Run time: 2h 3m
Through all the films I have reviewed so far, there is one genre I have avoided. I have stayed clear from Horror films as there are not that many that I have truly enjoyed. However, I decided to push the boat out and watch the horror movie “Orphan”. It was recommended to me by a friend from work and, seen as it was in season, I thought it was time for me to face my fears.
Plot
The film’s plot shares a similar arc to a lot of horror movies. A seemingly happy American family adopt a Russian orphan named Esther. Everyone seems pleased by the new arrival at first, but slowly cracks start to appear in Esther’s past making for a shocking twist towards the end of the film.
The plot was interesting but had a fairly generic story arc and without the surprising denoument I feel it would have been quite forgettable. Therefore, I give it a 7/10 rating.
Acting
The lead role of Esther was played by Isabelle Fuhrman, who was just 12 years old at the time. She steals the show and puts on a very impressive performance as the Russian orphan.
Fuhrman is the standout performer in the film earning an acting score of 8/10.
Characters
The protagonist, Kate Coleman, is played by Vera Farmiga. I found her character quite irritating at points in the film as she lacked common sense and made terrible decisions, which is synonymous with stereotypical horror movie characters. The saving grace was the character of Esther as she was interesting and unique.
Despite an intriguing antagonist I thought the majority of the films characters were generic and even sometimes quite annoying. Therefore, I give them a rating of 6.5/10.
Dialogue
The film delivers on giving some chilling sentances, spoken by Esther. Although these lines are perfect for creating a creepy atmosphere, I found they were teetering on the verge of being cringeworthy.
I found the script unsettling, but almost to a degree that deterred me from watching it. Therefore I give it a 7/10 rating.
Music
The music was composed by John Ottoman, who helped write the music for films such as “The Usual Suspects”, “Public Access” and “The Xmen series”. The music did create tension at times but overall, I thought this was not Ottoman’s best work. The soundtrack, a lot like the film, didn’t feel memorable.
Therefore, I give the film’s music a 7.5/10 rating.
All in all, although I was a big fan of the film’s shocking ending, it was not enough to make me watch it again. Perhaps horror films just aren’t for me, but I don’t think the film is a must watch. It was entertaining without being remarkable.