Orphan

After the solid success of “House of Wax” (2005), Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra offers a tense thriller with horror overtones revolving around the pathological actions of a profoundly disturbed little girl (although it’s possible that a completely different reality is lurking in the shadows…).

Obviously intrigued by characters with psychiatric disorders, the director uses vivid brushstrokes to paint the shadowy abysses of what proves to be borderline insanity and the progressive disruption it causes in a family that is already suffering (there’s a bit of everything in the Colemans’ black book: betrayal, problems linked to alcohol, near tragedies, fatal pregnancies).

High suspense, capable cast, solid screenplay – with an extremely effective plot twist, a rare occurrence these days. Predictably, the local psychiatrist comes off as an idiot, dishing out trite, far-fetched conclusions and suggesting patience will solve all their problems.

Overall, a commendable effort.