Orphan (2009)

Premise: Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard get an unexpected surprise when they adopt Esther.

Stars: Vera Farmiga * Peter Sarsgaard * Isabelle Fuhrman

Story: Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard portray the Colemans, an American couple dealing with the aftermath of a stillbirth. Kate (Farmiga) has continuing nightmares and John is a little distant. They try to fill this perceived hole in their lives with the adoption of a third child, Esther (Fuhrman), from a local orphanage. Their two living children - Daniel and Max - react differently: Daniel is jealous and unwelcoming, while Max readily takes to having a new sister.

However, Esther has a secret that could threaten them all.

Review: The movie has a solid premise. An adopted child with a secret is a fundamental fear of most adoptive parents. Adoptive parents want to know the child is alright. They want to know the child will adapt well and come to be a loving, contributing member of the family. They also want to know that they are acceptable and loved themselves. However, when secrets are kept in the background, particularly secrets of abuse, murder, violence, etc., then it can turn a dream of having a child into a nightmare.

Orphan begins this way. There is an idyllic beginning with a slightly ominous overtone. But whether that's a natural fear coming to the surface, or something more sinister is debatable. But the premise of uncertainty is quickly removed when a class bully decides to pick on Esther for her way of dress and behaviour - and instead of keeping things hidden, in order to keep the uncertainty and intriguing nature of the child, a quick reveal lets the viewer in on Esther's secret - she's violent and manipulative.

The film brings up several subplots that could have turned this film into a top-notch thriller: John's (Sarsgaard) past infidelity, Kate's bouts with alcoholism, the orphanage's representative Sister Abigail has a violent encounter with Esther - these could all play into the uncertainty and intrigue of Esther's character. Likewise, Esther's background is only briefly referenced - any implication or causation of what made a child into a murderess other than simply stunted growth is thrown out the window. (Should the viewer take the idea that any dwarf is subject to violent tendencies?)

As an example. Kate has cultivated a rose bush that represents the stillborn daughter Jessica. Jessica's ashes fed the bush, so the emotional and psychological tie is there. John tells Esther to express how she feels about Kate. Esther cuts the roses from the bush, enraging Kate. This simplifies Esther; earlier she showed duplicity and manipulation, so why not order roses that look exactly like those of Jessica's rose bush? This would put the psychological onus on Kate, who could - if the story remained true to its premise - be turned into barely clinging onto her sanity.

Instead of building on the fundamental fear that parents have, the film turns into a typical slasher film with psychological overtones. It's a letdown.

Regarding the acting, Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard appear bored with the material. Aside from a few moments of intimacy and argument, one could easily replace both actors with any of the OC crowd as the roles do not require a lot of work once the adoption occurs. Fuhrman as Esther, however, really does captivate. While her "Lolita" appearance as she tries to seduce John are disconcerting, her transformation into her "authentic" self as the film wraps really does let Fuhrman appear older than her 12 years. While the film does try to maintain the psychological edge early on, it is again, her turn as Esther that keeps the film from falling apart. The rest of the cast - CCH Pounder as Abigail, the child actors playing Max and Daniel - perform ably.

Overall: Mediocre

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