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Movies / On DVD / Orphan
Orphan

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Orphan (2009)

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Reviews Counted:12

Fresh:6

Rotten:6

Average Rating:5.1/10

Consensus: While it has moments of dark humor and the requisite scares, Orphan fails to build on its interesting premise and degenerates into a formulaic, sleazy horror/thriller.

Rated: 15 [See Full Rating] for disturbing violent content, some sexuality and language.

Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins

Genre: Horror/Suspense

Theatrical Release:07-08-2009

Synopsis: 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... 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, however, an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there’s something wrong with Esther—this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be. 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 until it may be too late…for everyone. --© Warner Bros [More]

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder

Starring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder, Jimmy Bennett

Director: Jaume Collet-Sera

Director: Jaume Collet-Sera
Screenwriter: David Leslie Johnson
Story: Alex Mace
Producer: Joel Silver, Susan Downey, Jennifer Davisson Killoran, Leonardo DiCaprio
Composer: John Ottman
Studio: Warner Bros.

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Reviews for Orphan

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1 - 11 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Predictable and been-there, seen-that, but entertaining nevertheless at times.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment 6 Comments
08/07/09
Kim Newman
Kim Newman
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This wickedly entertaining, if slightly over-stretched, variation on the familiar ‘evil child’ scenario displays an unusually complex grasp of twisted psychology.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
08/07/09
Nigel Floyd
Nigel Floyd
Time Out
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A creepy premise is undermined by wilfully flashy direction as a fine cast struggle bravely to inject credibility into a tale of vanishing nuns and burning treehouses.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
08/07/09
Catherine Bray
Catherine Bray
Channel 4 Film
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If you’re not easily offended or upset, there is much to enjoy in Orphan. Horror films this skilfully made don’t come along that often. You probably won’t find a better one this year.

Full Review Source: Times [UK] | comment Comment
08/07/09
Toby Young
Toby Young
Times [UK]
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Some impressively committed work from Farmiga (even when Googling "Children who kill") and a humdinger of a twist make this a rather good bad seed.

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
08/07/09
Catherine Shoard
Catherine Shoard
Guardian [UK]
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Directing with a wink and some style, Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax) knows that it’s possible to be totally absurd and witty with it -- he has that trash touch.

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
08/07/09
Tim Robey
Tim Robey
Daily Telegraph
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Clocking in at more than two hours, the movie teeters between psychological horror and violent blood-letting and, as such, probably won't completely satisfy fans in either camp.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
07/24/09
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
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Clocking in at more than two hours, the movie teeters between psychological horror and violent blood-letting and, as such, probably won't completely satisfy fans in either camp.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
07/24/09
Glenn Whipp
Glenn Whipp
Los Angeles Times
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Actors have to eat like the rest of us, but you still have to wonder how Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard ended up wading through Orphan and not laughing.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
07/24/09
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
New York Times
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Here is a shamelessly effective horror film based on the most diabolical of movie malefactors, a child.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment 10 Comments
07/23/09
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
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Teasingly enjoyable rubbish through the first hour, Orphan becomes genuine trash during its protracted second half.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
07/22/09
Todd McCarthy
Todd McCarthy
Variety
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A pretty interesting movie about the crack-up of an American family lies right under the filmmakers' noses, but in their rush to deliver shock and gore they miss every opportunity to make a smart movie.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
07/22/09
Kirk Honeycutt
Kirk Honeycutt
Hollywood Reporter
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1 - 11 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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