Out of all the “creepy kid” horror movies released over the course of the last few decades, Jaume Collet-Serra’s Orphan remains, if not the best, then at least the most entertaining of them all. Seriously, if you caught this shit back in ’09 (or, well, any other time, but especially when all the twists and turns were still well-preserved for the theatrical experience), you probably had your mind blown. It is a sublimely goofy movie, a horror choice cut in a summer that was pretty stacked with them (Drag Me To Hell, anyone?), and it makes sense that Paramount would want to return to the well for another healthy gulp of that crazy juice. It’s called Orphan: First Kill, and it is a prequel explaining how our stealthy antagonist made her way to the U.S. before going on to ruin Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s marriage. Of course, 13 years (of real-time) have passed since the original, so Collet-Serra has moved on, going from Liam Neeson flicks to becoming The Rock’s go-to journeyman, but William Brent Bell is here to pick up the slack. But we’re still pretty stoked for this one, at least based on the trailer that Paramount dropped earlier on Wednesday.
Peep it:
Here’s a synopsis:
“Esther’s terrifying saga continues in this thrilling prequel to the original and shocking horror hit, ‘Orphan.’ After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. Yet, an unexpected twist arises that pits her against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous ‘child’ at any cost.“
Orphan: First Kill hits theaters, VOD and Paramount+ on August 19. If you haven’t watched the original, check it out as soon as you’re able — it’s streaming on Prime Video right now.