Orphan: First Kill (2022) serves as a prequel to the 2009 psychological horror hit Orphan, diving into the chilling origin of Esther—the childlike villain with a monstrous secret. Directed by William Brent Bell, the film brings Isabelle Fuhrman back into the role of Esther (real name: Leena Klammer), using practical effects and clever camera work to recreate her unnerving childlike appearance, despite the 13-year gap since the original.
The film opens in an Estonian psychiatric facility, where Leena, a psychotic adult woman with a rare hormonal disorder that causes her to look like a child, executes a brutal escape. Assuming the identity of a missing American girl named Esther Albright, she cons her way into the wealthy Albright family in Connecticut. But what begins as a sinister case of deception evolves into something far more twisted than audiences may expect.
One of the most surprising elements of First Kill is its genre shift. While it starts with the familiar beats of a horror-thriller, the film takes a bold turn halfway through that flips the narrative entirely—revealing that the Albrights, especially matriarch Tricia (played brilliantly by Julia Stiles), are not quite the helpless victims they first appear to be. This twist reinvigorates the franchise by adding moral ambiguity and dark humor to the mix, transforming the film into more of a cat-and-mouse game than a straightforward slasher.
Fuhrman once again excels in the role of Esther, managing to make her performance both terrifying and tragically sympathetic. The filmmakers’ choice to avoid CGI de-aging and instead rely on camera tricks and doubles gives the film a grounded, eerie realism. Julia Stiles proves to be a formidable opponent for Esther, and the dynamic between the two women drives much of the film’s suspense.
The film’s pacing is brisk, the kills are gruesome and well-executed, and the production design evokes a chilly, upper-class horror atmosphere. While it lacks the psychological depth and slow-burn suspense of the original Orphan, it makes up for it with campy thrills and unexpected reversals.
If Orphan: First Kill lays the groundwork for a full-blown franchise, a potential third installment could follow Esther’s further descent into darkness. Set in the years between First Kill and the original Orphan, a sequel titled Orphan: The Lost Years could explore Esther’s time drifting between foster homes, developing new methods of manipulation, and growing increasingly violent as her condition and isolation worsen.
This imagined third film could focus on Esther infiltrating a new family in a small town, but this time, a suspicious child or teenager begins to unravel her identity. The story could explore the psychological impact of constantly pretending to be someone she’s not, and show cracks in her carefully constructed persona. A darker, more introspective approach could lend new emotional depth to the character, while still delivering the twisted tension fans expect.
In conclusion, Orphan: First Kill delivers a surprisingly fun and sinister backstory for one of horror’s most memorable villains. While it leans more into camp and thrills than its predecessor, it breathes new life into the franchise and leaves the door wide open for more disturbing tales from Esther’s blood-soaked past.
