In case you haven’t heard,Orphan: First Killis exceeding all expectations for a prequel that no one expected would ever exist. Over a decade after the original filmOrphan, starring a youngIsabelle Fuhrmanas the movie’s not-so-young antagonist, Esther is back to manipulate the system again, and this time a little more of her murderous background is revealed. Following the film’s simultaneous theatrical release and wide streaming release to Paramount+,Orphan: First Killis now available to pre-order on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as digital. Esther is ready to make your home hers.
Boasting decent box officestats after its limited theatrical release, despite going straight to streaming the very same day, there’s definitely something to be said aboutWilliam Brent Bell(The Devil Inside) joining the prequel game with such an ambitious saga. Its predecessor, 2009’sOrphan, directed byBlack Adam’sJaume Collet-Serra, became a lauded addition to modern horror with its original storyline and disturbing twist, managing to push critic reviewsjustpast the genre’s average below-50% Rotten Tomato rating. Even so, the 30-year-old orphan shtick seems difficult to recreate without being redundant, yet hereFirst Killsits with a 72% Rotten Tomato score and audiences reeling fromanother unpredictable twist.
While the future of filmmaking feels uncertain in this new era of streaming, with HBOweeding movies and series from the rootsand directors battling straight-to-streaming releases,physical media is experiencing a revivalof sorts. The announcement of abrand-new 4K Ultra HDof all our favorite movies,new and old, has become something to celebrate, and not just for collectors anymore. Now, Paramount’sOrphan: First Killis joining the roster of brand-new 2022 films that will be available to own within the year. For a retail price of $22.99 on Blu-ray, plus the digital copy, and $17.99 DVD,First Killis available to pre-order now.
RELATED:George A. Romero’s ‘The Amusement Park’ Gets Blu-Ray, DVD, and Digital Release Following Restoration
Orphan: First Killcame out swinging when the moviewas first announcedin 2020, baffling fans with news that over ten years later, Fuhrman would be reprising her role as the 9-year-old-appearing Esther in aprequel. While many fans may have chalked it up to camp, the movie promoted itself by praising theirlack of CGI when de-agingFuhrman, as well asa shocking twistthat would leave fans floored.
With a story by returning writersDavid Leslie Johnson-McGoldrickandAlex Macefrom the previous film, and adapted to screenplay byDavid Coggeshall(Scream: The TV Series),First Killreveals a bit more of Esther’s origins. Beginning with her stay at a psychiatric hospital in Estonia, Leena (Esther’s given name) is tagged as the hospital’s most volatile patient. It’s mentioned that she’s killed before, that she’s extremely dangerous, and that her talent for escaping her confines is not new. After wracking up an impressive body count in the first ten minutes, Leena finds herself a new identity and makes her way to America, where she’s taken in by a family that believes her to be their missing daughter, Esther. The fool-proof plan begins to unravel when her new family turns out to be not quite what Leena was expecting.
Orphan: First Killis available to pre-order now onAmazon, and will be available to purchase on October 18, just in time for Halloween. You can streamFirst Killnow on Paramount+, and check out Collider’s interview with Fuhrman and the director below:
