Orphan Review

Plot – a couple lose their baby which would have been their third child, so they decide to adopt and the dad goes off in the orphanage and gets talking with a little girl who the couple decide to adopt. Esther (the orphan) then turns ‘evil’ and begins harming, killing and threatening people and gets the couples biological daughter involved.

In my opinion I think that Orphan is a typical ‘killer kid’ horror film and uses the conventions of a typical horror movie, e.g. someone commits a murder and there is a witness that is told to keep quiet, however the murderer ends up getting caught out in the end.

I think Orphan is a good horror movie because it isn't too scary but it does get your heart racing at some points during the film. The main character Esther is an interesting character because its as if she has two personalities depending on who’s around at that moment e.g. when her adopted parents are around she behaves like an angel who could do no wrong and when its just Esther and Max (the biological daughter) she’s evil and murders the nun from the orphanage. Esther is a smart character as she comes across as if she has a mind of a mature woman but she’s trapped in a little girl’s body e.g. she knows exactly how to cover herself and hide things from people.

The mother is also an interesting character because from the beginning of the adoption she works out that Esther is not an ordinary child, however because at first she is not sure whether she is correct or just being over the top when she finally opens up to her husband he refuses to believe it. She is quite a frustrated character as she knows her instincts are right however Esther portrays herself as the opposite to her instincts. As the horror goes on you begin to understand the mother more.

Overall I think that Orphan is a good horror to watch as you can follow the story line easily and it doesn't get boring at any point because its like one event after the other.