There’s something wrong with Esther.
And Orphan lets you know it almost immediately.
The latest release from Warner Bros., directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax), Orphan is the kind of suspense thriller that sneaks up on you. It doesn’t rely on nonstop jump scares or over-the-top gore. Instead, it takes its time, builds tension slowly, and lets the discomfort do most of the work.
The scares here aren’t excessive, but they’re effective. There’s also a surprising dose of dark humor throughout the film, which gives some scenes an almost uncomfortable edge. One minute you’re laughing at how wrong something feels, the next you’re bracing yourself for what’s coming. That balance keeps the movie entertaining without ever losing its sense of dread.
Some hardcore horror fans may find Orphan a little too absurd or even silly, but that reaction usually comes from people who expect every horror movie to follow the same rules. This film plays to a wider audience. Younger viewers will get caught up in the suspense, while older viewers will appreciate the slow-burn approach and the way the story keeps unfolding in unexpected ways.
Esther, played by Isabelle Fuhrman, is a Russian-accented orphan with an angelic face and a personality that feels far too mature for a nine-year-old. She’s quiet, intelligent, and unsettling in ways that are hard to explain at first. From the moment she enters her new home, the film starts pulling you into a story that becomes harder and harder to believe—and that’s part of the fun.
What works best about Orphan is how it escalates. Small moments slowly turn into major red flags, and by the time things spiral out of control, the movie has already earned it. The final act delivers a twist that most viewers won’t see coming, and it’s the kind of ending that makes you replay earlier scenes in your head once the credits roll.
Too many suspense films miss the formula for a truly creepy movie. Orphan doesn’t. If your collection includes movies like The Omen, The Good Son, The Orphanage, Hide and Seek, or Joshua, then this one should feel right at home on your shelf. It knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be and commits to it fully.
Orphan isn’t perfect, but it’s effective, entertaining, and genuinely unsettling in ways that stick with you longer than most horror films released in recent years.
Final note: Orphan is best enjoyed from a safe distance—preferably far from any adoption paperwork.
Orphan |
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DIRECTOR: | Jaume Collet-Serra |  |
| STUDIO: | Warner Bros. | ||
| GENRE: | Horror, Suspense | ||
| MPAA: | R | ||
| RELEASE DATE: | October 11, 2009 | ||
Raymond Melendez
