Review: 'Orphan' a twisted tale

"Orphan" is a twisted movie put together by Jaume Collet-Serra, director of "House of Wax."

The story starts with two parents, Kate and John Coleman, who decide to adopt a child. Kate (Vera Farmiga) is battling with her addiction to alcohol after her last baby was stillborn. John (Peter Sarsgaard) can't get past his eye for other women. The family tries to stick together despite all the things that come between them. Kate unsuccessfully tries to share her passion for music with her son, Daniel (Jimmy Bennett), and daughter Max (Aryana Engineer), who's deaf. Orphan Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) seems like the perfect child.

Esther is often made fun of at school because of her odd clothes, which resemble an old-fashioned porcelain doll, but she fits right into the family, being a talented musician and a bright child.

When strange things begin to happen around the Coleman home, the family is puzzled. That is, all except for Max, who covers for Esther and her manipulative ways. With some research, Kate learns weird happenings seem to follow Esther.

The family reaches a breaking point when Daniel's life is put in danger. John blames his wife for the accidents and assumes she is drinking again. He demands she go to rehab immediately and threatens to take the children and leave.

"Orphan" starts out mysteriously and has a great twist to it. It was interesting and thrilling. Although there were real-life situations in the movie, it seems unrealistic that the Coleman family adopts a mysterious child that no one knows much about or had kept records on. The parents chose Esther because of her differences. Eventually those differences were what she used against them.

This movie is something you have to see to believe, and it's worth watching to uncover the mystery. This story is about a girl who takes a family through living hell during her short time staying before her identity is uncovered. I think this movie deserves two thumbs up for its plot and action-packed ending. Everything becomes clear at the end.

Aleshia Warner is a high school student interning with the Southeast Missourian.