Who Plays Who?

Isabelle Fuhrman Vera Farmiga Peter Sarsgaard CCH Pounder Jimmy Bennett Margo Martindale Karel Roden Aryana Engineer Rosemary Dunsmore Jamie Young Lorry Ayers Brendan Wall Genelle Williams

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Esther Kate John Sister Abigail Daniel Dr Browning Dr Värava Max Grandma Barbara Brenda Joyce Detective Sister Judith

The Inside Story After a series of difficulties in their marriage, culminating with the loss of an unborn child, Kate and John Coleman, who have a son and daughter, decide the best way to heal is to add to their family by adopting a nine-year-old girl. Esther recently experienced the loss of her previous adoptive family in a house fire, from which she only narrowly escaped herself. Director Jaume Collet-Serra, who previously directed the horror film "House of Wax" (don't hold that against him) for producers Joel Silver ("Gothika") and Susan Downey ("RocknRolla"). Silver describes Esther as "very mysterious, but at the same time, she seems very smart, very creative. Kate and John, the adoptive parents, want a child who is special. And they definitely get somebody who is really, really special." Almost as soon as they welcome Esther into their home, however, an alarming series of tragic events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that something isn’t right. This seemingly angelic little girl is perhaps not what she appears to be. "I think a villain like this is interesting to watch. You wouldn’t want to see her in the real world, but it’s fun to see her in a movie. She’s a psychopath in the shape of a little girl who will stop at nothing," Silver revealed. In fact, it doesn’t take long to realize that there really is something wrong with Esther. "Kate and John were ready to put their lives back on track, and they decided to adopt an older child. To fit in with the kids that they already had, they wanted to find one somewhere between their older son and their younger daughter, and hopefully have a really happy little fivesome," Downey explained. But there’s something about Esther that they don’t know. When John first happens upon her, Esther is singing sweetly and painting a beautiful picture. Kate joins them and the couple quickly find themselves drawn in by Esther’s intelligence and her singular point of view. Conservative and shy, Esther is clearly a unique little girl. Kate, a musician, and John, an architect, easily see this exceptional child fitting into their family, despite; or perhaps even because of, her tragic past. "Esther is welcomed into the family, but soon after her arrival we see that she’s not as innocent as she seemed. In a film, when you have an evil kid who does evil things, you start small and more subtly than you might expect in a horror movie. Little things start happening, and before you realize it you have an enemy inside the house, this little girl manipulating the situation," Collet-Serra observes. And, it appears, the current state of the Coleman family is ripe for manipulation. Kate, still healing from her loss, is a recovering alcoholic, and her drinking has led to near-tragedy in the past with their daughter Max. John continues to fight the urge to blame his wife for what might have happened. The fractures in their relationship run deep, making them vulnerable and giving Esther an opportunity. Leonardo DiCaprio, a partner at Appian Way and a producer on the film states: "We were as excited as we were about the project because it felt like so much more than your typical genre film. A lot of its appeal has to do with the fact that there is a complex psychological drama playing itself out alongside the typical genre scares." "This story puts a new spin on the genre. It’s not just bloodletting; it’s horrifying events happening to real people with real problems. Events that make you shudder," says Vera Farmiga ("The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas") who plays Kate. "At its core, this is a family that was broken," says Stockholm Film Festival winner Peter Sarsgaard ("Garden State"). "Kate has extreme guilt over Max’s accident, the drinking, and even the stillbirth. Despite trying to get past all of that, John’s still not sure he can trust her, and even blames himself. Esther comes in and shines a light on these things, and uses them to her advantage. I think the best horror movies highlight the human condition and play on the fears and problems so many of us are faced with in our own lives," 2005 Chlotrudis Award winner Sarsgaard ("Kinsey") offers. Working from a story by Alex Mace of Appian Way ("Shutter Island"), screenwriter David Leslie Johnson wrote the script. David’s screenplay delivered," says 1990 ShoWest Producer of the Year Award winner Silver. "He really made the story and the characters come to life." For Johnson, a lover of the genre ever since he saw "The Bad Seed", it was a labor of love. "It’s one of my favorite horror sub-genres, the evil child. There’s something very visceral to it. Viewers have a strong reaction, whether it’s a child being corrupted by the devil, or whether it’s just a bad kid: we’re very knee-jerk in our reaction to it. And I didn’t want to do it in a way that it had been done before. I wanted to find a new way into it, to bring a new angle to the subject matter. I came up with the twist at the end, the secret, and sort of worked backward from there." "David’s script was great," says Collet-Serra ("Goal II: Living the Dream"). "The characters were so well-developed. I really saw the potential of making a movie that had all the elements: great acting, great atmosphere, tension, not to mention really scary. "Orphan" is really a psychological thriller that turns into a horror movie. It’s not straight horror. The whole story revolves around this secret, and it’s very rare for me to read a script and be completely surprised by the ending. It was so believable. That’s what got me hooked on it." "David created characters that we could really invest in," says Downey ("Cradle 2 the Grave"). "Kate and John are a couple that I think people can relate to, because they’re very flawed. But their back stories aren’t thrown out there as a crutch or just something to give the characters depth. That’s what set this script apart for me—the realistic component of these people who we are investing in and believing in, just falling apart. And then there’s this really surprising twist." "From its inception, I felt this story was fantastic fun," says producer Jennifer Davisson Killoran. "It keeps you guessing, and just when you think you know what the secret is, it throws another curveball and you’re not sure." In addition to the thriller aspects of the film, Killoran was also drawn to the mother-child relationships at the heart of the story. "I think Kate is a wonderful portrayal of a woman trying desperately to do right by her children, whether biological or adopted. She just wants the best for them." "There’s just something really primal in that mother-child relationship," says debut screen writer Johnson, "so I felt like that was really the best relationship to exploit and corrupt; to take what should be the most natural bond in the world and turn them into enemies." The writer credits Jaume Collet-Serra for "making it not only scary, but also bringing a sense of menace and mood to the family scenes. Even early on, when things haven’t gone wrong yet, there is this feeling that something is going to go wrong, and that has a lot to do with the way he shot the film and the look he brought to it." "To be great, a thriller has to be smart; it has to have fresh ideas,: Silver ("Leathal Weapon 4", "The Matrix" & "Exit Wounds") notes. "And for it to really work it has to have suspense, and it has to take you on a journey. And Jaume does that brilliantly. He’s a really patient storyteller who takes his time in luring an audience in." Vera Farmiga plays Kate: wife and mother who recently endured a stillbirth in her third trimester. "She has a gaping hole in her womb and in her heart," says 2008 British Independent Film Award winner Farmiga ("The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"), "but she’s trying to persevere and to heal her marriage and her family. Her choice to adopt is an act of kindness." Guilt and a lack of trust have driven a wedge between Kate and John. Esther exploits Kate’s failings and John’s doubts. "Kate has been on a difficult journey," notes Silver ("Ritual"). "She lost a child in childbirth. She’s an alcoholic, and she almost lost another one of her children because of it. She’s tortured. But she’s really tried to clean up her life and she’s ready to move on, when she brings this little girl into her life, and that sends her back into a tailspin." Farmiga ("The Departed") says she researched her part by "spending time on grief websites, reading stories about women coping after the loss of a baby. The ache is desperate, that of an empty womb and empty arms. These testimonies were eye-opening." "Vera was perfect for this role," says Downey. Playing Kate’s husband, John, is Farmiga’s longtime friend Peter Sarsgaard ("Shattered Glass"), who describes his character as "kind of a peacemaker." He acknowledges that his character is far from perfect. "John has had a fairly rich extracurricular life that you catch little glimpses of here and there throughout the film." "The performances are fantastic," says Silver. "Vera and Peter are wonderful actors. You really believe them as a married couple in crisis." Director Collet-Serra states, "With actors like Peter and Vera, I just let them act, shooting them in the simplest way." But working with children requires a completely different approach. "What you want from children is that childlike quality. You need to rehearse them, so they know what the scene requires, but with a lot of rehearsal you might lose that innocence. It takes a lot of balancing to keep the spontaneity, yet still get them to hit all the emotional cues," the director explained adding that, "working with the younger cast was a pleasure. The children are a big part of this movie, and we had three very distinct characters that were very important." Relative newcomer Isabelle Fuhrman was cast in the key role of Esther. "I read the script and it was so thrilling, it made me sit on the edge of my seat," says Fuhrman ("Hounddog"). "I knew I wanted to play Esther because she would be such a challenge and a lot of fun, so I dressed up in an old-fashioned dress and put ribbons around my neck and wrists, and went to the audition trying to make myself feel what Esther was feeling like." "Because of the subject matter, we needed a really young, but at the same time really strong, actress," Collet-Serra said. "Isabelle, who was only eleven, had such confidence. She came in and owned the character." The filmmakers cast first-time actress, six year old Aryana Engineer in the role of Max. Engineer, who is hearing-impaired, came to the film fluent in sign language and adept at reading lips, as she does in the film as Max. Completing the family unit is son Daniel, played by busy young actor Jimmy Bennett. "We saw a lot of actors for Daniel," says Downey, "and Jimmy just stood out as the perfect addition to the family." "It’s difficult for him because all he has is his little sister Max, and he doesn’t really know sign language, so basically, he’s on his own once Esther shows up," Bennett says. Veteran actress CCH Pounder plays Sister Abigail, a nun at St Mariana’s Home for Girls. "I was taught by nuns for about fourteen years. I think the sisters thought I was a wicked little child: but nothing like Esther!" The Verdict "While it may be hard to believe, it is true: "Orphan" is not your everyday run of the mill horror/psychological thriller. Let's be honest; who would have thought that fans of the genre would be in line for another decidedly 'wicked' cinematic treat. Well they are! Jaume Collet-Serra's "Orphan" (hot on the heels of the critically acclaimed "Drag Me To Hell"), provides more than a fair share of creepy 'jump in your seat' moments. A constant atmosphere of dread pervades the film. Esther, who comes across as a sweet, innocent little girl, is deeply flawed. Outwardly, Esther appears to be normal: but looks can fool as adoptive parents Kate and John Coleman eventually discover. This little psycho is determined to get her own way, and woe-betide anyone who dares to challenge the murderous bitch. By now I guess you're thinking, "there has to be a twist somewhere in the storyline?" Of course there is. It's the films crowning glory. A twist no-one (and I do mean no-one), would ever guess. You may try to guess what it is, but believe me: you won't. If you're comptemplating adopting a child, it may pay to see "Orphan". 4 STARS." Synopsis

The tragic loss of their unborn child has devastated Kate and John, taking a toll on both their marriage and Kate’s fragile psyche as she is plagued by nightmares and haunted by demons from her past. Struggling to regain some semblance of normalcy in their lives, the couple decides to adopt another child. At the local orphanage, both John and Kate find themselves strangely drawn to a young girl named Esther. Almost as soon as they welcome Esther into their home, however, an alarming series of events begins to unfold, leading Kate to believe that there’s something wrong with Esther; this seemingly angelic little girl is not what she appears to be. When something bad happens, Esther is always there. Concerned for the safety of her family, Kate tries to get John and others to see past Esther’s sweet facade. But her warnings go unheeded. Now it may be too late: for everyone.

What Do The Critics Say

"A welcome addition to the Evil Child sub-genre, thanks to great performances, strong direction, a delightfully over the top plot, some impressive gore effects and a terrific twist." Matthew Turner VIEW LONDON "One of the good things about Orphan, which is directed by Jaume Collet-Sera, is that it takes itself quite seriously and manages to bring a surprising level of originality to the potentially familiar material." David Stratton ABC AT THE MOVIES "Nicely down horror flick with a great twist near the end. This is one EVIL child. Well-directed, too." Paul Chambers CNN RADIO "It’s bloody, you should be warned, but in the end it is worth it." Ben Mankiewicz AT THE MOVIES "I really enjoyed Orphan and enjoyed the fact that the film went to some pretty dark and twisted places. Uncle Creepy DREAD CENTRAL "Orphan is nasty but enjoyable, and the whole film is so competently crafted and superbly acted, especially by the three central females, that I was gripped and entertained throughout." Christopher Tookey DAILY MAIL

"The inclusion of a twist ending that's flat-out jaw-dropping in its audaciousness virtually justifies the entire movie's existence by itself. Orphan's success is ultimately due in large part to Fuhrman's absolutely chilling work as Esther; armed with a creepy Russian accent and an antiquated dress sense, Fuhrman's Esther immediately establishes herself as one of the most compelling and downright indelible screen villains to come around in quite some time." David Nusair REEL FILM REVIEWS "Lifted above the average by a pretty nifty twist and some unnecessarily good acting." Peter Whittle SUNDAY TIMES "It has atmosphere and tension, and the performances are far better than usual for this sort of caper." Derek Malcolm VIEW LONDON "If you’re not easily offended or upset, there is much to enjoy in Orphan. Horror films this skilfully made don’t come along that often. You probably won’t find a better one this year." Toby Young TIMES "As much fun as it is to follow Orphan's improbable developments, there is also a dark undercurrent that lingers with you afterward. It's that troubling theme that takes the movie from good to almost great. Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS "The stomach-knotting is kept taut throughout, and the acting is first-rate: none more than Fuhrman, who seems to have the self-awareness and skill to be one of the best child actors around. Orphan is a rare thriller that is better than its marketing suggests, a film that seems utterly Bad Seed-familiar on the surface, but throws some pretty good curveballs to carve its own identity." Jim Slotek JAM! MOVIES

The Production Team

Director Screenplay Story Producers Original Music Director of photography Film Editor Casting Production Designer Art Direction Set Decoration Costume Design

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Jaume Collet-Serra David Leslie Johnson Alex Mace Leonardo DiCaprio/Susan Downey Jennifer Davisson Killoran/Joel Silver John Ottman Jeff Cutter Tim Alverson Ronnie Yeskel Tom Meyer Patrick Banister and Pierre Perrault Martine Giguère-Kazemirchuk/Daniel Hamelin David Laramy/Cal Loucks Antoinette Messam

Run Time 123 minutes Rated MA15+[AUST] ©2009 - Dark Castle - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark laws applied.