ORPHAN: FIRST KILL Still Has Some Surprises To Share and Scare

ORPHAN: FIRST KILL
IN THEATERS, ON DIGITAL AND STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT+: August 19, 2022
DIRECTOR: William Brent Bell
WRITER: David Coggeshall
CAST: Isabelle Fuhrman, Rossif Sutherland and Julia Stiles
Esther returns to the Orphan universe in this prequel. After orchestrating an escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility. Esther finds and takes over the identity of the missing daughter “Esther” Albright. The Albright family headed by The mother Tricia decides to travel to Russia and retrieve Esther. Once back in America, things take an unexpected twist. Situations arise that lead the family to question Esther’s identity. Esther and the mother square off. Tricia will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.
RUN TIME: 99 minutes
RATING: R
GENRE: Horror, Thriller, Mystery
DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures

By Chris Hammond

When Orphan first hit screens in 2009 audiences left the theatres in shock and confusion. Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) was more than your run-of-the-mill demonic child. She has more of a story than say Damien from The Omen. This story at the time did not take shape until the film’s sequel announcement. Orphan: First Kill is the prequel backstory of Leena aka “Esther”.

The 31-year-old woman with a gland disorder that makes her look 10 years old starts off the movie in a psychiatric facility. The dangerous patient plans an escape, this escape was pretty clumsy and unbelievable in its execution. The first 25 minutes of the film are pretty flat, but once the settings change to America the fun begins.

Watching the interactions between Julia Stiles (Tricia) and Isabelle Fuhrman (Esther) are outstanding. These two make the film a worthwhile escape from reality. There is the standard blood, violence and f-bombs.

Beyond this Orphan: First Kill has pretty decent CGI de-aging effects. This helps to suspend reality and trick viewers into believing that Esther is as small as a child. The one issue that the film has though is that it’s obvious when a child stand-in for Esther is in a scene.

Director William Brent Bell creates a slasher film full of thrills and campiness. The choice to not recast the Esther role is brave and it pays off tenfold. There is only one Esther and that role belongs to Isabelle Fuhrman. There are a few “wow” factor plot points that should entice even the most niche viewers.

Let’s bring Esther back, again and again, move over Annie, Esther is the new sought-after Orphan!

IN THEATERS, ON DIGITAL AND STREAMING ON PARAMOUNT+: August 19, 2022
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