Orphan (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:135
Fresh:74
Rotten:61
Average Rating:5.5/10
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.
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... [More]
Starring: Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder
Director: Jaume Collet-Sera
Reviews for Orphan
| Tomatometer | Critic | Review | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
 2/5 |
A difficult child that horror-loving parents will find hard to adopt as one of their own. Full Review |
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Although slightly overlong, the film sustains the escalating horror and keeps up its sleeve a truly shocking revelation that's carefully prepared for, though not signalled. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Lifted above the average by a pretty nifty twist and some unnecessarily good acting. Full Review |
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2/5 |
Sticking closely to the conventions of the Evil Child movie genre, there are few surprises (or even scares) as we saunter towards that absurd ending. Just about worth a punt on DVD. Full Review |
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3/5 |
It has atmosphere and tension, and the performances are far better than usual for this sort of caper. Full Review |
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2/5 |
Predictable and been-there, seen-that, but entertaining nevertheless at times. Full Review |
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3/5 |
This wickedly entertaining, if slightly over-stretched, variation on the familiar ‘evil child’ scenario displays an unusually complex grasp of twisted psychology. Full Review |
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3/5 |
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 |
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4/5 |
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 |
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3/5 |
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 |
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3/5 |
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 |
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3/5 |
It's not only the heavily-signposted "secret" that's obvious, but every single scene, as square pegs fit joylessly into square holes for the full running time. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Preposterous in all the right ways, Orphan is this week's true guilty pleasure.
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4/5 |
Collet-Serra manages to sustain tension throughout, prudently deploying his jumps and jolts and pumping up the grue factor. So while it often prompts hoots of derision, they’re often choked off with a vice-tight wince. Full Review |
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There’s a lot of slow burn to endure in the first hour, but the payoff is one of the most batshit crazy finales in recent memory. Full Review |
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6/10 |
Okay, so I saw the ending coming a mile off (and no, I’m not going to spoil it for everyone by telling you what happens) but that didn’t stop me actually enjoying this guilty pleasure. Full Review |
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4/5 |
Orphan is nasty but enjoyable, and the whole film is so competently crafted and superbly acted, especially by the three central females, that I was gripped and entertained throughout. Full Review |
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3/5 |
Orphan is certainly scary enough for the story to haunt you after the film is over. Full Review |
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3/5 |
That director Jaume Collet-Serra made House of Wax, the Paris Hilton remake, does not bode well. But stars Vera Farmiga and Peter Saarsgard, as mum and dad, find a few frail pegs of humanity to hang their characters on. Full Review |
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2/5 |
A squall of improbabilities leads to a laughable late revelation, yet somehow the film keeps a clammy grip. Full Review |
CommentLatest News for Orphan
August 03, 2009:
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