Orphan (2009)★★★★☆

My birthday is this Sunday, so I figured I’d spend the week leading up to it watching (and writing about) some of my favorite scary movies. Starting with this one. I’ve watched this several times now, and even knowing what’s going to happen I find myself at the edge of my seat every time.

I love Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard, but I was blown away by Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther. In fact, all of the kids in this movie were superbly believable, which just added to the creep factor.

It’s a little bit slow throughout the film, so it feels long, but it doesn’t drag. The action is spaced out well throughout the film until the climactic last few minutes when it really pops. This was one movie where I had no idea what was going to happen next. Even without the surprise of the big reveal, this movie gets under your skin.

The character development is so well done that you feel sympathetic to both parents even while knowing what’s really happening. There’s a lot going on here, but the movie doesn’t feel rushed or too busy. It’s a creepy movie throughout, and very well done (I love the title sequence that’s this subtle kind of foreshadowing). I’d recommend it if you’re interested in something dark and disturbing.