A disturbed young man is plagued by horrific headaches that he believes make him commit murders.A disturbed young man is plagued by horrific headaches that he believes make him commit murders.A disturbed young man is plagued by horrific headaches that he believes make him commit murders.
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Did you know
- TriviaThe producers of Friday the 13th (1980) , which began production shortly after this film was released, had to negotiate a settlement with this film's producers in order to use the title.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)
- SoundtracksI Need to Live Alone
Written and Performed by Janis Ian
Featured review
A film that could narcotize the most preponderant speed addict.
THE ORPHAN is a professionally wielded film with a few decent performances(the youngster in the title role most notably), and it certainly doesn't merit a critical belting in response to its basic efficiencies. What I personally found off-putting was its bland self-possession...this is actually less a horror film than a vague, drawn-out mystery with a lot of red herring "coming of age" infusion. It has something to do with a pubescent boy being put in the hands of his difficile, prohibitive aunt following the demise of his parents, and the gradual expedition of his potentially lethal hostilities. The proceedings are dusted with moments of fever-dreamy surrealism, and take place in a time around the Great Depression(stylistic details to that effect are surprisingly impressive).
I wanted to like this film, and I did appreciate its inveigling directorial uniqueness, but it's so dull it couldn't saw through sand...there's a scant minutiae of bloodletting and scares, and frankly, it's not nearly as cleverly devised as it thinks it is. There's not much about THE ORPHAN which would classify as "marketable"...it's basically just a purposefully packaged and atmospheric dearth of what most people want in a horror film.
4.5/10
I wanted to like this film, and I did appreciate its inveigling directorial uniqueness, but it's so dull it couldn't saw through sand...there's a scant minutiae of bloodletting and scares, and frankly, it's not nearly as cleverly devised as it thinks it is. There's not much about THE ORPHAN which would classify as "marketable"...it's basically just a purposefully packaged and atmospheric dearth of what most people want in a horror film.
4.5/10
helpful•108
- EyeAskance
- Jun 26, 2003
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