Film
Horror in the Caves: Orphan
- Director
- Jaume Collet-Serra
- Certificate
- 15
- Running Time
- 123 mins
A 2009 ‘evil child’ horror flick in the 1970s Bad Seed/Omen mode, Orphan is the tale of adopted Russian moppet Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman), who’s clearly got something sinister going on. She always wears ribbons around her wrist and neck, throws tantrums to avoid the dentist and makes scheming strategic alliances within the home. Needless to say, when she doesn’t get her way, ‘accidents’ start to happen to preserve her newfound family bliss. For an hour or so, Orphan is suitably ambiguous – the wealthy, self-involved parents and the obnoxious ‘normal’ kids at Esther’s school are so unpleasant it’s hard not to be on the side of the polite little monster as she gets the better of them. Then, as we find out what is actually wrong with the girl, it goes into ridiculous horror movie overdrive and delivers a long climax in which several absurd situations spiral out of control.
It’s back on screen in spooky ol’ Redcliffe Caves as part of this year’s Horror in the Caves Halloween warm-up weekend, courtesy of Bristol Film Festival. Go here for ticket details.
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