Oh, horror and suspense films! How you try to still scare and shock us. Since it feels like we have seen it all, movies always try to go for the 1-up. Sometimes this ends up lame, other times successful...and other times completely laughable. This is the case for the movie, Orphan.
With a very disturbing scene of childbirth to kick off, we meet Jon and Kate, a couple with two children who recently had the misfortune of having their third child stillborn. With this death, it has put alot of trouble on Kate who takes pills every morning and still struggles with the temptation of alcohol as a recovering addict. Jon is just there, he gives support when Kate needs it, but we find out that he also has brought some problems to this marriage in the form of cheating. This story is sounding very familiar...Jon and Kate's just don't work out.
So even though they have a pre-pubescent son, and a young deaf, daughter, they still feel a void from the child they were suppose to have, so they go adopting. There they meet Ester, a sweet looking 9 year old with a charming accent, and an old fashion sense. Of course everything is good at first, but then things start going wrong. She doesn't fit in well with kids, her new half brother is embarrassed to be related to her, and she has occasional violent outbursts.
As the movie goes along she becomes progressively more violent and scary, and it becomes clear she isn't bonding well with her new mommy. Awww, but it's nice that she has a special place in her heart for her daddy. The big twist in the movie, also known as Ester's secret, is one that you really don't see coming. I can't decide if it's brilliant or just damn hysterical! I'll give the movie credit for doing something that isn't so predictable, but it makes the movie more of a comedy than a suspense.
