LITERAL REMAINS

The Coleman’s, John and Kate (plus two), are on the road to recovery having suffered through a couple of tragic events.  As told in the opening sequence, their third child was stillborn; it is later revealed that Kate is in therapy, had has a history of alcohol abuse.  It hasn’t been that long since their youngest child, Maxine (who is deaf), fell through the ice on the pond; it was John who saved her, and the incident was the impetus for Kate to sober up.

John and Kate, examining their situation, seeing how far they have come, and having, mostly, overcome in the last year and more, decide they may be ready to adopt.  Kate is a little shaky about the prospect, but she is won over by Esther.  Esther is plucky, mature, artistic, and has suffered through tragedies of her own.  Having come from Russia, the nine year old barely survived a house fire.

Right away, Maxine takes up with Esther.  The Coleman’s oldest son, Daniel, gives her the cold shoulder and views her as an intruder.  Esther settles in as the newest member of the family, and her true nature slowly reveals itself.  She is quite the manipulative little tyke, and quite violent, unafraid and unflinching at putting injured birds out of their misery, pushing classroom enemies off the playground equipment, or threatening Daniel’s family jewels with a box cutter.

Kate has her suspicions, but John is oblivious.  Maxine and Daniel live in fear.  Poor Sister Abigail, from the orphanage, meets the business end of a hammer thanks to evil Esther.  With the kids too scared to share what they know, Kate is alone in her pursuit of the truth about their adopted daughter.

Orphan is filled with some good performances, especially Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as the parents, and Isabelle Fuhrman, as Esther, is right chilling.  The movie is predictable and better than average, yet by the end I felt rather cheap and just wanted to watch The Bad Seed as penance.

You can guess the truth about Esther at the half, or earlier if you think on it.  The most frustrating thing is the formula the film follows.  No one believes Kate, the children are put in a lot of danger to exact terror from the audience, and the cops show up way late, even when the action is taking place right outside in the back yard.

If they had changed the last act, who knows…as it is, just frustrating.

3 out of 5
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