Orphan: First Kill: 2022

Despite its silly and "wild" script, the film maintains a high technical standard that anchors its more outrageous moments.

: The musical choices, particularly the use of Jimmy Durante’s "The Glory of Love," add a layer of ironic charm to the violence.

While the original Orphan was a relatively straightforward psychological thriller, First Kill operates with a distinct "USA Up All Night" B-movie energy. Orphan: First Kill 2022

: The film pivots from a home invasion story to a psychological "battle of wills" between Esther and the Albright matriarch, Tricia (Julia Stiles), who becomes a formidable and equally villainous adversary. Atmosphere and Production

The 2022 prequel Orphan: First Kill succeeds by embracing a "schlocky goodness" that its earnest 2009 predecessor lacked, transforming what could have been a repetitive retread into a campy, self-aware horror delight. Directed by William Brent Bell, the film manages the difficult task of bringing back Isabelle Fuhrman as the titular Esther—despite her having aged 13 years since the original—while leaning into a narrative twist that completely shifts the power dynamic of the franchise. Despite its silly and "wild" script, the film

: Reviewers have noted the "appropriately atmospheric and spooky" lighting and cinematography, which help the family home feel like its own character.

: Unlike the first film, where only Fuhrman seemed to understand the "deranged" nature of the character, the sequel features a cast—including Julia Stiles and Rossif Sutherland—that is fully "in on the joke". : The film pivots from a home invasion

: Rather than simply repeating Esther’s infiltration of a naive family, the screenplay by David Coggeshall reveals that the Albright family harbors their own dark secrets.