Dark, chilling, and atmospheric

Rating: 8/10 (20 September 2009)

Orphan seems like a typical, cheesy horror flick. But it's not. It relies heavily on suspense rather than gore. There are a few gory deaths in the movie.
The acting is well-done. Vera Farmiga plays the no-nonsense, take-no-prisoners mother. Peter Sarsgaard plays the clueless, loving father. Isabelle Fuhrmann plays the orphaned girl, and was really creepy,and CCH Pounder plays the caring nun.
If you've seen the trailer for Orphan, you'll think that is a typical clichéd horror flick. But it is more than that, because it has a horrific twist, and a dark, eerie mood. Sadly, it didn't do that well at the box office because people chose to waste their money on watching secret agent guinea pigs and a clichéd romantic comedy.
Overall, if you are a gore hound, you will be a little dissatisfied. If you are a horror fan who doesn't crave a cheesy, poorly edited PG-13 "horror" flick, then you will love this. It comes out on the same week as Halloween. When it does, rent it and watch it on Halloween night, turn the lights off, and you're in for a good, old-fashioned scare.
Rating:8/10