108 - "Orphan" and "Orphan: First Kill"

What? A double featured review? Yes. I ended watching two "Orphan" films. I didn't there was a prequel in this very limited film series. I saw the first one. Then I found out about the second one. And by watching it, I might as well double them up. These two films are very similar to each other. The plots are different but they are alike. One is not better than the other although I actually enjoyed the prequel - "Orphan: First Kill" due to the cheesiness of it. "Orphan" has good cinematography, the sound design does play tricks on people as horror films like to do. Vera Farmiga is good in this film, I only wish the plot was a bit better especially how it deals with Esther's character having daddy issues. Why daddy issues? No mommy issues? I don't like how they had to sexualize her character, I feel it they could have gone to different direction about it. I'm sure they could have made her third dimensional without having to do that. I didn't like how Esther is a complete bad ass. As if nothing can touch her. I do like the payoff in the third act where she is actually untouchable. I do hate the twist, though. I won't say what it is but I did stick for the ride. "Orphan: First Kill" has no twists. Well, it kind of does and I love how they wrote Julia Stiles' character. She's merciless, smart and has a motive that matches Esther. For the first time, Esther wasn't getting her way that easy. I didn't like plot too much, I felt like it's flat. We all know about Esther, certain characters know about her, what can we do? I do like how the story plays out where the tables turn and Esther has to take some type of emotional torture in which gives her the direction to completely break the rules.

These two films overall have blood, there's brutal kills and somehow there is a heart in the film. More in the first than the second, the second was more of a filler film. They tried to find a way to seek more of Esther's story. There could have been a bit more. I wish there wasn't of that "daddy issue" trope for her in the second film. I can see why they would do it. But I still question it overall. I wish both parental characters can be pushed for Esther's issues of family.

Overall, both films are two and a half tokes.