The Orphan

The best compliment I can possibly give to "Friday the 13th: The Orphan" is that it's somewhat the grim and zero-budgeted exploitation version of the timeless genre classic "The Innocents". Surely it's a lot less stylish and atmospheric (what did you expect?), but the themes and general creepiness of both films are definitely similar. The problem, however, was that I totally didn't expect this to be such a film! With the two typically horrific terms "Friday 13th" and "The Orphan" in one title, the last thing I was preparing for was a slow-moving 1930's drama with coming-of-age influences and lectures on African culture. Still I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this film to explorers of obscure horror/cult cinema, just because it's so odd and unusual. There's very moody music during the opening credits, depicting a collage of pictures of a happy and seemingly unworried family. Of course, knowing the title this is only intended to increase the drama-effect. And yes, straight after the opening credits, the young boy from the photographs – David – is forced to kiss his dead father on the day of his funeral, while the obnoxious cousin yells: "ha ha, now you're an orphan!". After the funeral of his parents, David's aunt Martha invites herself to take custody over the boy. The relationship with Martha does't go too well, but David at least becomes close with her servants and turns more and more to the sinister African relics that his father brought back from his many trips. As said already, "Friday the 13th: The Orphan" is a very slow-paced and overly talkative cult effort. The drama sequences are quite intense, like the funeral sequence and David's flashbacks about his father (for example, the scene where he learns that his father – and indirectly also his mother – died in a stupidly banal accident), but it takes ages before something significantly unsettling happens. The first authentic exploitation movie murder only occurs at about 68 minutes into the film! More than one hour wait for a gritty murder moment is just unacceptable and dull. And, sadly, that's exactly how I'll always remember this film: dull.

This movie actually was the first to use the "Friday the 13th" title and the makers of the Jason version had to reach a settlement in order to use that name in their movies. The fact that those movies are remembered and this one isn't ought to tell you which one was better.

The story itself deals with an orphan who's gone to live with his aunt after the death of his parents. There's contention between the two. The young man feels that something inside him is making him kill. She doesn't let him be a teenager. And then at the end there's toast. It actually plays a part in the whole movie.

I can see what the filmmakers were trying for but it just wasn't good enough. The quality of the camerawork was good and it's obvious they were going for psychological horror. But in the end, it just wasn't good or interesting enough.

THE ORPHAN is a capably handled film with some decent performances(the youngster in the title role, most notably), and it certainly doesn't warrant a critical belting. What I personally found off-putting was its bland self-possession...this is actually less a horror film than a vague, drawn-out mystery infused with "coming of age" fluster centered on a pubescent boy who's placed in the hands of his difficile, prohibitive aunt in the wake of his parents' demise, and the gradual expedition of his potentially lethal hostilities. The proceedings are dusted with fever-dreamy surrealism, and take place in the time of the Great Depression(stylistic details to that end are not particularly well appointed).

I wanted to like this film, and I did appreciate its somewhat unorthodox directorial twirl. The vacillating, erratic, and fragmental composition is demonstrative of a minor movement in 70s arthouse cinema, variably similar examples being PLAY IT AS IT LAYS(1970), and NICOLE(1976). Sadly, it's a plodding chore to sit through with its scant minutiae of bloodletting and suspense, and, frankly, it's not nearly as cleverly devised as it thinks it is. There's really very little about THE ORPHAN that would make me recommend it, but it might modestly appease the arthouse horror clique. It's a purposefully packaged and admittedly atmospheric left-field misfire, and one of the last releases identifiable as a "proto-slasher".

4.5/10.

The Orphan (1979)

** (out of 4)

After the sudden death of his beloved father, David (Mark Owens) goes to stay with family members where he struggles to fit in and understand why he has no parents. Before long he starts suffering bad headaches and soon he thinks they might be causing him to murder.

I had never heard of this film until I read Stephen Thrower's Nightmare USA where this was covered. This here is basically a movie that tries to fit into the art-house market so if you're expecting some sort of slasher or graphic horror movie then you're going to be disappointed. As long as you go into the film knowing what you're getting then you're going to find a flawed but well-made picture.

The film is actually well-made and the direction by John Ballard is more than respectable. This film is basically taking a look at a kid suffering from his mother's death and then having to deal with the death of his father. THe horror elements are certainly here but they are pretty much in the background because the main focus is the mental state of this kid and what impact being an orphan might have on him.

Technically speaking the film is impressive as it looks quite good and we're also given some good performances. Owens is quite good as the young child and he at least helps you stayed glued to what's going on. The biggest problem with THE ORPHAN is the fact that it's just too slow and too dull in spots to fully keep you entertained. This is one of those movies where it's easy to respect what the filmmakers were able to do but by the time the movie is over you really weren't all that entertained.

After tragic death of his parents-the woman accidentally shots her husband and then herself-ten year old David is left in the care of Aunt Marta.His neurotic and soul-denying guardian lives a large estate mansion.She is a cruel woman.All the things David loved are gone:his hen,his dog and his relationships with African friend Akin and a servant woman Mary.David hates his Aunt and tries to destroy her.His sanity slowly deteriorates and he becomes a psychotic killer...Very sad and unusual horror film which offers plenty of psychological chills.The acting is uneven and there are only two murder scenes,so "The Orphan" is still neglected by horror fans.According to Stephen Thrower's "Nightmare USA" John Ballard's final cut was 110 minutes-the current version is missing around thirty minutes from the original cut.Fans of Bergman's "Persona" or "Fanny and Alexander" should give "The Orphan" a chance.8 orphans out of 10.