cast, spot-on direction, and of course a hell of a fantastic twist. Thirteen years later and seemingly out of the blue we get a new film. File Orphan: First Kill under a prequel nobody asked for, but something I never knew I needed. First Kill has some very large shoes to fill, with the original being a wonderfully creepy thriller. First off, I think that one should have their expectations in check before going into this movie. It is not nearly as good as the first film. However, on the opposite spectrum, those dismissing this outright as a hollow cash grab should give it a fair chance. Indeed, this movie does have its share of issues. While I do think its story is clever (more on that later), it still struggles with clunky plotting, shallow characters and uneven performances.
While I think that it might be easy to pick apart every glaring flaw in this movie, damned if I didn’t find it to be overall enjoyable. The best way to describe Orphan: First Kill is take the original film, run it through a trashy, V.C. Andrews filter, then add a dash of pulpy horror flare. The end result may not be high art; however, it was a cheesy guilty pleasure that kept me invested. The first act is a bit sluggish and feels like direct-to-video fodder. Thankfully, there is a pretty great second act twist that really helps add depth, tension and engagement. It also helps fill in a few plot holes baked into the premise (explaining Esther getting away with her deception), while also making it different from the first. I also liked how there was some social commentary dealing with class, elitism and immigration that, while not subtle, does add an extra layer that I wasn’t expecting.
William Brent Bell, who directed ironically has another pint-sized terror The Boy (which also is now a franchise), does a decent job of crafting an eerie little film. Director of photography Karmin Hussain (Free Fire, Firestarter) gives the movie its own unique style, which is this hazy, soft, almost dreamlike look. While I stated the production values are a bit stiff, Hussain does an excellent job crafting a creepy atmosphere and giving the movie a bigger scope thanks to his skills as a cinematographer.
Reprising the role of Esther is Isabelle Fuhrman, and of course it is a delight to see her back. Fuhrman is clearly having a lot of fun in the role and she brings a nuance to the character that is well worth the price of admission. Julia Stiles plays the mother and adds a campiness that works within the context of the film’s Lifetime movie quality. The supporting cast is great as well with Rossif Sutherland doing a nice job as the artist father. Sutherland is slightly uneven but I think sells the role, as underwritten as it is. Matthew Finlan on the other hand gets some nice over-the-top moments and, much like Fuhrman and Stiles, knows exactly how to act given the material.
Sure, Orphan: First Kill does play like a big budget Lifetime movie. However, I think its still a bloody good time! For fans willing to give this a fair shot, it has plenty of shocking surprises in store.
Orphan: First Kill will be available in Theaters, on Digital and streaming on Paramount+ August 19, 2022 courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uX6of3vBu0]
Orphan: First Kill does play like a big budget Lifetime movie. However, I think its still a bloody good time!
Big film nerd and TCM Obsessed. Author of The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema from Schiffer Publishing. Resume includes: AMC’s The Bite, Scream Magazine etc. Love all kinds of movies and television and have interviewed a wide range of actors, writers, producers and directors. I currently am a regular co-host on the podcast The Humanoids from the Deep Dive and have a second book in the works from Bear Manor.
