Orphan (2009) DVD

As if the thought of giving birth doesn’t make most people shudder enough already, the grisly opening scene here ought to do the trick. We are thrown into one of Kate’s (Vera Farmiga) nightmares of losing her baby, demonstrating her mental fragility and reasons behind wanting to adopt another child in addition to her own two young children.

The first few scenes set up a very delicate family dynamic in which Kate is the weak link. An ex-alcoholic and grieving, short-fused mother, she feels guilty about falling short of her motherly and wifely duties. By filling this gap with a new child and doing a good deed of giving an orphan a home, it is clear that Kate and her husband, John (Peter Sarsgaard), believe their problems will be solved.

Of course, if you’ve seen even just a poster of the adopted child, Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), with her intense, dark eyes staring back at you, you’ll have guessed that this is not the case. Like other evil child movies from Omen to Rosemary’s Baby, it’s always uncomfortable viewing to see a child – normally a symbol of purity and innocence – gone bad. What is striking is Esther’s incredible ability to manipulate; children, adults, even a psychiatrist, all of which work to isolate Kate further from her family. The element of truth in little girls Isabelle Fuhrman is disturbingly good in this role, and brings great intensity and menace to the part. The Russian accent is a little questionable and Borat-like at times, but this can definitely be forgiven. As characters begin to dwindle you may ask, ‘So come on, what’s with this kid?’ The Devil? Santa didn’t get her a pony? Well, we won’t spoil the surprise, but the explanation turns out to be much more original than all that. Believable? Well, erm…ish.

Overall the film is really effective, with some great moments involving Esther’s seemingly beautiful paintings, some Oedipal issues that are pretty sickening, and a fantastic parting one-liner from Kate. Unfortunately it contains too many of the usual horror-film clichés; a face appearing unexpectedly in the bathroom mirror, fear of Eastern Europeans, and suspicious noises that turn out to be another kid/a bird/the wind. There are also a few loose details in the story, such as the cute little girl, Maxine and although a lot of attention is paid to her deafness, and while it does work to make her more vulnerable, it is not used as effectively as it could have been.

So, is there a moral to this unsettling story? Go ahead, adopt a kid that needs a home, just if you do, don’t go picking the pale loner with a dodgy Russian accent. Duh.

Danielle Richardson