In Orphan: First Kill, Leena (Isabelle Fuhrman) looks every bit like a 10-year-old girl. But she’s actually 31 and the most dangerous patient in an Estonian psychiatric institution.
Particularly devious, she’s also deadly. When she escapes from the facility, she poses as the long-lost young daughter of a wealthy American family. Thinking his daughter has returned after four years, father Allen Albright (Rossif Sutherland) – a gifted artist who lost his mojo when his daughter disappeared – is ecstatic. They bond; but not so the mother, Tricia (Julia Stiles), nor their 16-year-old son Gunnar (Matthew Finlan).
Leena tries to keep up the charade, but there are cracks in the stories she weaves. Also suspicious is the policeman, Detective Donnan (Hiro Kanagawa), who handled Esther’s disappearance. Of course, Leena’s sinister impulses have not dissipated. When she acts on thm, a significant twist occurs … for all is not as it seems. And Leena may not be the only one hiding a dark secret.
Orphan: First Kill is better than I imagined it would be. It’s an intriguing, well woven horror, with surprises aplenty. So, plaudits to scriptwriter David Coggeshall (Prey), who worked on a story from David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Alex Mace. Director William Brent Bell (Separation) ensures there’s never a dull moment, with the action unfolding at a decent clip.
I appreciated Isabelle Fuhrman’s performance as the evil Leena. She certainly acts the part – the demonic tag seemingly sitting comfortably on her shoulders. The other standout was Julia Stiles as Tricia, the society wife with smarts of her own. The “game” she and Leena play is a dangerous one and it’s fun to watch play out.
The diverse settings in the movie provide alluring light and shade. Regardless, the constant is the inherent darkness in the lead character.
Coming 13 years after Isabelle Fuhrman assumed the central role in Orphan, both she and this prequel have bite.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City – movie review
- Summer 1993 – movie review
- Annabelle: Creation – movie review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.