Essentially a horror movie, Orphan's drama aspects are a step above the norm. Kate and John adopt Esther (Isabelle), a nine-year-old orphan of Russian origin. She's intelligent, polite, and charming. With ease, she wraps her new foster-father around her little finger, and when people around her start getting into accidents, nobody will believe it could be the sweet Esther at fault.

Isabelle is competent as the evil Esther, and there's nothing to complain in her performance. However after all we're talking about a horror movie, so although the role is large, the character remains somewhat distant throughout.

Aryana is a complete darling as Max, the youngest child of the family, and by far the most likeable character. It's a delight to see her happy, smiling face. Especially endearing is the fact she's almost deaf, an impairment shared by real-life Aryana, and one of the reasons she was chosen for the role. There are some beautiful scenes that shows the world as it is heard by Max. Indeed, Orphan is at times a touching movie, and achieves more than just frights.

Unfortunately the frights don't work as well as the drama. The tension builds decently toward the end, but Esther's extreme personality and deeds seem a little out of place given the otherwise realistic style of the movie. On the other hand, for some viewers the lack of supernatural elements may create an effective horror experience.