Well now, I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. Not because I’m clever (but I am) but because someone already told me what the big reveal was going to be before I saw the film. Interestingly, I think it only altered my reaction a little. Quite quickly you realise the kid’s as evil as spiky knickers but it did rob me of quite a big laugh once the truth was outed. John and Kate, after losing their third child at birth, decide to adopt a nine year old girl called Esther (Isabelle Fuhrman) from an orphanage. A little creepy from the outset, insisting on wearing old fashioned dresses with ribbons (what a freak), her new parents stuck with her oddities.
But because she was so strange she started to get bullied at school. This is when we first see Esther is not to be messed with. She follows one girl to the top of a slide and pushes her off and breaks her leg. She later does something unspeakable with a nun. The actress who played the nun, CCH Pounder, kind of reminded me of Scatman Crothers in The Shining. And you know what happened to him!
Esther threatens almost everyone who could expose her true nature with the usual, “if you tell, I’ll kill you” promise. As the story unravels it becomes apparent that they know very little about where she came from.
Say what you like about the movie but that little actress Isabelle Fuhrman is quite something after the reveal! Ridiculous and creepy, did what it said on the tin. You hated everyone you were supposed to hate; the kid for being evil and the dad for not believing the mum. Sometimes in films you find yourself wanting the evil spawn to succeed but not here. Maybe it was because again, I knew what the outcome was or maybe it was because the mum was hot, I really do not know. It definitely had the ick factor though. *shudders*
I avoided spoilers before watching this movie, and so was pleasantly surprised by the Big Reveal--and also impressed that once all was revealed, it totally worked! I think that's due to some great acting on Isabelle Furman's part, and clever filming/makeup.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a great, creepy movie, and a rare modern horror flick that had actual character development that really worked (shocker!). The only thing I didn't like about the movie was the actor playing the Dad, who I thought was just terrible, esp. compared to the great actors around him.
I didn't like it very much...it relied too much on fake-out music crescendoes, jump-cuts, shock value, and creepy one-liners.
ReplyDeleteA pretty good little horror film, I thought. Nothing mind-blowing, but it was entertaining enough and Isabelle Fuhrman really did a great job. Good review.
ReplyDeleteI also reviewed this movie for a discussion group I manage. Two things worked to my advantage with this one: 1) I have a memory like a sieve and 2) it takes me forever to get around to seeing most films. I did read a spolier, but so much time elapsed before I saw the flick that I forgot all about it till around half a minute before the truth came out. I thought Isabelle did an amazing job, particularly after the reveal. She made the film for me.
ReplyDelete"She later does something unspeakable with a nun." - This part made me LOL...naughty old nun...naughty! ;P
ReplyDeleteI liked this film. I wonder what face cream she uses? It totally works. ;P
I was out on this one, it relied far too heavily on that final reveal to bank on its success, and by then I hated all of the characters so much that I didnt care what happened
ReplyDeleteI knew the reveal too before I watched it. Turns out it was (sort of) based on a true story. I actually really liked this movie. I found the girl to be seriously creepy, although I did find it slightly unbelieveable that she got away with all of it through most of the movie. Also, Peter Sarsgaard is dead sexy ;o)
ReplyDeleteThis movie is glorious, extremely well-made trash.
ReplyDeleteI loved every minute of it.
Honestly, I don't think I'd ever have wanted to see this if I hadn't been told what the big reveal was, and how awful it was. That sold me on it.
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised by this, but maybe that's because I was expecting it to suck.
I would like permission to use the phrase "as evil as spiky knickers" in my daily conversations from here forward. Love. That.
ReplyDeleteThe reveal is an explanation I had never seen before...so it was all good for me. And Isabelle Fuhrman is awesome in this. Great performance
ReplyDeleteWell, thanks for not spoiling it for me, because I haven't seen this movie yet. I hadn't even thought it was worth bothering to see since the trailers reminded me to The Good Son way too much--disliked that movie. I may have to give this movie a chance, though.
ReplyDeleteBefore the Big Reveal I thought Esther was pretty sweet and actually felt sorry for her, I thought the reason she was disturbed and freaky was because of some trauma in her past.
ReplyDeleteAfter the Big Reveal all I thought of was: "Kill the B**CH!!!"
Great performance by Isabelle Fuhrmann.
Imagine if Hit Girl and Esther had a b**ch fight?