Orphan - Similar Film Analysis

Orphan, 2009

In the opening sequence, an enigma is introduced through various shots of a character’s facial features without giving their identity away, giving enough for the audience to question who they are watching. From these shots we can see that the character is, quite carelessly, applying make-up. This implies that the character shouldn’t be using make up yet because of the age she appears to be, however is mature enough to know how to. She focusses primarily on her eyes and lips with the make-up; both considered to be attractive features on a woman. By accentuating these particular features, it gives us an idea of her intentions. She uses red lipstick and nail varnish; red connotes lust and seduction. However, to the audience it connotes more of a thirst for blood and danger. The white rose is symbolic of the antagonist’s innocent-looking exterior. It then starts to wilt and die which represents the unveiling of her true intentions and identity; she wasn’t what she appeared to be.

The edit is quite craggy and choppy which effectively gives the audience a feeling of unease and discomfort. This, in effect, foreshadows the film’s plot structure and its genre: thriller. Whereas, if the shots were smooth, it could convey a different type of film. This also gives us an insight into the antagonist’s thoughts; scattered and hectic.

The music is quite tense and sinister. A piano is abruptly introduced at the start and the same few notes are played repeatedly. This minimalistic arrangement creates a suspenseful feel to accompany the images, making it more intense. A xylophone plays a few high notes in the beginning and is commonly known as a child’s instrument as it is quite simple to play. There is a play on innocence and danger from this. There is also a woman’s voice softly singing in the background. Although it doesn’t overpower the music, it has quite an impact in creating a mood. This could also represent the female antagonist’s power.