Orphan (2009)
- Jaume Collet-Serra originally wanted a completely different ending for the film, but test audiences preferred the one we see today.
- Many of the practical effects used in the climax were achieved without any CGI.
- During the filming of Orphan, Vera Farmiga improvised one of the most famous lines in the movie.
Orphan is a 2009 American psychological horror thriller directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard star as Kate and John Coleman, a couple recovering from a stillbirth who adopt Esther, a seemingly charming nine-year-old girl from an orphanage. As Esther settles into their family, disturbing incidents escalate β animals are harmed, a classmate is injured, and Esther's behavior toward anyone who threatens her position becomes increasingly manipulative and violent.
Isabelle Fuhrman's performance as Esther was remarkable for a 12-year-old, conveying both innocent sweetness and calculated menace with a maturity that sold the film's premise. The twist ending, which recontextualized everything the audience had assumed about Esther, was one of the most genuinely shocking reveals in modern horror and became the film's most discussed element. Orphan earned $78 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.
