History YMMV / Orphan

* TheScrappy: John's stupidity, blind trusting of Esther, ''cheating on Kate after the stillbirth of their child'', and myopia towards all the horrible events that had been occurring since Esther was adopted made him quite unlikable to the viewers, to the point that [[spoiler:his brutal death comes and goes without much thought; the rest of the film is dedicated to showing the much more likable Max attempting to survive Esther's rampage]].

* CatharsisFactor: Katie does give up on trying to convince John that there is something wrong with Esther and say that if he wants her to leave, that's fine, but only on the condition that Esther goes too, which is pretty satisfying.

* TheScrappy: John's stupidity, blind trusting of Esther, the revelation that he ''cheated on Kate after the stillbirth of their child'', and myopia towards all the horrible events that had been occurring since she was adopted made him quite unlikable to the viewers. That's why [[spoiler:his brutal death comes and goes without much thought; the rest of the film is dedicated to showing the much more likable Max attempting to survive Esther's rampage]].

* CatharsisFactor: Katie does give up on trying to convince John that there is something wrong with Esther and say if he wants her to leave that's fine but only on one condition that Esther goes too which is pretty much satisfying.

* TheScrappy: John's stupidity, blind trusting of Esther, the revelation that he ''cheated on Kate after the stillbirth of their child'', and myopia towards all the horrible events that had been occurring since she was adopted made him fairly unlikable to the viewers. That's why [[spoiler:his brutal death comes and goes without much thought, and the rest of the film is dedicated to showing the much more likable Max attempting to survive Esther's rampage]].

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Regarding Esther; psychotic homewrecker, or abused, mentally broken girl who [[IJustWantToBeLoved just wants to be genuinely loved for once?]]

* JerksAreWorseThanVillains: John (the clueless adult who [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter trusts Esther]] more than his own wife, and used to cheat on his wife ten years ago) is more hated than Esther herself (the EvilOrphan who wants to kill the whole family).
* LoveToHate: Esther is smart, dangerous, and her actress gives a great performance, which all make for a very compelling horror villain.

* TakeThatScrappy: Katie does give up on trying to convince John that there is something wrong with Esther and say if he wants her to leave that's fine but only on one condition that Esther goes too which is pretty much satisfying.

* FandomSpecificPlot: Among the small amount of fanfictions that exists for this movie, the most often repeated plot involves John giving in to Esther's advances near the movie's climax.

* HilariousInHindsight: An episode of WesternAnimation/DrKatzProfessionalTherapist had Dr. Katz and his son [[spoiler: humorously discuss horror movies where the killers were midgets.]].

** [[Film/TheHungerGames Esther moved on to terrorising tributes, and this time she does kill a child.]]

** Esther, who is portrayed by an 11-year old, [[spoiler: tries to seduce John in a sexually provocative cocktail dress]].
** Esther breaking her own arm, especially as the bone very visibly pops out. The fact that it's the ''only'' scene where she shows any real weakness or pain somehow makes it worse.

** This film's use of black lights. They reveal terrifying and disgusting, gruesome paintings, as well as sexually explicit paintings of John and Esther.

* {{Take that Scrappy}}: Katie does give up on trying to convince John that there is something wrong with Esther and say if he wants her to leave that's fine but only on one condition that Esther goes too which is pretty much satisfying.

* TheScrappy: John's stupidity, blind trusting of Esther, the revelation that he ''cheated on Kate after the stillbirth of their child'', and myopia towards all the horrible events that had been occurring since she was adopted made him fairly unlikable to the viewers. That's why [[spoiler:his brutal death comes and goes without much thought, and the rest of the film is dedicated to showing the much more charismatic Max attempting to survive Esther's rampage]].

** Natalia Grace Barnett, a then 6-year-old Ukrainian girl with a form of dwarfism called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondyloepiphyseal_dysplasia_congenita spondyloepiphyseal]] that makes it hard for her to walk, was adopted by an Indiana couple in 2010, but shortly afterward her parents began (or at least claimed to) to suspect she was actually an adult. They claim that she had developed body hair and a menstrual cycle (which even if it is true, any doctor can verify precocious puberty exists), acted too mature for her age, and was murderously violent. They [[https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/clarissajanlim/natalia-grace-ukranian-adoption-orphan treated her like an adult despite getting the results of medical tests that backed up that she was only a child]], enrolling her in college, making her tell people she was in her 20's, [[https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-50319910 legally changing her birth year on her birth certificate from 2003 to 1989, and having her placed in a psychiatric unit in 2012 until she was discharged in 2013]]. In 2012, when she was 9, [[ParentalAbandonment they moved out of their home and left the country, leaving her to fend for herself for a year and living off the canned food they'd left for her.]] The “proof” they had was a family doctor and friend who had never examined her, while experts of the particular form of dwarfism she had backed up that the girl was indeed only a child. They're currently facing charges of child abandonment and neglect. The couple tried to defend their actions by claiming she threatened the husband and their other child. Given that the movie came out in July of 2009 and their suspicions began less than a year later, it's very possible that they got the idea from the film, especially since [[https://screenrant.com/orphan-true-story-real-life-crime-explained/ the mother referenced the movie by name, saying "The movie Orphan is exactly what happened."]]

** There's also [[https://morbidology.com/the-mauerova-cult-family/ this]] incredibly bizarre and dangerous cult, the Grail Movement, whose leader, Barbora, has a glandular problem that causes her to look like a child, to the point she was able to legally change her identity to that of a thirteen year old named Anicka to elude authorities.

* UnfortunateImplications: The film was severely [[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/07/15/demon-orphan.html criticized]] for its stereotypical portrayal of older adopted children, calling it cliche for portraying them as violent and cruel.

** Max has it worse. She is a 5-year old mute child who witnesses her new adoptive sister brutally murder an innocent nun and her own father, is almost killed herself in at least 4 separate occasions, sees her brother nearly burn to death and be suffocated, is chased by a psychopath into the woods and is forced to handle a firearm despite her young age. '''It's safe to say that the trauma from her childhood will haunt her for the rest of her life'''.

* HilariousInHindsight: An episode of WesternAnimation/DrKatzProfessionalTherapist had Dr. Katz and his son [[spoiler: humorously discuss horror movies where the killers were midgets. Titles (to the best of my memory) included "I'm Short, But You're Dead" and "Don't Step On My Toes, Or I'll Kill You!"]].

* EsotericHappyEnding: Given her overall incompetence and the fact John is now dead, it's possible Kate will not be allowed to keep her kids after the events of the movie. That said, the fact that Esther will have been proven to be something she totally wasn't could still make a difference in having an effective change on events moving forward though.

** Natalia Grace Barnett was adopted by a Florida couple in 2010, but shortly afterward her parents began (or at least claimed to) to suspect she was actually an adult. They claim that she had developed body hair and a menstrual cycle (which even if it is true, any doctor can verify precocious puberty exists). They treated her like an adult, enrolling her in college and making her tell people she was in her 20's. In 2012 [[ParentalAbandonment moved out of their home, leaving her to fend for herself.]] The “proof” they had was a family doctor and friend who had never examined her, while experts of the particular form of dwarfism she had backed up that the girl was indeed only a child. They're currently facing charges of child abandonment and neglect. The couple are trying to defend their actions by claiming she threatened the husband and their other child. Given that the movie came out in July of 2009 and their suspicions began less than a year later, it's very possible that they got the idea from the film.

* CompleteMonster: [[TheFakeCutie Esther]] is adopted by the Coleman family after their newest child is stillborn. Esther pushes a bully off a slide causing her to break her ankle, tries to play RussianRoulette with the [[WouldHurtAChild young daughter Max]], [[DropTheHammer kills a nun who is suspicious of her]], threatens to [[CripplingCastration castrate the family's son Daniel]] if he tells anyone about what he saw, [[KickTheDog reads a page describing how the mother Kate's latest child was stillborn to her out loud (and presents Kate with the stillborn kid's dedication bouquet as a "gift")]], and tries to cause a rift in Kate's marriage with John. When Daniel attempts to retrieve evidence proving Esther killed the nun, Esther sets the place on fire to try and kill him, and [[SickbedSlaying later tries to smother him at the hospital]]. It's later revealed that Esther is a [[spoiler:dwarf posing as a child, is really named Leena Klammer]], and killed two previous families that adopted her after failing to seduce the father, and was planning to kill the rest of the family to have John to herself. When John refuses her advances, she kills him and attempts to kill Max when she sees this. When Kate and Esther fall into a frozen lake and Kate manages to pull herself out, Esther [[VillainsWantMercy begs Kate to save her]] yet has a knife behind her back [[UngratefulBastard clearly intending to murder Kate if she decided to rescue her]].

* DesignatedEvil: Esther's mercy-killing of the accidentally, mortally wounded bird, is presented as a cruel/heinous act.

* EsotericHappyEnding: Given her overall incompetence and the fact John is now dead, there's no way Kate will be allowed to keep her kids after the events of the movie.

'''General Tropes'''

* {{Moe}}:
** [[CuteMute Max]], to the point you would want to hug her in every scene she is in.
** Horribly subverted with Esther, who comes off as a sweet HeartwarmingOrphan in the first few scenes, but she's quickly revealed to be TheFakeCutie and a FauxAffablyEvil serial killer.

* {{Take that Scrappy}}: Katie does give up on trying to convince John that there is something wrong with Esther and say if he wants her to leave that's fine but only on one condition that Esther goes too which is pretty much satisfying.

----
'''Tropes that concern Esther''' ([[spoiler:'''Or better said, Leena Klammer''']]). '''Spoilers dead ahead!!'''
* AlternateCharacterInterpretation:
** Psychotic homewrecker, or abused, mentally broken girl who [[IJustWantToBeLoved just wants to be genuinely loved for once?]]
** Even extends to her attempt at [[spoiler: seduction.]] [[spoiler: She's in the age range for MyBiologicalClockIsTicking but CantHaveSexEver thanks to [[NotGrowingUpSucks looking like a 9-year-old]].]] Probably gets a ''little'' frustrating.
* CompleteMonster: [[TheFakeCutie Esther]] is adopted by the Coleman family after their newest child is stillborn. Esther pushes a bully off a slide causing her to break her ankle, tries to play RussianRoulette with the [[WouldHurtAChild young daughter Max]], [[DropTheHammer kills a nun who is suspicious of her]], threatens to [[CripplingCastration castrate the family's son Daniel]] if he tells anyone about what he saw, [[KickTheDog reads a page describing how the mother Kate's latest child was stillborn to her out loud (and presents Kate with the stillborn kid's dedication bouquet as a "gift")]], and tries to cause a rift in Kate's marriage with John. When Daniel attempts to retrieve evidence proving Esther killed the nun, Esther sets the place on fire to try and kill him, and [[SickbedSlaying later tries to smother him at the hospital]]. It's later revealed that Esther is a [[spoiler:dwarf posing as a child, is really named Leena Klammer]], and killed two previous families that adopted her after failing to seduce the father, and was planning to kill the rest of the family to have John to herself. When John refuses her advances, she kills him and attempts to kill Max when she sees this. When Kate and Esther fall into a frozen lake and Kate manages to pull herself out, Esther [[VillainsWantMercy begs Kate to save her]] yet has a knife behind her back [[UngratefulBastard clearly intending to murder Kate if she decided to rescue her]].
* DesignatedEvil: Esther's mercy-killing of the accidentally, mortally wounded bird, is presented as a cruel/heinous act.
* EvilIsCool: A violent psychopath who is also an extremely intelligent and cunning LittleMissBadass and DarkActionGirl.
* HilariousInHindsight: An episode of WesternAnimation/DrKatzProfessionalTherapist had Dr. Katz and his son [[spoiler: humorously discuss horror movies where the killers were midgets. Titles (to the best of my memory) included "I'm Short, But You're Dead" and "Don't Step On My Toes, Or I'll Kill You!"]]
* ItWasHisSled: Esther being a [[spoiler:33 year old dwarf]] will catch on even if people haven't seen the movie thanks to the internet.
* LoveToHate: She's smart, dangerous, and her actress gives a great performance.
* RootingForTheEmpire: It's easy to root for Esther despite the fact she's batshit insane because A) She's a great villain and B) Creator/IsabelleFuhrman's performance. Not to mention most of the protagonists (except for [[CuteMute Max]]) come off as whiny and annoying.

* HilariousInHindsight: [[Series/JonAndKatePlusEight A dysfunctional couple named John and Kate.]]

** Esther, who is portrayed by an 11-year old, [[spoiler: tries to seduce John in a provocative cocktail dress]].

** Max has it worse. She is a 5-year old mute child who witnesses her new adoptive sister brutally murder an innocent nun and her own father, is almost killed herself in at least 4 separate occasions, sees her brother nearly burn to death and be suffocated, is chased by a psychopath into the woods and is forced to handle a firearm despite her young age. It's safe to say that the trauma from her childhood will haunt her for the remainder of her life.

** Esther, who is portrayed by an 11-year old, [[spoiler: tries to seduce John in a cocktail dress]].

* UncannyValley: The poster for the film, which is a mirrored image of Esther. Pretty much a good example of why faces are meant to be asymmetrical.

* RootingForTheEmpire: It's easy to root for Esther despite the fact she's batshit insane because A) She's a great villain and B) Creator/IsabelleFuhrman's performance. Not to mention most of the protagonists (except for [[CuteMute Max]]) come off as whiny and annoying to some.

** Natalia Grace Barnett was adopted by a Florida couple in 2010, but shortly afterward her parents began to suspect she was actually an adult. They claim that she had developed body hair and a menstrual cycle (which even if it is true, any doctor can verify precocious puberty exists). They treated her like an adult, enrolling her in college and making her tell people she was in her 20's. In 2012 [[ParentalAbandonment moved out of their home, leaving her to fend for herself.]] The “proof” they had was a family doctor and friend who had never examined her, while experts of the particular form of dwarfism she had backed up that the girl was indeed only a child. They're currently facing charges of child abandonment and neglect. The couple are trying to defend their actions by claiming she threatened the husband and their other child. Given that the movie came out in July of 2009 and their suspicions began less than a year later, it's very possible that they got the idea from the film.

** Natalia Grace Barnett was adopted by a Florida couple in 2010, but shortly afterward her parents began to suspect she was actually an adult. They claim that she had developed body hair and a menstrual cycle. They treated her like an adult, enrolling her in college and making her tell people she was in her 20's. In 2012 [[ParentalAbandonment moved out of their home, leaving her to fend for herself.]] They're currently facing charges of child abandonment and neglect. The couple are trying to defend their actions by claiming she threatened the husband and their other child. Given that the movie came out in July of 2009 and their suspicions began less than a year later, it's possible that they got the idea from the film.

* WhatAnIdiot:
** Kate, who was already looking suspicious and like a lunatic, buys some wine and then tries hiding it somewhere obvious. People obviously end up thinking she is relapsing. Plus when John and the therapist confront Kate, she starts crying and whining that her children are the only reason she's sober and that she wants to kill herself when she thinks about what happened to Max. John points out how manipulative this sounds and it only makes her look desperate and crazy.
** John and Kate deciding to have wild, half-naked sex in the middle of the kitchen, with all three of their children upstairs, and then being shocked when one of them walks in on them. And all just a week after adopting a new child.
** John sees Esther has thrashed her room and finds out the hidden messages on her paintings. Then the lights shut down. Expecting him to grab Max and get the hell out of the house? Nope, of course he has to stand there flailing a flashlight like an idiot to give Esther enough time to [[spoiler:stab him to death]].

* UncannyValley: The poster for the film, which is a mirrored image of Esther. Pretty much a good example of why faces are meant to be asymmetrical.

* HilariousInHindsight: [[Series/JonAndKatePlusEight A dysfunctional couple named John and Kate.]]