The 2009 horror movieOrphanhas a twist at the end that has become one of the most famous in the horror genre. Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John Coleman (Peter Sarsgaard) are reeling from a sad loss when they welcome a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) into their lives. As Esther becomes part of the family that also includes 12-year-old son Daniel (Jimmy Bennett) and 5-year-old daughter Max (Aryana Engineer), it’s clear that something sinister is going on. Kate and John might not figure it out right away, but they definitely know that their peaceful family existence has been changed by the girl they have let into their lives. And it’s only a matter of time before things get even worse.
Orphanwas a huge success, grossing almost $78 at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. And even today, theOrphanending is one of the most talked about. What makes it so powerful and unforgettable, and what happens inOrphan: First Kill?
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What Happens At The End Of Orphan?
For some horror and thriller fans, theOrphanending has one of thebest plot twists of any movie. For others, it’s super predictable and obvious, which takes away its power.
No matter how someone feels, theOrphanending is still memorable. Dr. Värava, who works at the Saarne Institute, tells Kate that Esther isn’t a child at all. Here’s the big twist: Esther is Leena Klammer, a woman who is 33 years old. Leena looks so young because she has an illness called hypopituitarism that affects her hormones and meant that she didn’t get very tall. Once audiences know theOrphantwist ending, it’s possible to see signs and clues throughout the whole story.
In a heartbreaking and fairly scary moment, Leena kills John, and almost succeeds in murdering Kate as well. When Leena throws Kate and Max into the pond near their home that has frozen over, Leena pretends to be Esther once again in a bid to get Kate to save her. Kate may be older than typical horror movie main characters, but she plays into thehorror movie final girl tropewhen she hurts Leena, and Leena falls into the pond.
TheOrphanending definitely could have gone another way. It’s possible that Esther/Leena could kill Kate, too, and then find another family to torture. But the final scene solidifies Kate as a strong character who is able to save herself and her daughter Max, which is a better ending.
Thegrowing elevated horror subgenre is definedby emotional moments, and there’s no denying thatOrphanis a really sad movie. Esther might be terrifying to look at once it becomes obvious that she is older than she looks. But at the same time, the movie is about a couple grieving the loss of a baby and how that affects their marriage and mental health. It would be too heartbreaking to watch Leena/Esther kill Kate since she has already killed Kate’s husband John.
How Does Orphan: First Kill Expand The Story?
Since Esther/Leena dies at the end ofOrphan, it makes sense thatOrphan: First Killis a prequel. The movie, which was released in 2022, tells the story of what happened to Leena before she met Kate and John. At the beginning of the movie, it’s 2007. Leena is 31 and she figures out that she looks like Esther Albright, who disappeared back in 2003. She tells a cop that she is named Esther and wants to travel to the U.S. to live with her family again. She’s definitely convincing, although of course, anyone who has watchedOrphanalready knows the truth about her.
Esther begins living with Allen (Rossif Sutherland) and Tricia Albright (Julia Stiles). Like inOrphan, Esther/Leena is super creepy from the beginning, and it’s clear that something is off about her. TheOrphan: First Killending is just as memorable as theOrphanending. This time, though, instead of Kate winning against Leena, Leena kills both Tricia and Allen. While this is sad to watch, it proves that she is smart and cunning and no match for most people who she will come across.
While there are somedisappointing horror movie prequels, horror audiences mostly likedOrphan: First Killbecause it includes a big twist just like the first movie. It turns out that Tricia is aware that Leena isn’t Esther because she knows that Esther died. When compared to the twistOrphanending, the reveal inOrphan: First Killmight be even more clever because it’s harder to guess.
It’s also smart that theOrphan: First Killending is different from theOrphanending as if they were too similar, that would be boring. Instead,Orphan: First Killhas asatisfying horror movie endingthat sets up how Leena will become Esther once again and move in on Kate and John.
