Devastated by the lost of their child, Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John (Peter Sarsgaard) is struggling to get up from depression of lost. But for a mother, Kate is beginning to loose her grip on herself. She became alcoholic and her relationship on her husband slowly fades in to the dark. To save the Kate and the family itself, the couple decided to adopt a child.


While visiting a local Orphanage, Kate and John find themselves strangely connected to a young girl, Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman). Esther is an artist and it appears she knows a lot and thinks more advance compared to a regular 9 year old child. The family easily get along with Esther but behind those innocent facade is a dark past yet to be unleashed.


Dark Castle Entertainment and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions presents a tragic suspense psychological thriller about love, lost and deception. At first I thought Orphan is a horror flick that makes me less eager to watch it. Not that I don't like horror flicks. I do love watching horror flicks. The only problem with Hollywood horror films is there is nothing new about them. They are all the same. But when I saw Orphan, I'm surprised that it is a suspense thriller. Though at first you will think that the plot is too simple but as you progress, you will discover how the story is twisted and ends with an unpredictable denouement.


Isabelle Fuhrman is one exceptional actor. It is really rare to see young actors to perform like her. The scenes are intense but she delivered it without a sign of hesitation. Her takings of the character of Esther embodies the creepiness but innocent look of a girl that is orphaned in a young age. I would love to see her on her future projects and see what this young woman can do.


The movie tackles a very sensitive topic about family and motherhood. Many of the audience expresses their sympathy especially mothers and parents. But the film also tackles a very disturbing issue regarding parent and child relationship. Which is I think not suitable to kids up to the age of 17 because it may create forbidden behavior among the age brackets. That is why I believe the rating of R-13 is not acceptable.


Summing up everything, Orphan is a suspense thriller flick that you will surely enjoy. Though if you are a moralist, just be prepared of the disturbing scenes that you may find very offensive. Despite the rating of R-13, I suggest that parents must not permit their child below 18 years old to watch this flick especially the daughters if you want to preserve the harmony and morality on your family.

Orphan is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (“House of Wax”), from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson and a story by Alex Mace. It opens today July 29, 2009 to all major theaters nationwide.