By Pretti a/p R. Karunanidhy and Elizabeth Anne Pereira, INTI International University
This film, Orphan: First Kill had vivid yet dark elements of violence, blood and revenge. After more than a decade, Isabelle Fuhrman reprises her role as Esther in this film. Orphan: First Kill is a prequel. This thriller themed film took place in Estonia, Russia, in 2007.
Esther is a 31-year-old woman who pretends to be 11 and infiltrates families, which eventually will end up in terrible disasters. This film’s sophisticated plot exceeded my personal expectations. The first film, Orphan, was released in 2009 and, like every other film, had a storyline bombshell at the concluding scene of the movie. However, there were so many twists and turns in this film that I was left clueless and terrified of the upcoming scenarios in the film. I anticipated the film to be similar to the first, but it had a significant twist to its’ intriguing plot.
The actors in this movie did a commendable job executing their roles. Besides that, the creators of this film could not have selected a more versatile actress to play Esther, the lead role than Isabelle Fuhrman. The main character was able to execute an extensive operation, change identities, and go to another nation with no evidence left behind. Esther’s characterization greatly astounded me. In the film, Esther is a genius. Despite Esther’s mental illness, she showcased her astounding talent in the movie. Morever, in this film, Esther escapes from a Russian asylum, changes her name, and returns to America pretending to be a lost girl.
As the plot progresses, one of the family members discovered Esther’s identity. Furthermore, my favourite character in the film would be Julia Stiles, who played Esther’s mother. She possessed characteristics of a strong and independent woman who also happened to be the most cunning and vilest character in the film.
On the other hand, Matthew Finlan, also exuded a stellar performance. However, I believe Matthew could have played a more polished role of Gunnar by being more malicious and making himself appear suspicious in order to fit into his role well. In addition, Rossif, who played a subtle role as the father appeared to be naively gullible and blindsided by the lies that were being told to him
Personally, I truly loved this film as I enjoyed thriller films with compelling plots. I wouldn’t recommend this film to anyone who can’t withstand violence, blood, or horrific situations. This was easily one of the greatest films I’ve seen this year, and it came awfully close to becoming a cinematic masterpiece.