Orphan was released by Scream Factory on May 14th, 2024.
Murderous children is one of my favorite sub-genres of horror. Some are good, most are bad and a select few — including Orphan from 2009 — are truly great. Starting all the way back in 1956 with The Bad Seed, audiences have been captivated by the concept of children committing heinous acts of violence. Now, thanks to Scream Factory, we have one of the most shocking entries in the genre available on blu-ray with a brand-new, limited-edition slipcover.
Orphan Critique
Much like The Sixth Sense — and even Sleepaway Camp — Orphan is a horror film that’s primarily remembered for the twisted revelation at its conclusion; however, a movie has to be more than just its ending. Even knowing how the film ends, the rewatch-ability of Jaume Collet-Serra’s twisted tale is undeniable. The kill count is relatively low for this style of horror, but what it lacks in gratuitous gore it makes up for with an unnerving atmosphere and compelling story.
Isabelle Fuhrman was only twelve-years-old when she first portrayed the character of Esther. She would return to the series thirteen-years later for the prequel Orphan: First Kill, an unnecessary follow-up that failed to capture the menacing tone of the original. Balancing the innocence of a child with the madness of a killer is a difficult task for any actor, let alone one who hasn’t even hit her teens yet. Macaulay Culkin took on the challenge in 1993’s The Good Son, but he was a well-established child actor by that point with hits like Home Alone and My Girl under his belt.
Fuhrman was a relative newcomer tasked with carrying the believability of the film’s plot on her shoulders. Peter Sarsgaard (The Batman) and Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring) give incredible performances as the desperate parents who unwittingly bring evil into their home, but the film works because of Fuhrman.
I had not seen the film since its initial release fifteen-years ago; however it has remained embedded in my mind ever since. I could vividly remember the discomfort I felt as the family spiraled further into despair, and I could clearly recall the distress I felt in the film’s shocking final moments. While rewatching Orphan at the age of thirty-seven each of these feeling came flooding back to me, just as they had when I was twenty-two. It’s a film that has not only stood the test of time, but continues to evoke a visceral physical and emotional response. That is the sign of a fantastic horror film.
The Special Features
The special features aren’t anything extraordinary, unfortunately. Outside of the audio commentaries, there isn’t much new content to be found; however, the commentaries add a great deal of insight into the cult-classic film. Unfortunately, none of these commentaries are from the cast and crew of the film. Instead, we get commentaries featuring film critics like Chris Alexander and Emily Higgins.
There’s also a new interview with composer John Ottman and a 2K scan, the featurette Mama’s Little Devils: Bad Seeds and Evil Kids, deleted scenes — including an alternate ending — and the original theatrical trailer.
Would I Recommend This Purchase? Yes! One of the best entries in this very specific subgenre of horror.
Is It Worth a Blind Buy? This is a rare occasion where the blind buy is probably the best bet. Going into this film with as little knowledge of its plot as possible makes for the best viewing experience.
Orphan was released by Scream Factory on May 14th, 2024.
9/10
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