Released way back in 2009, Orphan was a crazy psycho-thriller almost entirely recognized for its wild final twist and unforgettable performance by breakout star Isabelle Fuhrman. I don’t think anybody was thinking we’d see her play the psychotic, murderous Esther again, and for good reason. For one thing, Fuhrman is 13 years older, and, oh yeah, Esther died in spectacular fashion. But William Brent Bell’s surprisingly strong follow-up Orphan: First Kill is no simple cash grab. It’s also not a sequel. As the name implies, the film is a prequel leading right up to the events of the first movie. And while this could have been done in the most formulaic way imaginable, what we actually get is an ingeniously maniacal approach that puts it on par with its predecessor.
The film begins in 2007 Estonia, where Esther, then known as Leena, is the most dangerous patient at a facility for the criminally insane. We quickly see why the 30-year-old Leena is feared, as she manipulated and murders her way through the staff as part of an escape plan. Breaking into the home of a soon-to-be-deceased staffer, Leena, after downing some wine like a proper adult, researches missing kids online. This might be a younger Leena than we met before, but she’s still got the same gameplan. Scheme her way into the life of an unsuspecting family, become obsessed with them, and ultimately kill them.
That Fuhrman is back in the role that made her career (you should see her fantastic turn in The Novice, as well) poses some interesting challenges that Bell handles expertly. Leena’s most distinctive feature, the one that lets her pass herself as a child, is her tiny stature. Bell uses a combination of forced perspective and body doubles to pull it off, although at times it’s laughable how Fuhrman is way too old for this role. But then, silly stuff like that is part of the film’s campy charm. You just kinda have to go with it.
Leena eventually finds a missing child that she can pass for…Esther. Taking the name for herself, Esther gets herself discovered by the police, and thus “returned” to America where she is welcomed into the loving arms of overjoyed parents Tricia (Julia Stiles) and Allen (Rossif Sutherland). The well-to-do Albrights, joined by their dubious teen son Gunnar (Matthew Finlan), are warned that Esther was held captive in Russia by a woman who passed the child off as her own. They should expect Esther to have undergone some “changes”, a broad way of excusing that her memories are different and that she speaks with a Russian accent. The only one who suspects anything is weird with Esther is her therapist, and who listens to therapists in these movies, anyway? Nobody, that’s who.
Even if you never saw the original Orphan, you probably have a good idea where this is going to go. Esther plots and schemes, eventually becoming infatuated with Allen, an artist who has gotten his mojo back since reuniting with his daughter. Well, that’s about the only thing about this movie that’s the same as the first. A seriously amazing twist occurs early on that flips the script and puts Esther on the defensive, a position she’s not accustomed to. If we had no idea that Esther’s story continues, it would look like her murderous schemes are short-lived. A power struggle erupts in the family, with Bell and screenwriter David Coggeshall sharply building up the heat between Esther and members of the family, while also highlighting how the class differences (“Our family came over on the Mayflower”, Tricia says) mean nothing when self-preservation is on the line.
Orphan: First Kill is significantly more violent and bloody, although Bell refrains from indulging in too much gore. Fuhrman, who I truly think is one of the best unsung actors working today, is tremendous in a challenging role. It had to have been difficult returning to a role after so long, but one that demands her to be both childlike and have the cunning and maturity of an adult. Stiles is incredible as always, doing what she does best which is bringing more to a character than was put on the page. As Tricia, Stiles needs to show multiple sides that conflict with one another, and to say more would be to spoil it so I’ll just stop there.
While a totally unexpected followup, Orphan: First Kill is a more than worthy chapter in what is turning out to be a killer franchise centered on one of the best modern movie villains.
Orphan: First Kill is available in select theaters, digital, and Paramount+ beginning August 19th.
