Orphan (2008/Warner Blu-ray + DVD)
Picture: B-/C
Sound: B/B- Extras: C- Film: C-
In yet another Horror film that could have worked if
someone knew anything about suspense and the genre, Jaume Collet-Serra’s Orphan (2008) is yet another variation
on The Bad Seed, but is so dull that
you will want to orphan the film as
soon as you start falling asleep. Joel
Silver and Leonardo DiCaprio co-produced and even landed quality actors like
Peter Sarsgaard and Vera Farmiga as the parents and CCH Pounder in a supporting
role, yet this is a dud even their acting talents cannot save.
The killer child here comes from Russia (what
did they do wrong?) And everything seems like it will work out, but she is not
always a nice gal and as she gets to the age of 9, several bad things occur around her.
The idiot plot does not allow anyone to suspect her until it is too
late, then the film caves in and cannot end fast enough. Maybe the David Leslie Johnson screenplay was
better when they started, but this is a horrible mess and not worth your time.
The 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image is a soft
and underwhelming, while the anamorphically enhanced DVD is especially poor
with detail and Video Black issues that are very weak. The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 mix on the Blu-ray is
not bad, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 on the DVD is also active, but not as
rich. Dialogue is recorded well enough,
but John Ottman’s score (which also cannot save this mess) is the surround
highlight. Extras on both include an
alternate ending that is also weak, while the Blu-ray adds Digital Copy for PC
and PC portable devices, BD Live interactive features and a making-of
featurette Mama’s Little Devils.
- Nicholas Sheffo
