Director Jaume Collet-Serra moves Orphan along efficiently, doling out a 'boo!’ shot every few minutes with mechanical professionalism.
Orphan (2009)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
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.
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.
Reviews for Orphan
If director Jaume Collet-Serra set out to make a parody of horror-film clichés, he succeeded brilliantly.
Fifty years ago viewers were both shocked and riveted by The Bad Seed, and thirty years ago they went for the ride with The Omen, but to make such old-fashioned and trashy horror flick in 2009 is both courageous and bizarre, to say the least.
During a summer with the usual transforming robots and young wizards, this chilly flick is a bit of a break, and there are worse options than letting this Orphan in the door.
The problem with Orphan isn't merely that the film is idiotic--it's that it's also sleazy, formulaic and repellant.
Despite director Jaume Collet-Serra's apt use of running children's laughter for jolt scares, the suspense generated from Esther's early lunatic behavior is of a mild, amusing variety.
A thoroughly enjoyable demon-spawn movie in the tradition of The Bad Seed (1956) and The Other (1972).
Here is a shamelessly effective horror film based on the most diabolical of movie malefactors, a child.
Pristine horror fodder had the script maintained some gumption and cheerfully waltzed into a wonderland of sleaze. Instead, it pulls every last punch...a seriously tasteless motion picture, but it's equally as spineless.
House of Wax director Jaume Collet-Serra returns to the horror genre with Orphan, a clumsy thriller that elicits far more laughs than genuine scares. Like too many horror films these days, the movie is so rife with false scares or misleading
Teasingly enjoyable rubbish through the first hour, Orphan becomes genuine trash during its protracted second half.
Director Jaume Collet-Serra, working from a devilishly clever script by David Leslie Johnson, maintains steady suspense while mercifully mixing in some moments of dark humor.
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.
Orphan works because it's a film that knows exactly what it wants to be -- creepy as all get out -- and does everything possible to achieve that goal.
It feels too slow and moody for the Halloween crowd and too absurd and silly for more discriminating horror fans.
Latest News for Orphan
August 03, 2009:
Watch RT This Week on Current TV
This week, The Rotten Tomatoes Show will be looking at the movies that opened over the weekend, with help from you (the Rotten Tomatoes community), the Current TV community, and... More...
July 23, 2009:
Critics Consensus: Orphan Is Mixed Bag
This week at the movies, we've got an evil adoptee (Orphan, starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard), a battle of the sexes (The Ugly Truth, starring Katherine Heigl and... More...
July 23, 2009:
Box Office Guru Preview: Ugly Truth and G-Force Battle Potter
As Harry Potter inches closer to graduating wizard school, the box office prince will face three new releases opening on Friday each targeting its own specific audience. Sony... More...
July 23, 2009:
Total Recall: Evil Movie Kids
Kids say the darndest things -- we all knew it even before Art Linkletter and Bill Cosby turned wisdom from the mouths of babes into TV comedy gold. But some of Hollywood's most... More...
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
| 95% 95% | Star Trek |
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

