In 2009, a psychological horror film surprised audiences cwith a disturbing twist that left an indelible mark on fans of the genre. Now, eleven years later, the prequel that promises to unravel the origins of such an enigmatic and terrifying character arrives on the MAX platform in Mexico to become one of the rising films on the streaming service.
'Orphan: First Kill' ('Orphan: First Kill' in its original title) is a prequel that promises to unravel the origins of Esther, whose real name is Leena Klammer. Directed by William Brent Bell, the film explores the past of this macabre figure and his story before being adopted by the Coleman family, a risky game in which resuming the film plays with the public's expectations and new narrative elements. which add another layer of intrigue to his dark character.
This film, part of what is planned to be an upcoming trilogy, begins with the story of Leena, a woman with a rare medical condition. that makes her look like a 9 year old girlbut in reality it is more than 30 years old. The film follows Leena as she escapes from a psychiatric institution in Estonia, having planned and executed a series of violent events.
When she escapes, she adopts the identity of a missing girl named Esther, who belonged to a wealthy family in the United States: the Colemans, who, desperate to find their lost daughter, welcome her into their home, not knowing that this “girl” It is actually a latent danger which sparks an increasingly intense conflict with his adoptive mother, Tricia.
The central twist of 'The Orphan: The Origin' is that it not only shows us the story behind Esther/Leena, but also delves into psychological and emotional dynamics between her and the family that takes her in, especially with Tricia, who begins to suspect the true nature of her new daughter, a relationship where parallels are established with the first film, but with a renewed focus on the motivations of Leena, who , being put in a position of power within the family, demonstrates more manipulative and lethal behavior.
A narrative turn worth admiring
What stands out in the film is its ability to surprise the viewer with unexpected narrative turns. The film not only gives us a glimpse into Leena's origins, but also reconfigures the narrative by detailing her story in a more complex and nuanced way. Unlike the first film, which focused on psychological horror and the revelation of Esther's disorder, this prequel further explores the control and manipulation that Leena is able to exert on the people around her.
Although some moments may feel predictable, the return of Isabelle Fuhrman and the confident direction of William Brent Bell make 'Orphan: The Origin' an interesting piece within the subgenre of psychological horror that, as our colleague Javier Trigales commented, “the ruse script does not bother, it is coherent and lays the foundations for a splendid final stretch… with a competent product that contributes to the 'hall of fame' of cinematographic infamy a new and disturbing character”.
'The Huérfana: the origin' is available in Máx México
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