Orphan
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabella Fuhrman, Cch Pounder, Jimmy Bennett, Margo Martindale, Karel Roden, Aryana Engineer, Rosemary Dunsmore, Genelle Williams | Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick | Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Devastated by the loss of their unborn baby, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, both feel drawn to a little girl (Isabelle Fuhrman) named Esther, and soon the couple take their new daughter home. But when a dangerous series of events unfolds, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind the child’s angelic exterior.
Although the horror genre is by far my favorite film genre nowadays, the same thing cannot be said for when I was young. As a matter of fact, I was scared to death of practically every horror movie. I remember still to this day, seeing some sort of Chucky parody on some...
Stars: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabella Fuhrman, Cch Pounder, Jimmy Bennett, Margo Martindale, Karel Roden, Aryana Engineer, Rosemary Dunsmore, Genelle Williams | Written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick | Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
Devastated by the loss of their unborn baby, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) decide to adopt a child. At the orphanage, both feel drawn to a little girl (Isabelle Fuhrman) named Esther, and soon the couple take their new daughter home. But when a dangerous series of events unfolds, Kate begins to suspect that there is something evil lurking behind the child’s angelic exterior.
Although the horror genre is by far my favorite film genre nowadays, the same thing cannot be said for when I was young. As a matter of fact, I was scared to death of practically every horror movie. I remember still to this day, seeing some sort of Chucky parody on some...
- 11/10/2022
- by Caillou Pettis
- Nerdly
The small but effective subgenre of “adoption horror” has a certain formula it follows. The newly adopted gradually dismantles the family unit, whether that means manipulating the systems around them or simply taking matters into their own little hands. Then, once someone gets wise to the evildoing, they either stop the young threat or they die trying. As entertaining as these kinds of movies are, they tread a well-worn path. Orphan upholds many of the same conventions as its ilk, however this 2009 movie also brings something new and exciting to the kids’ table.
When Alex Mace‘s original idea for Orphan first reached David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the then-unfledged screenwriter was given a big sandbox to play in. After all, Mace’s treatment was only a few pages long, so there were a lot of gaps to fill in. And while domestic disturbers The Bad Seed and The Good Son are obvious influences,...
When Alex Mace‘s original idea for Orphan first reached David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, the then-unfledged screenwriter was given a big sandbox to play in. After all, Mace’s treatment was only a few pages long, so there were a lot of gaps to fill in. And while domestic disturbers The Bad Seed and The Good Son are obvious influences,...
- 8/16/2022
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
There exists a subgenre that runs through both horror and thriller stories that taps into a fear of unknown dangers being brought into the safety of one’s own private world. It focuses on strangers; not the ones who lurk in dark alleyways and are easily forgotten once you reach the safety of your brightly lit house or apartment. No, these are the strangers that you bring home with you, the ones you invite into your life. They masquerade as one person—seemingly trustworthy, rational, and friendly—but are, in actuality, someone completely different, often with a horrifying agenda. [Spoiler warning for those who haven’t seen Orphan.]We have seen this in films such as The Stepfather, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and The Guest (among others), in which a friendly stranger is invited into a family and begins to tear it apart from the inside out. In Jaume Collet-Serra's Orphan, we see an interesting spin on the “Invited Stranger” subgenre,...
- 3/15/2018
- by Emily von Seele
- DailyDead
Halloween doesn’t have to be over once the last trick-or-treater has crept back into the shadows of the night. You may still be possessed by the spirit of the holiday and in desperate need of some real scares. In an effort to address that need and help you find a choice that goes beyond the usual iconography of the season, I’ve picked three titles that may not immediately jump to mind when it comes to autumn-tinged chills and terror. They are not self-consciously seasonal choices, like John Carpenter’s Halloween or Michael Dougherty’s 2007 anthology Trick ‘R Treat, both excellent choices for cinematic fear on the pumpkin circuit. Two of them rely more on mood, creeping dread, an insinuating style and, dare I say, even a poetic approach to storytelling than the usual Samhain-appropriate fare. And one has an inexplicably bad reputation in the halls of conventional wisdom,...
- 10/31/2015
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Production on the greenlit Resident Evil 6 hit a snag last year when Paul W.S. Anderson (who has scripted all five previous Resident Evil entries and directed three of them) became caught up in post-production on his historical epic Pompeii. As such, cameras didn’t get rolling last fall, which had been the director’s plan, and the film is not expected to land this September. However, Anderson is still very invested in getting Resident Evil 6, which many have speculated will be the franchise’s final outing, off the ground.
Speaking at the Beijing International Film Festival, the director dropped some interesting tidbits about the project. Most notably, Li Bingbing will definitely be reprising her role as Ada Wong for the movie. Bingbing and series star Milla Jovovich are the only actors who have been confirmed for Resident Evil 6 thus far. However, due to the cliffhanger ending of Resident Evil: Retribution,...
Speaking at the Beijing International Film Festival, the director dropped some interesting tidbits about the project. Most notably, Li Bingbing will definitely be reprising her role as Ada Wong for the movie. Bingbing and series star Milla Jovovich are the only actors who have been confirmed for Resident Evil 6 thus far. However, due to the cliffhanger ending of Resident Evil: Retribution,...
- 4/22/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
This past weekend saw the newest entry in the Resident Evil franchise. The film was the box office winner for the weekend raking in $21 million. We have Run-of-Engagement passes to any Wehrenberg theater to check out Resident Evil: Retribution on us!
Synopsis:
The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of increasingly lethal Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most impenetrable operations facility. Attempting a death-defying escape from the vast, high-tech complex with the help of a crew of elite commandos, Alice battles her way through the cityscapes of Tokyo, New York City, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Along the way, she encounters a series of mind-blowing revelations that will force her to rethink everything she once believed. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice finds a...
Synopsis:
The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of increasingly lethal Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most impenetrable operations facility. Attempting a death-defying escape from the vast, high-tech complex with the help of a crew of elite commandos, Alice battles her way through the cityscapes of Tokyo, New York City, Moscow and Washington, D.C. Along the way, she encounters a series of mind-blowing revelations that will force her to rethink everything she once believed. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice finds a...
- 9/17/2012
- by Andy Triefenbach
- Destroy the Brain
The Resident Evil film series has always been a directly self-aware and reflexive property, an aspect that became all the more obvious with the fourth installment, which featured the most knowingly gratuitous 3D spectacle since the format’s digital resurgence began. Part five, the newly released Resident Evil: Retribution, is similarly in your face, both with its use of screen-popping 3D and with Paul W.S. Anderson’s typical straightforward exposition and an action style that’s so clear it’s cocky. Yet there also appears to be a subtext we tend not to expect from these movies, one involving a little girl who metaphorically represents the film itself. This child, Becky (played by 11-year-old Aryana Engineer), is found by series protagonist Alice (Milla Jovovich) in a suburbia simulation within an undersea Umbrella Corp. complex used for trial exercises in mass T-virus infection. Mistaken for the girl’s mother (who was a blonder clone of Alice), the heroine...
- 9/16/2012
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Title: Resident Evil: Retribution Directed Be: Paul W.S. Anderson Starring: Millia Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Michelle Rodriguez, Aryana Engineer, Bingbing Li, Boris Kodjoe, Johanna Urb, Kevin Durand, Oded Fehr, Colin Salmon, Shawn Roberts Quality-wise, the “Resident Evil” franchise has been on the decline ever since the first film arrived back in 2002, but, let’s face it, was the series ever really about quality? “Resident Evil” is for action, monsters and Alice, and while the first four films of the franchise held on, they certainly started to slip, leaning far more on the excuse of stemming from a videogame than making the leaps necessary to turn a videogame into an enthralling moviegoing [ Read More ]...
- 9/15/2012
- by Perri Nemiroff
- ShockYa
Directed by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Written by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts, Aryana Engineer, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe, Li Bingbing
Well, Alice didn't get to stay on that big boat for very long.
The evil Umbrella Corporation swoops in, blows stuff up, and manages to capture Alice for their continued nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, they also run gigantic simulations of various undead attacks around the world, powered by hundreds and hundreds of cheap and disposable clones. They torture Alice for awhile, who then escapes along with a couple of clones, including one that thinks she is Alice's daughter. Alice doesn't tell her that she isn't.
Alice teams up with Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), who apparently used to work for her primary enemy Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), which should make her evil, but apparently she stopped being...
Written by: Paul W. S. Anderson
Starring: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Kevin Durand, Sienna Guillory, Shawn Roberts, Aryana Engineer, Colin Salmon, Johann Urb, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe, Li Bingbing
Well, Alice didn't get to stay on that big boat for very long.
The evil Umbrella Corporation swoops in, blows stuff up, and manages to capture Alice for their continued nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, they also run gigantic simulations of various undead attacks around the world, powered by hundreds and hundreds of cheap and disposable clones. They torture Alice for awhile, who then escapes along with a couple of clones, including one that thinks she is Alice's daughter. Alice doesn't tell her that she isn't.
Alice teams up with Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), who apparently used to work for her primary enemy Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), which should make her evil, but apparently she stopped being...
- 9/15/2012
- by Tristan Sinns
- Planet Fury
You have to give director Paul W.S. Anderson credit for keeping a video game based film franchise alive for five major features, as most attempts bomb on film one. Unlike the hordes of infected souls which have been drained of all life, Paul W.S. Anderson proves he’s alive and still kicking, running Alice through another T-Virus inspired disaster in Resident Evil: Retribution.
Now I have to admit right off the bat, I find the whole Resident Evil franchise to be a guilty pleasure of sorts, exploiting the horror genre for big time blockbuster action much like how Fast and Furious films feel to action fans. Hell, I bought the first three Resident Evil films in a three pack trilogy for $10 at Wal-Mart, voluntarily hosted all night marathon viewings of the franchise, and don’t regret a single minute. Let’s just not talk about Resident Evil: Afterlife…
Getting back...
Now I have to admit right off the bat, I find the whole Resident Evil franchise to be a guilty pleasure of sorts, exploiting the horror genre for big time blockbuster action much like how Fast and Furious films feel to action fans. Hell, I bought the first three Resident Evil films in a three pack trilogy for $10 at Wal-Mart, voluntarily hosted all night marathon viewings of the franchise, and don’t regret a single minute. Let’s just not talk about Resident Evil: Afterlife…
Getting back...
- 9/15/2012
- by Matt Donato
- We Got This Covered
Just as the series starts to get smart, it fumbles and gets clumsy, like a zombie.
With the exception of the films of George Romero, the zombie genre has never been my thing. I’m sure, the recent success of the television series The Walking Dead has plenty to do with its strong cast and dramatic stories (so I’m told), but when zombies are involved, my interest goes out the window. The same can be said for the theatrical adaptation of the Resident Evil video game series. Until the third film in this wildly successful franchise, I kinda hated these movies. I use the word “kinda” because when the mesmerizing Milla Jovovich is involved, I tend to stop dead in my tracks. Despite being the star of a popcorn action franchise, Jovovich is actually a pretty decent actress who along with husband and writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson have...
With the exception of the films of George Romero, the zombie genre has never been my thing. I’m sure, the recent success of the television series The Walking Dead has plenty to do with its strong cast and dramatic stories (so I’m told), but when zombies are involved, my interest goes out the window. The same can be said for the theatrical adaptation of the Resident Evil video game series. Until the third film in this wildly successful franchise, I kinda hated these movies. I use the word “kinda” because when the mesmerizing Milla Jovovich is involved, I tend to stop dead in my tracks. Despite being the star of a popcorn action franchise, Jovovich is actually a pretty decent actress who along with husband and writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson have...
- 9/14/2012
- by Ron Henriques
- LRMonline.com
Resident Evil: Retribution
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Written by Paul W.S. Anderson
USA/Canada/Germany, 2012
For schoolchildren, September heralds the end of an enjoyable epoch – the end to all of the carefree hedonism and devil-may-care attitudes of summer vacation. In its place are the daunting expectations of school, the angst of making new friends, and the apathy towards uninspired subject primers. September is a dreadful month, but, for most kids, the year only gets better from that point on.
For critics, September has the exact same connotation. September heralds the end of summer movies, the end to all the pyrotechnics and computer generated delirium of big-budget commercial blockbusters. In its place are studio afterthoughts (movies deemed too rubbish to be lumped in with the aforesaid), which are consequently dumped in mid-September, on unassuming audiences without apology or impunity.
Yes, September marks the spectre of terrible movies, and nothing typifies...
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson
Written by Paul W.S. Anderson
USA/Canada/Germany, 2012
For schoolchildren, September heralds the end of an enjoyable epoch – the end to all of the carefree hedonism and devil-may-care attitudes of summer vacation. In its place are the daunting expectations of school, the angst of making new friends, and the apathy towards uninspired subject primers. September is a dreadful month, but, for most kids, the year only gets better from that point on.
For critics, September has the exact same connotation. September heralds the end of summer movies, the end to all the pyrotechnics and computer generated delirium of big-budget commercial blockbusters. In its place are studio afterthoughts (movies deemed too rubbish to be lumped in with the aforesaid), which are consequently dumped in mid-September, on unassuming audiences without apology or impunity.
Yes, September marks the spectre of terrible movies, and nothing typifies...
- 9/14/2012
- by Justin Li
- SoundOnSight
At the recent press day for Paul W.S. Anderson's upcoming sequel Resident Evil: Retribution, Dread Central had the opportunity to sit down and chat exclusively with the flick's star and 'resident' badass- Milla Jovovich.
During our interview, we spoke with the actress about the evolution of Alice over the last ten years since the first Resident Evil debuted in theaters, her thoughts on playing multiple versions of the same character for Retribution and more.
Check out our exclusive one-on-one with Jovovich below and look for more on Resident Evil: Retribution this week!
Related Story: Exclusive: Paul W.S. Anderson Discusses Resident Evil: Retribution, Future Franchise Plans and More
Dread Central: You've been with this character for over ten years now; how did it feel to change things up with Alice's dynamic for Retribution? Did you get to have any input regarding the direction of Alice at all on this one?...
During our interview, we spoke with the actress about the evolution of Alice over the last ten years since the first Resident Evil debuted in theaters, her thoughts on playing multiple versions of the same character for Retribution and more.
Check out our exclusive one-on-one with Jovovich below and look for more on Resident Evil: Retribution this week!
Related Story: Exclusive: Paul W.S. Anderson Discusses Resident Evil: Retribution, Future Franchise Plans and More
Dread Central: You've been with this character for over ten years now; how did it feel to change things up with Alice's dynamic for Retribution? Did you get to have any input regarding the direction of Alice at all on this one?...
- 9/12/2012
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
It's hard to believe that it has been over 10 years since writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson first collaborated with his now wife Milla Jovovich on the surprise hit indie video game adaptation Resident Evil.
The film earned more than $100 million in box office receipts, more than triple the flick's budget.
This Friday, September 14th, the fourth sequel in the series - Resident Evil: Retribution - is set to invade theaters everywhere in 3D and reunites Alice (Jovovich) with many familiar franchise faces, including Michelle Rodriguez, Boris Kodjoe, Oded Fehr and Sienna Guillory, as well as introducing a handful of newcomers including Johann Urb, Kevin Durand, Li BingBing and Aryana Engineer.
During a recent press day for the film, Dread Central had the opportunity to chat exclusively with Anderson about Resident Evil: Retribution, why he feels like this one has some of the "scariest franchise moments ever" and whether or...
The film earned more than $100 million in box office receipts, more than triple the flick's budget.
This Friday, September 14th, the fourth sequel in the series - Resident Evil: Retribution - is set to invade theaters everywhere in 3D and reunites Alice (Jovovich) with many familiar franchise faces, including Michelle Rodriguez, Boris Kodjoe, Oded Fehr and Sienna Guillory, as well as introducing a handful of newcomers including Johann Urb, Kevin Durand, Li BingBing and Aryana Engineer.
During a recent press day for the film, Dread Central had the opportunity to chat exclusively with Anderson about Resident Evil: Retribution, why he feels like this one has some of the "scariest franchise moments ever" and whether or...
- 9/10/2012
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Check out these brand new photos from Screen Gems’ action horror Resident Evil: Retribution. With this year’s release of girl power movies such as Brave and The Hunger Games, I’m ready for more female fists-of-steel ala Milla Jovovich.
In the film, the Umbrella Corporation.s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race.s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella.s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends,...
In the film, the Umbrella Corporation.s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race.s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella.s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends,...
- 7/23/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
On a blustery December morning late last year, Dread Central headed out to the set of Resident Evil: Retribution, which was being filmed at the Cinespace Studios, along with a group of fellow journalists to see just what director Paul W.S. Anderson had planned for the fifth entry in the widely popular franchise.
Upon entering Cinespace, we were greeted by a large Christmas tree with an undead zombie friend propped up nearby, signaling the cast and crew still remained in good spirits even if this was 47th day of shooting on the sequel.
As we made our way through the vacuous sound stages, we finally entered where Anderson and his crew were shooting a scene that leads into Resident Evil: Retribution's epic showdown in the wintry terrain of Russia between Alice (Milla Jovovich) and Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), who was a bit of an 'Easter egg' in the credits sequence of Resident Evil: Afterlife.
Upon entering Cinespace, we were greeted by a large Christmas tree with an undead zombie friend propped up nearby, signaling the cast and crew still remained in good spirits even if this was 47th day of shooting on the sequel.
As we made our way through the vacuous sound stages, we finally entered where Anderson and his crew were shooting a scene that leads into Resident Evil: Retribution's epic showdown in the wintry terrain of Russia between Alice (Milla Jovovich) and Jill Valentine (Sienna Guillory), who was a bit of an 'Easter egg' in the credits sequence of Resident Evil: Afterlife.
- 1/20/2012
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
2009. It was pretty much as crappy a year for horror movies as it was for the economy. There were, however, some really high points to help balance out all the drivel that was put out there in theatres as well as on home video, and they are to be celebrated, even though technically a couple of them are not even from this year.
Pull up your chair, sit back, and strap yourself in for a look back at the dos, the don'ts, and of course the "Doh!"s of this past year.
Dig on our Best of and Worst of lists for 2009 by following the links below!
[Andrew Kasch]
[Matt Fini]
[Morgan Elektra]
[Nomad]
[The Buz]
[The Foywonder]
[The Woman in Black]
[Uncle Creepy]
Andrew Kasch's Picks
District 9 - Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi/action/horror hybrid delivered the kind of hardcore testosterone roller coaster ride we hadn’t seen since the glory days of John McTiernan. With story and special FX superior to that of...
Pull up your chair, sit back, and strap yourself in for a look back at the dos, the don'ts, and of course the "Doh!"s of this past year.
Dig on our Best of and Worst of lists for 2009 by following the links below!
[Andrew Kasch]
[Matt Fini]
[Morgan Elektra]
[Nomad]
[The Buz]
[The Foywonder]
[The Woman in Black]
[Uncle Creepy]
Andrew Kasch's Picks
District 9 - Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi/action/horror hybrid delivered the kind of hardcore testosterone roller coaster ride we hadn’t seen since the glory days of John McTiernan. With story and special FX superior to that of...
- 1/4/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
.There.s something wrong with Esther. - damn straight. Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) Coleman.s marriage is strained. They have two kids, deaf daughter Max (Aryana Engineer) and her older brother Daniel (Jimmy Bennett), but their third child was stillborn. This put Kate into a spiral of depression and alcoholism that caused her to lose her job and is in therapy to combat her demons. The couple is visiting a local orphanage run by Sister Abigail (Cch Pounder) and decides to adopt nine-year-old Russian girl Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). Bringing a new child into their home is supposed to alleviate the strain in their marriage and the loss of their child, but Esther.s presence turns out...
- 11/3/2009
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
Anyone else here tired of “twists”? Ever since that damned kid said “I see dead people,” every horror writer in the country has been thinking like Shyamalan.
“What final reveal can I throw in to make my story unique from all the other movies that have had the exact same plot as the one I’m thinking of right now? That way I’ll only have to write dialogue and a few expository action sequences.”
Life would be better if that above thought was just a joke. But it’s not – it’s the standard. Orphan uses all the same tricks, all the same twists and never for a second even considers doing something new. Every manipulative conversation on the part of the orphan doesn’t seem like a clever way to create a rift but rather an overused device that you can see coming for miles and miles. If...
“What final reveal can I throw in to make my story unique from all the other movies that have had the exact same plot as the one I’m thinking of right now? That way I’ll only have to write dialogue and a few expository action sequences.”
Life would be better if that above thought was just a joke. But it’s not – it’s the standard. Orphan uses all the same tricks, all the same twists and never for a second even considers doing something new. Every manipulative conversation on the part of the orphan doesn’t seem like a clever way to create a rift but rather an overused device that you can see coming for miles and miles. If...
- 10/28/2009
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
[Note: If you have yet to see Orphan, do not read this blog as the ending is revealed!]
Originally, this blog was going to be half of what you will read. Then I saw Orphan and got terribly excited with how much I loved it. So I’m throwing my thoughts on Orphan into this, because the initial subject was children anyway. I’m making it work.
Part 1: Here’s something for all you gracious Fangoria/Terrifyingly Gnarly readers. If you got into horror at quite a young age, raise your hand.
Secondly: If you have little brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, godchildren, protégés, etc, also raise your hand.
Now how many of you have begun these little ones’ horror education? Because if you haven’t, do it now.
In the small town of Pelham, New York this past weekend, the Pelham Video Store closed down forever. This was hella bittersweet for me. On one hand, they had an insane sale and my horror collection got intensified. On the other,...
Originally, this blog was going to be half of what you will read. Then I saw Orphan and got terribly excited with how much I loved it. So I’m throwing my thoughts on Orphan into this, because the initial subject was children anyway. I’m making it work.
Part 1: Here’s something for all you gracious Fangoria/Terrifyingly Gnarly readers. If you got into horror at quite a young age, raise your hand.
Secondly: If you have little brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, godchildren, protégés, etc, also raise your hand.
Now how many of you have begun these little ones’ horror education? Because if you haven’t, do it now.
In the small town of Pelham, New York this past weekend, the Pelham Video Store closed down forever. This was hella bittersweet for me. On one hand, they had an insane sale and my horror collection got intensified. On the other,...
- 7/29/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Samuel Zimmerman)
- Fangoria
Orphan
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Vera Famiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Aryana Engineer, Isabelle Fuhrman
Running Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: July 24, 2009
Plot: A married couple (Famiga and Sarsgaard) adopt a child (Fuhrman) and slowly find out that the newest addition to their family isn’t who she appears to be.
Who’s It For? Anyone who wants to feel a decent summer thrill, but horror fans especially will be patient with the film. All will be rewarded with a good twist that is quite difficult to foresee.
Expectations: An evil-child movie that is coming out mid-summer? Expectations were low for a horror flick that appeared to have high predictability.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Vera Famiga as Kate Coleman: This loving head of the house runs through a whole list of emotions, as she begins trying to nurture the new Esther and in turn becomes the mother who cried wolf.
Directed by: Jaume Collet-Serra
Cast: Vera Famiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Aryana Engineer, Isabelle Fuhrman
Running Time: 2 hrs 5 mins
Rating: R
Release Date: July 24, 2009
Plot: A married couple (Famiga and Sarsgaard) adopt a child (Fuhrman) and slowly find out that the newest addition to their family isn’t who she appears to be.
Who’s It For? Anyone who wants to feel a decent summer thrill, but horror fans especially will be patient with the film. All will be rewarded with a good twist that is quite difficult to foresee.
Expectations: An evil-child movie that is coming out mid-summer? Expectations were low for a horror flick that appeared to have high predictability.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Vera Famiga as Kate Coleman: This loving head of the house runs through a whole list of emotions, as she begins trying to nurture the new Esther and in turn becomes the mother who cried wolf.
- 7/29/2009
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
There are some movies that catch me off guard. Sometimes walking into a film with low expectations can make that film shine even brighter. Did ‘Orphan’ do just that? Read on to find out!
Vera Farmiga plays Kate, a mother of two children, who recently experienced a miscarriage. Kate tries to fill the void of a sibling figure for her hearing impaired child Maxine (Aryana Engineer) and a new child in her life through the means of adoption. Kate and her husband, John (Peter Sarsgaard), visit a orphanage to adopt a child and they meet Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). Esther wows the couple by showing how advanced she is in her artistic talent and her outlook on life. Once Esther comes to the house, the younger son, Daniel (Jimmy Bennett – who played Young James T. Kirk in this year’s ‘Star Trek’) acts disinterested in her and feels threatened by her...
Vera Farmiga plays Kate, a mother of two children, who recently experienced a miscarriage. Kate tries to fill the void of a sibling figure for her hearing impaired child Maxine (Aryana Engineer) and a new child in her life through the means of adoption. Kate and her husband, John (Peter Sarsgaard), visit a orphanage to adopt a child and they meet Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). Esther wows the couple by showing how advanced she is in her artistic talent and her outlook on life. Once Esther comes to the house, the younger son, Daniel (Jimmy Bennett – who played Young James T. Kirk in this year’s ‘Star Trek’) acts disinterested in her and feels threatened by her...
- 7/24/2009
- by Andy
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Today we've got not one, but two reviews of the new killer-kiddie film Orphan. The film, which opens wide Today has been controversial, and now we've got two differing opinions courtesy of Fangoria's West Coast contributor Pat Jankiewicz (currently in San Diego at Comic-Con) and Fangoria Magazine managing editor Michael Gingold (currently in Montreal at Fantasia).
Pat says:
A little Russian girl comes to live with a well-to-do family that is reeling from a personal tragedy in Dark Castle's Orphan. While that is the simple premise, it doesn't indicate what a first-rate horror movie Orphan is. Orphan is scary and fun, with a truly nasty sense of humor. Like last summer's The Strangers, it shows how many nervous laughs and creepy scares can be wrung out of a well-traveled premise if a new spin is added.
Orphan is a back to basics 'killer kid' horror movie with a first-rate 'family in jeopardy' set-up.
Pat says:
A little Russian girl comes to live with a well-to-do family that is reeling from a personal tragedy in Dark Castle's Orphan. While that is the simple premise, it doesn't indicate what a first-rate horror movie Orphan is. Orphan is scary and fun, with a truly nasty sense of humor. Like last summer's The Strangers, it shows how many nervous laughs and creepy scares can be wrung out of a well-traveled premise if a new spin is added.
Orphan is a back to basics 'killer kid' horror movie with a first-rate 'family in jeopardy' set-up.
- 7/24/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Pat Jankiewicz & Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga let the wrong one in.
Isabelle Fuhrman in "Orphan"
Photo: Warner Brothers
Little Esther has been a bad girl. A very bad girl. For most of her nine years, in fact — although as the new horror movie "Orphan" opens, all we know of her earlier life is that she was left homeless when her previous adoptive family died in a fire. How fortunate that she managed to escape. Now she's available to be re-adopted by another family, and here come the well-to-do Colemans to scoop her up. Naturally they haven't thought to hide the matches or anything, but they'll learn, soon enough.
"Orphan" is an evil-kid movie with a fresh, inventive twist at the end. This twist doesn't stand up under retrospective contemplation, but how many do? And the picture is so strongly cast and beautifully shot that when the ending arrives, it's so crafty...
Isabelle Fuhrman in "Orphan"
Photo: Warner Brothers
Little Esther has been a bad girl. A very bad girl. For most of her nine years, in fact — although as the new horror movie "Orphan" opens, all we know of her earlier life is that she was left homeless when her previous adoptive family died in a fire. How fortunate that she managed to escape. Now she's available to be re-adopted by another family, and here come the well-to-do Colemans to scoop her up. Naturally they haven't thought to hide the matches or anything, but they'll learn, soon enough.
"Orphan" is an evil-kid movie with a fresh, inventive twist at the end. This twist doesn't stand up under retrospective contemplation, but how many do? And the picture is so strongly cast and beautifully shot that when the ending arrives, it's so crafty...
- 7/24/2009
- MTV Movie News
“Orphan” is a film that starts well and just slowly drowns in horror cliches and excesses. It follows in the creepy kid footsteps of “Bad Seed”, “The Omen” and the recent “Joshua”. The Coleman family is still raw with emotion over a recent tragedy. Kate (Vera Farmiga) had a still born daughter, which she still has nightmares over. Kate also struggles with alcoholism. Her husband John (Peter Sarsgaard) seems patient, but the ordeals have put a strain on everyone. Their son Daniel (Jimmy Bennett) is a bit aloof and distant. Max (Aryana Engineer), their hearing impaired daughter, seems like the only family member unaffected by all of the sadness. She just wants her mother to bring home a sister to take away her mother’s pain.
- 7/24/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Chicago – This 27-image slideshow contains the official press images for “Orphan,” starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, Cch Pounder, and Jimmy Bennett. It was written by David Leslie Johnson and directed by Jaume Collett-Serra. The film opens on July 24th, 2009.
Synopsis: “The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard), taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman)…but Esther is not what she appears to be and, concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther’s sweet facade.
Synopsis: “The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard), taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman)…but Esther is not what she appears to be and, concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther’s sweet facade.
- 7/23/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The smartest movies in the evil-child genre expose nuclear families as never-ending horror shows of misery, rivalry and constantly simmering resentment. Is it any wonder that the beleaguered bourgie parents in Jaume Collet-Serra's enjoyably nasty Orphan are named John and Kate? The couple, played by Peter Saarsgard and Vera Farmiga, is not plus eight but three: pubescent Danny (Jimmy Bennett), deaf moppet Maxine (Aryana Engineer) and preternaturally poised, 9-year-old Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), adopted soon after Kate has a miscarriage. Before completely going off the rails with a series of false climaxes -- and a plot twist that undermines its most daring ideas --_Orphan_ stealthily portrays middle-class family life as the most pathological existence imaginable.
- 7/23/2009
- Movieline
Orphan Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra When you see a major studio's logo in front of a horror film, you're generally in for one of three things: neutered PG-13 dreck (The Uninvited); crass torture porn (Captivity); or an unspeakably generic slasher (the Friday the 13th reboot). Not only that, but all three forms are burdened by considerations that cheaper, nimbler horror productions often shed: excess characters and plot threads, overuse of expository dialogue, and the now-obligatory appearance of A Twist At The End. All of these things appear in Jaume Collet-Serra's third feature (following House of Wax and, uh, Goal II), weighing it down and keeping it from being quite as memorable as it hopes to be. Nevertheless, it's an entertaining and effectively creepy film that stands out thanks to a set of strong performances, the concept's novelty and a refreshing, go-for-broke hard-r approach. One perfect example of major-studio bloat...
- 7/23/2009
- by Simon
- SoundOnSight
Although she was first recognized internationally as one of the few castmembers still alive at the end of Martin Scorcese's The Departed, Vera Farmiga jokes that she excels as 'mothers in distress'. She played the depressed Mom of the disturbed kid in Joshua and the alcoholic, guilt-ridden Mom in Orphan.
As Orphan's matriarch, Farmiga is able to create a wounded, likable character who can still deliver a line like "I'm not your fucking Mommy!" with Sigourney Weaver-like gusto.
"For me, it was the story. I love the genre and I had never read anything like (Orphan). It's very rare to find characters you can really believe in and want to invest in that situation. I found what my character was going through to be very compelling. It was just a matter of who was going to be a part of it and that--" she snaps her fingers, "was the deciding factor.
As Orphan's matriarch, Farmiga is able to create a wounded, likable character who can still deliver a line like "I'm not your fucking Mommy!" with Sigourney Weaver-like gusto.
"For me, it was the story. I love the genre and I had never read anything like (Orphan). It's very rare to find characters you can really believe in and want to invest in that situation. I found what my character was going through to be very compelling. It was just a matter of who was going to be a part of it and that--" she snaps her fingers, "was the deciding factor.
- 7/23/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Pat Jankiewicz)
- Fangoria
A week shy of the U.S. theatrical release of "Orphan", a Los Angeles premiere for the horror thriller has been held by Warner Bros. Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment on Tuesday, July 21. Using Mann's Village Theater as the place to present the film's special screening, the event was kicked off with arrival of the celebrities on the black carpet.
The actors who portray the Coleman family, Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett and Aryana Engineer, were all present at the premiere, and so did Isabelle Fuhrman, the young actress who plays the seemingly angelic but wicked Esther. Another cast member joining them was Sister Abigail's depicter Cch Pounder.
In addition to the cast ensemble, the filmmakers were also spotted coming in. They included director Jaume Collet-Serra, writer David Leslie Johnson, and producers Joel Silver and Susan Downey. For the special occasion, Susan came accompanied by her "Iron Man" star husband Robert Downey Jr.
The actors who portray the Coleman family, Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett and Aryana Engineer, were all present at the premiere, and so did Isabelle Fuhrman, the young actress who plays the seemingly angelic but wicked Esther. Another cast member joining them was Sister Abigail's depicter Cch Pounder.
In addition to the cast ensemble, the filmmakers were also spotted coming in. They included director Jaume Collet-Serra, writer David Leslie Johnson, and producers Joel Silver and Susan Downey. For the special occasion, Susan came accompanied by her "Iron Man" star husband Robert Downey Jr.
- 7/22/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Pleasant and soft spoken, director Jaume Collet-Serra does not look like a guy who makes horror movies. In his directorial debut with House Of Wax, he showed an uncanny ability to give the audience what they want (Paris Hilton melting!) With his newest film, Orphan he delivers a fun psychological thriller with an impressive third act payoff.
Esther, a precocious 13 year old Russian orphan (Isabelle Fuhrman), moves in with the Coleman family, as they recover from a horrific tragedy. From that point on, she manipulates them like chess pieces and sets them against each other, before she decides to destroy the family once and for all.
The director had his work cut out for him in trying to find his Esther.
Jaume Collet-serra: "It was a long process. We were looking pretty much everywhere(for Esther). It was Open Casting and I personally didn't see every girl, but the casting director did.
Esther, a precocious 13 year old Russian orphan (Isabelle Fuhrman), moves in with the Coleman family, as they recover from a horrific tragedy. From that point on, she manipulates them like chess pieces and sets them against each other, before she decides to destroy the family once and for all.
The director had his work cut out for him in trying to find his Esther.
Jaume Collet-serra: "It was a long process. We were looking pretty much everywhere(for Esther). It was Open Casting and I personally didn't see every girl, but the casting director did.
- 7/21/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Pat Jankiewicz)
- Fangoria
Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer, Lorry Ayers Directed By: Jaume Collet-Serra Written By: David Johnson, Alex Mace Produced By: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Don Carmody, Steve Richards Plot: The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard), taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate's fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman)...but Esther is not what she appears to be and, concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther's sweet facade. But her warnings go unheeded...
- 7/19/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have new images in from Warner Bros. Pictures' "Orphan," starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer and Lorry Ayers. Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film from the writing by David Johnson and Alex Mace. Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Don Carmody and Steve Richards produce. The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard), taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate's fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman)...but Esther is not what she appears to be and, concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries...
- 7/16/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Warner Bros. Pictures has new TV spots from their "Orphan" thriller starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer and Lorry Ayers. The Silver Pictures, Dark Castle Entertainment and Appian Way production sees theatres on July 24th and is helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra ("") from the writing by David Johnson and Alex Mace. The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther.
- 6/24/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have the trailer in from "Orphan," the horror/thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer and Lorry Ayers. Release is set for July 24th (wide) for the film helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra ("House of Wax," "Goal II: Living the Dream"). Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Don Carmody and Steve Richards produce the film. What's it about? The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther. Almost as soon as they welcome Esther into their home,...
- 4/30/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have the trailer in from "Orphan," the horror/thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer and Lorry Ayers. Release is set for July 24th (wide) for the film helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra ("House of Wax," "Goal II: Living the Dream"). Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Don Carmody and Steve Richards produce the film. The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther.
- 4/30/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
We have the trailer in from "Orphan," the horror/thriller from Warner Bros. Pictures starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Jimmy Bennett, Isabelle Fuhrmann, Aryana Engineer and Lorry Ayers. Release is set for July 24th (wide) for the film helmed by Jaume Collet-Serra ("House of Wax," "Goal II: Living the Dream"). Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Erik Olsen, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Don Carmody and Steve Richards produce the film. The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther.
- 4/30/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
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