Review of Orphan (2009) by Sarfaraz A — 28 Oct 2013

Orphan - psychological/horror film co-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, directed by Jaaume Collet-Serra from the screenplay by David Leslie Johnson. Starring Oscar-nominated Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring), Peter Sarsgaard and Isabelle Fuhrman. Entire film is shot in Canada,.

Peter and Vera live with their little children, Daniel a cool boy and little sister Max who is suffering from hearing impairment. Couple had stillborn child, of which Vera takes full responsibility as being an alcoholic past. She is going through rehab. The couple intends on adopting a daughter from orphan for their little daughter - the come across Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) a 9-year old bright and intelligent girl, dresses 'like Little Bo Peep' to school - she's good at painting and playing harmonium. Little by little, her new mother suspects about her being too less discrete about sex for her age, and too manipulative.

Orphan has received far degrading ratings on RT - and I can tell you clearly, why is that so? This film is way beyond withholding your blood-pressure due to its strong psychologically powerful plot to spoil comfort of your body. It is obvious most of the critics escape claustrophobia encircled by the story - they ultimately end of punishing the film and all involved in it, by scoring it zero or rotten.

...But that's like being untrue to their profession and keeping the deserving audience at bay from enjoying good movies. Orphan plays solid, applies darker essence and at the end jams us the audience.

I felt that Peter was too less trustful of his wife - but this has to do with social culture of the west, they go through it most of the time, but to us in this part of the world - it hits harder on hot-nail to see mistreatment of anyone who is father or mother to your children. Somebody, from this part of the world could have said to Esther, 'my wife is the queen of my home and mother of my children, no matter what you blame on her' - I do think though that film needed a little work on its ending part.

Isabelle's character is horrific - she is too scary with her lethal actions, psychologically torturing you AND you just wished that you could get in there and tear her face apart. When, I have put such momentum in this review for the film, and to tell you the truth I was feeling awkward watching the film exploiting all but grown-ups to sit and see things distorting before their very eyes - I thought to quit watching the film but then again I recalled the earlier (seen) ratings of the film; and realized this is how critics put it away from audience to enjoy this gripping plot - and I won't be party to this circle.

Body-weakening and blood-pressure shooting story - don't miss this!