La huérfana: primer asesinato

I absolutely loved the original Orphan film so was excited to revisit the character in this prequel.

After half an hour or so I was a tad underwhelmed as things felt fairly similar to that first film.

However ... an absolutely deranged and outlandish twist sends things in a very bold direction which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was not expecting it at all and it made for a truly wild and intriguing second half of this film.

I do think they could have played on this a little more and shortened the pre-twist antics to strengthen the post twist antics, but still, a real treat.

The de-aging technology or whatever they used worked really well on Isabella Fuhrman and didn't break the illusion at all. Julia Stiles was on fire in a very interesting role.

One criticism however is that for large sections of the film the picture had a smoky and murky quality which made certain sections seem out of focus and I really didn't enjoy this.

Overall though this film is an absolute blast. Fans of the first Orphan film will love this I'm sure. Despite the fact that for a horror film its never particularly scary, the killer twist and deliciously deranged second half make for one hell of a ride.

I'm a massive fan of Orphan (2009) It was very well done with great actors so I was excited for this one ever since I knew it was being made.

Oh what a wasted opportunity and what comes across as a rushed script with no quality control. And did the camera get so cold in Russia that the cameraman forgot to wipe the fog off the camera? No, it was some weird filter or lense that made me feel like I'd just opened my eyes after 10 hours of sleep. It made for one blurry 100 minutes.

Yes it's a prequel but the story could of been so much better. From far fetched to a few wooden performances and it comes across as a B movie at times. As for the twist, well it was the final nail in the coffin so to speak. The twist was one of those type of laughable soap opera twists.

Absolutely gutted. Orphan (2009) deserved a prequel with equally high standards, I don't understand why they went with this script. Isabelle Fuhrman did a good job though with what she was given.

After the first movie " The Orphan " I was quite eager to know about the beginning of Esther, how she came up to be who she is- you know the stuffs you have in a origin film. But this doesn't seem to be like that at all.

First of all, the movie doesnt even begin from the beginning in Esther's perspective. She was shown to be in a mental hospital and doctors mention her to be the most dangerous patient ever (we dont know why and how she was called that). Why should we not know why she was a dangerous patient? It was the "first kill" after all.

I often had the feeling of her not being a mental patient but just a killer who likes to kill, at least at the first. I am also ignoring all the small inconsistencies that were spread throughout the film.

One of the film's strongest aspects is the outstanding performance by Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther. Fuhrman effortlessly embodies the complex and chilling nature of the character, showcasing her acting range and making Esther both captivating and unsettling to watch. Her portrayal adds depth and intensity to the film, making it worth seeing for her performance alone.

The prequel attempts to delve deeper into Esther's past, providing a backstory that sheds light on her twisted psyche. This exploration adds layers to the character, giving viewers a better understanding of her motivations. The psychological elements add intrigue and elevate the film beyond a simple slasher flick.

Orphan First Kill manages to create moments of genuine suspense and tension. Some scenes are expertly crafted, building up the anticipation and delivering chilling payoffs. These moments keep viewers on the edge of their seats, adding an undeniable thrill to the viewing experience.

On the other hand, the film suffers from pacing issues that hinder its overall impact. The narrative feels uneven, with certain scenes dragging on and others feeling rushed. This inconsistency disrupts the flow of the story, preventing full immersion in the plot and dampening the impact of key moments.

Despite Isabelle Fuhrman's compelling performance, the script fails to fully develop Esther's character. While the prequel attempts to provide depth, it falls short of delivering a truly nuanced exploration of her motivations. This missed opportunity leaves a sense of unfulfilled potential and prevents the film from reaching its full emotional and psychological impact.

The cinematography and production design are serviceable but fail to stand out. While they effectively contribute to the eerie atmosphere, they lack the visual flair and creativity that could have elevated the film to new heights.

As we know the first part is amazing and chilling, I think I personally expected a lot from this part. Esther's background, where she came from were portrayed good but the main story is not that well constructed, it is too easy to guess and is not that suspenseful. For the first part I was at the edge of my seat but this, not at all satisfied.

We can watch it for fun but do not expect much when compared to the first part. Some scenes felt like they were cut off too fast, more story about ester's background could have been interesting. The cast was fine, everybody did their role as supposed to.