One of the most underrated horror films of the 2000s is Orphan (2009). Many horror fans will probably agree that the 2000s wasn't exactly the best decade for the genre, but there were some brilliant exceptions here and there (The Descent (2005) and REC (2007) always stand out, for example). It surprises me that Orphan has been mostly forgotten by the masses, because it really is an exceptional piece of work. It's tense, the performances are all solid, and the twist is so fantastic that it boggles the mind that it isn't talked about more often. Nevertheless, Orphan: First Kill, a prequel film that nobody asked for, is here to reintroduce Esther (Fuhrman) into the public consciousness. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sceptical when I read that this film would be a prequel. Considering how Esther's true nature was revealed in the original's masterful third-act twist (I won't spoil it here), a great deal of tension has already been eliminated from any future storylines involving this antagonist. To my surprise, however, David Coggeshall manages to throw a few curveballs into the film's narrative to keep us on our toes, but regardless of a pretty ludicrous plot twist and some decent splatter, Orphan: First Kill doesn't measure up to the strengths of the original.
On the plus side, Isabelle Fuhrman slips back into the role of Esther effortlessly, and the filmmakers utilise some neat film trickery to withhold the illusion that she is supposed to be a thirteen-year-old girl. Fuhrman is twenty-five now, so it was always going to be a challenge to trick the audience into believing her portrayal of Esther as we once did back when she was the same age as the character. Arguably, this was one of the most important aspects of the film to get right, and I'm glad to say the filmmakers succeeded. The performances are decent enough and Julia Stiles works well alongside Fuhrman to create a unique dynamic that I wasn't anticipating. Where the film falters is a lack of genuine suspense, and the key twist here is, whilst intriguing, quite far-fetched. It doesn't pack the same punch as the original and the script changes gears so fast and so often that it never gives its ideas time to breathe. It's almost as if the filmmakers were uncomfortably conscious of the fact that the film's best trick has already been played in the original. In the end, Orphan: First Kill is a perfectly fine yet unnecessary horror film. A prequel to the original film was never going to hit in the same way, but for what it is, it's alright. Isabelle Fuhrman is once again a strong screen presence and there are some fun kills, but ultimately the film left me wondering if it really needed to exist in the first place.
