The 2009 horror movie Orphan has a twist at the end that has become one of the most famous in the horror genre. Kate (Vera Farmiga) and John Coleman (Peter Sarsgaard) are reeling from a sad loss when they welcome a young girl named Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) into their lives. As Esther becomes part of the family that also includes 12-year-old son Daniel (Jimmy Bennett) and 5-year-old daughter Max (Aryana Engineer), it's clear that something sinister is going on. Kate and John might not figure it out right away, but they definitely know that their peaceful family existence has been changed by the girl they have let into their lives. And it's only a matter of time before things get even worse.
Orphan was a huge success, grossing almost $78 at the global box office, according to Box Office Mojo. And even today, the Orphan ending is one of the most talked about. What makes it so powerful and unforgettable, and what happens in Orphan: First Kill?
What Happens At The End Of Orphan?
For some horror and thriller fans, the Orphan ending has one of the best plot twists of any movie. For others, it's super predictable and obvious, which takes away its power.
No matter how someone feels, the Orphan ending is still memorable. Dr. Värava, who works at the Saarne Institute, tells Kate that Esther isn't a child at all. Here's the big twist: Esther is Leena Klammer, a woman who is 33 years old. Leena looks so young because she has an illness called hypopituitarism that affects her hormones and meant that she didn't get very tall. Once audiences know the Orphan twist ending, it's possible to see signs and clues throughout the whole story.
In a heartbreaking and fairly scary moment, Leena kills John, and almost succeeds in murdering Kate as well. When Leena throws Kate and Max into the pond near their home that has frozen over, Leena pretends to be Esther once again in a bid to get Kate to save her. Kate may be older than typical horror movie main characters, but she plays into the horror movie final girl trope when she hurts Leena, and Leena falls into the pond.
The Orphan ending definitely could have gone another way. It's possible that Esther/Leena could kill Kate, too, and then find another family to torture. But the final scene solidifies Kate as a strong character who is able to save herself and her daughter Max, which is a better ending.
The growing elevated horror subgenre is defined by emotional moments, and there's no denying that Orphan is a really sad movie. Esther might be terrifying to look at once it becomes obvious that she is older than she looks. But at the same time, the movie is about a couple grieving the loss of a baby and how that affects their marriage and mental health. It would be too heartbreaking to watch Leena/Esther kill Kate since she has already killed Kate's husband John.
How Does Orphan: First Kill Expand The Story?
Since Esther/Leena dies at the end of Orphan, it makes sense that Orphan: First Kill is a prequel. The movie, which was released in 2022, tells the story of what happened to Leena before she met Kate and John. At the beginning of the movie, it's 2007. Leena is 31 and she figures out that she looks like Esther Albright, who disappeared back in 2003. She tells a cop that she is named Esther and wants to travel to the U.S. To live with her family again. She's definitely convincing, although of course, anyone who has watched Orphan already knows the truth about her.
Esther begins living with Allen (Rossif Sutherland) and Tricia Albright (Julia Stiles). Like in Orphan, Esther/Leena is super creepy from the beginning, and it's clear that something is off about her. The Orphan: First Kill ending is just as memorable as the Orphan ending. This time, though, instead of Kate winning against Leena, Leena kills both Tricia and Allen. While this is sad to watch, it proves that she is smart and cunning and no match for most people who she will come across.
While there are some disappointing horror movie prequels, horror audiences mostly liked Orphan: First Kill because it includes a big twist just like the first movie. It turns out that Tricia is aware that Leena isn't Esther because she knows that Esther died. When compared to the twist Orphan ending, the reveal in Orphan: First Kill might be even more clever because it's harder to guess.
It's also smart that the Orphan: First Kill ending is different from the Orphan ending as if they were too similar, that would be boring. Instead, Orphan: First Kill has a satisfying horror movie ending that sets up how Leena will become Esther once again and move in on Kate and John.