I read somewhere that the reason Esther makes so many mistakes and slip ups in the prequel is to show you why in the second one she's so calculated and precise, she learns from her mistakes.
I mean she's already shown how she adapts to her surroundings so it's no surprise she learned so quickly. You know I'd really want a 2 season mini series of just her time with the family before this one and her time in the orphanage. I'd feel like it could work.
For me even though Ester looks older I feel like it kinda makes sense in the story. I feel like she hasn’t perfected her make up and mannerisms for her to appear as a child. And between First Kill and Orphan she figured out the perfect make up.
This movie got me full on laughing in the middle of the night and I think we can all agree that Esther deserves a spot in the most iconic horror movie villains hall of fame
Esther has been in my hall of fame since 2009. I absolutely love the twisted concept and hope to see more. Hopefully not just Esther but others like her would be pure joy.
We need a sequel where she survived for some bullshit reason and lives with a new family. The Twist this time: there's a second evil child in the family that's even worse than esther.
Thats an idea I can get behind. Esther gets adopted again and dead bodies start showing up. As an audience we expected it was Esther, but turns out the biological kid is also just a psycho
If they do a sequel they’d be better off going with the alternate ending. She wouldn’t have survived a kick like that to the face which would’ve fractured her neck and spine and plundered into a below freezing lake and if she did she would’ve been incapacitated
The only reason she got away in the prequel was because the whole family was killed and burning away the evidence that she was living with them. The mother in the first movie lived so unless Esther finds a way to shut her up she could be locked away
As a grown woman who could pass as a teenager for most of my adult life, I appreciate the digs against Dmitri. I've definitely come in contact with creeps like that before.
One of my coworkers, who is 37, looks like a teenage girl (she's tiny in stature and complexion) and this one coworker was being a creep telling her that he liked that she looked like a teenager 🤢🤢🤢
My favourite part of the whole damn thing, is how they still set up a super unexpected plot twist. Because they gave us a plot twist in the first one, you wouldn't expect another big one in the prequel.. Because the audience already knows "the big secret." So, the fact that they sprinkled one in anyways IS what made it such a good movie. I know people love Orphan, but its honestly underrated. I hope we get to see more movies of stories from Leena aka Esther. (Side note: I was on Google and discovered something pretty wild. In the Hebrew bible, queen Esther was born with the name Hadassah, but her name was changed to Esther to hide her real identity. So, the attention to detail is amazing)
The twist really caught me off guard in both movies. I do think the first movie is better than the prequel but I love both of them more than I expected to be
"Hello cops, I am small child" I almost choked on my tea. Also, speaking of creepy horror children that have dollhouses that are replicas, Amma in Sharp Objects has a dollhouse of her mother's mansion and there are some *MAJOR* disturbing things that happen with that dollhouse, especially in the novel.
I liked the foreshadow (that they didn't mention) when he was in the kitchen cleaning out his eyes from the pepper spray saying "it's like i'm being stabbed a thousand times" also how the father joked about Esther burning the house down
I don’t think the black light title cards are a random, doesn’t-matter choice. I think it’s supposed to be a nod to appearing as one thing but there’s something else hidden in another layer, whether that’s a metaphor for Esther or in this movie the hidden truth that Gunner and Tricia are holding.
right because the paintings that she makes in the first and second movie are demure and innocent but the "darkness" is hiding something more sinister kinda thing.
Just like I think this movie took from theories surrounding JonBenét Ramsey, I think it also borrowed from the story of Nicholas Barclay, who was a 13 year old who went missing from San Antonio, Texas and was later found in a Spanish village 3 years later. Turns out it was actually a man named Frédéric Pierre Bourdin who assumed the identities of over 500 missing children. The big kicker is that when Bourdin adopted the identity of Barclay, the family began teaching him how Nicholas would act and showing him pictures of family so that he could accurately embody the role, leading him to believe the family knew more about what actually happened to Nicholas than what they were revealing.
The character I felt the most for was the Dad. The poor guy seemed like a legitimately nice guy and the shit he goes through is just heartbreaking. I was hoping the ending would be him finding out the truth and Esther at least giving him some form of closure.
I do feel terrible for him, but at the same time, idk how he would've gone on living after losing his daughter, son, and wife AND THEN realizing the hope and happiness he felt at getting her back was for nothing AND THEN finding out his wife and son covered up the murder of their actual daughter. Like I'd probably wanna die too at that point.
I feel like this family is an inverse of the family from the first film. The mom and other kid(s) are still against Esther and the dad still loves her, but the mom and kid(s) are not the protagonists this time around.
Also I love how Leena's interactions with the family from the prequel seem to influence her dynamic with the family from the first movie. In this movie she sees the mother figure as a threat and opponent, the brother as an annoying hindrance, and the father as someone she could love and fantasize over. This could explain why she tries to sabotage and gaslight Vera Farming's character while wanting to seduce the father, wants to take out their son and takes the daughter under her wing (manipulatively so) as a protegé or accomplice
And it's interesting how it influenced those dynamics, but they're much less "justified" with the future family. Julia Stiles legit wants to kill her, but Vera Farmiga wants to love her. The future brother is a brat, but not a killer like Gunner. And Esther adores and idealizes the future dad, but he's not nearly as kind or as sympathetic as the prequel one. It's like she pushes these learned images onto the new family when it doesn't apply.
I like how this movie actually works as an origin story. She's already a murderer and good at manipulation, but she learns how to be a GREAT manipulator with Julia Stiles.
This film after the twist is seriously fucked up and I enjoyed it. But it's nowhere close to the first one tho which I consider being a horror classic, it is such a well-made film where every character serves a purpose and the drama and suspense are very well-cooked. Nevertheless this one is a very good watch.
Im glad this comment exists, i just dont have the energy to explain what the first means to me and you did it so well, the 2 hour runtime and lifetime movie vibe mixed with a big budget psychological thriller is just chefs kiss
I imagine it's a lot like Alien vs Aliens. They COULD try to recreate the great horror atmosphere of it, or do something that aims to have a bit more fun with the premise, especially since there is a bit of Humor in Esther's actions even in the first one.
I already know that these comments are going to be focused on James’s mustache, but can we take a moment to appreciate how amazing Chelsea’s hair is in this episode!?
I have an explanation for the subtitle, since technically Esther only became an "orphan" after killing her "family" hence why it's her "first kill" as an "orphan"
The doctor in the institute mentions to the art therapist that Leena spent her early life “doing what she had to in order to survive” so I assumed she wasn’t always evil and learned her methods from experience.
In the first movie she sang The Glory of Love because Kate didn’t want her to close and lock the door while she bathed. She had said something to effect that the nuns had her sing to know she was okay.
I love how the OG Orphan film uses that song and don't actually play it until the film is over but this film keeps on playing it and it kind of loses that feeling of what made it useful in my opinion, personally! 💯
I just wanna say that this podcast is one of the reasons why I'm majoring in media students at college. I always love how much work Chelsea would do for the research episodes and I hope one day those come back. I am currently doing a research project on the Found Footage genre and it's simultaneously fun and exhausting.
I think the wealth of the family was supposed to come from the dead grandma, at least I interpreted the line that was like "she did so much for us" as she was some sort of important person who was able to set the father some sweet contracts.
I took "First Kill" to be the start of her life as Esther so this family is her first kill as her. If they do another one I'm sure the nun in the first one says she was adopted like 3 or 4 times so they have some other families to target.
If you told me I'd be rooting for Esther to run away and kill the mom and brother, I would never have believed you. The fact they did and I internally cheered when Esther stabbed Gunner is impressive 👏 congrats to the cast and crew for some how making me root for the sociopathic 30 year old 👏
I love when the twist is revealed you realize that she was showing all the pictures on the phone to train Esther who these people were! Also, what is mup mup?
When I saw Isabelle Fuhrman in The Hunger Games I realised she’s actually more who I imagined Katniss to look like, rather than a more obvious statuesque classic celebrity star look like Lawrence. And she’s an amazing actress, I think she’d definitely have had the chops to play the role - just not the star power or conventional starlet look as defined by Hollywood standards.
She was auditioned to play Katniss, like most of the female cast. She plays sadostic Clove perfectly. She looks too cruel to play Katniss's weakness and love.
Funny thing is that Isabelle actually did audition for the role of Katniss but was rejected on the basis that she was too young to play the part (14 at the time). She was called back to audition for the role of Clove of course, but it’s still interesting to think that had she been a bit older, she might have been Katniss herself.
I loved how little focus was given to the mom trying to expose Leena, it came off like the dad completely ignored what she said. So when Leena's dentures pop out, the dad is basically "hey, that's not my daughter's dentition! who are you!?" There was so much pathos that could have been milked from the dialogue between him and Leena, but what we got was him just being incredibly confused.
I only just watched this podcast today, after seeing the kill count- watching the actual movies first then the kill count and this. They are both great films. Watching First Kill, knowing who Esther is, makes it so much better. I think you have to watch it a few times- to see how Tricia and Gunnar try to pretend for the dad that Esther really has come back. Esther is such a great character. Can't wait for Orphan 3- what that brings. I just hope they keep Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther- she plays the character really well.
When i watched the movie, i was loving it, and when the Plot twist came out, it made me GASP. I was shocked on what the mother and Gunner did. And in the emd when the final show down happened i had a real difficult tim choosing who to cheer on. On one hand, Esther was a crazy killer and did deserve to get smacked around, but on the other i hated the mother and spoiled brat Gunner more and more and just wanted them both dead and wanted Esther to finish them. Both parties were horrible, i wanted them to both lose and win, i enjoyed the movie and loved the plot
Same here! I loved that twist so much. Had so much fun watching the movie, that I even laughed at a few scenes. I hated the mother and son far more than Esther, as well. Maybe it's because I'm biased since Orphan is a classic that I remember watching with my grandfather in my childhood. Ever since then, Esther has been one of my favorite slashers. If she counts as one? Either way, even if it is biased, I still cheered on for Esther. Didn't expect the movie to make me start doing that at all. 😂
Im so happy Orphan and Isabelle Fuhrman in particular are getting so much praise. I saw it around when it came out (when I was actually 9) and was so enamored with Fuhrman's performance that i've been a fan ever since and its such a great movie to show to friends. Im so glad this prequel is good as well. I would love a 3rd (without the haze)
Loved when the mum said to the officer that esther said that she jokes about killing herself and that she thinks she's being serious sometimes, then when they go in the house they plan to make it a suicide.
I think the fact that Esther looks older at least kind of works in the context of the movie. I can suspend my disbelief that the other characters don't notice she looks older, but the fact that we notice as viewers adds to the "unsettling" factor.
so they loosely based the first one on the Skrlová story, now doubled down with Frederic Bourdin and the Ramsey theory… jeez, third installment is going to be insane😄
Yeah that's what I was saying!! I think these details definitely enhance the story and world building around Esther because it's happened in our world before.
Loved Julia and Isabelle in this them choosing to do a villain vs villain storyline was great. The Dad really was so good to bring some heart to the story everyone around were horrible. I didn't think it would be better just happy it was entertaining as the 1st. I did once again not like the brother character but this time he was even worst of course I wish they explored him a bit more but I'm assuming he was pretty crazy just like Esther
Don’t ever stop reviewing movies!! I look forward to listening to you guys every week! I’m definitely more of a devoted podcast fan, and I probably look like a crazy person when I’m mowing the lawn and giggling my ass off listening to Chelsea and James’ banter in my ear. Been a fan since 2018 keep up the great work 🧡
The alternate ending of the original Orphan actually doesn’t involve the house burning down; after Vera Farmiga and her daughter escape to the police, Esther’s still apparently alive and goes back to put her ribbons on to greet the police. It’s an alternate ending because it wouldn’t make sense at all; her neck had already been broken and Vera Farmiga and the kids and the Saarne Institute knew the truth about who she was, so she wouldn’t have been able to get away with it.
This is also the theory with Nicolas Barclay. It is believed that when Frédéric Bourdin took over his life after he went missing that the mom and brother knew. They didn’t say anything because his brother killed him. Barclay was missing for 3 years when the family found out he was in Spain. I’m assuming a lot of the inspiration came from that case and the theory’s around it.
I wonder if that's not only the inspiration they took from Bourdin. Since I believe he's tried to con multiple families into thinking he's their missing relative.
As an Estonian, I rarely see my country in horror movies ( or in movies in general ), so it’s awesome that it takes place in Estonian so that other horror fans know what Estonia is. And also thanks James and Chelsea you’re videos are so entertaining and always make me laugh so thank you. Elagu Eesti! 🇪🇪
I laughed so fucking hard when I got to the scene in the “Airport” where Ester meets the rest of the family. I’ve walked through that convention centre hundreds of times and there is barely enough room in downtown Winnipeg to park your car, let alone a runway for a even a tiny little private jet. Also the fencing competition was filmed in the same building, probably on the same day. My high school graduation happened in that room. And last but not least, Anna’s “nice” apartment is actually a total pit. That whole area is super dangerous after dark and pretty gross at any given time of day. Im seriously impressed that they managed to cgi the used needles and condoms out of all the shots. Winnipeg is not a pretty city.
Yes the blacklight works for art.. and glow in the dark paint could be used the same way. You can also use different color lights for makeup... like body paint or sfx makeup. You could do a happy clown with reds and a sad clown over it with blues, so under a blue light you see the red clown and vice versa.
I wanted to watch the Dead Meat Podcast about Orphan 1 recently, and when James urged to watch the movie prior to it, i actually did so! And it was great to experience the ending unspoiled and go through all the details and background info after that. Thx for all the good work, you make me want to watch movies more :)
Don't remember if I've commented this here before, but YES, you need to see the first one. Not for plot reasons necessarily, this film probably stands on its own...but you will FULLY ruin your initial watch of the first one if you watch the prequel first, as this movie takes it as a given that you know the first movie's twist. Experience serial media in published order, always, with very few exceptions. Don't watch The Thing (2011) before The Thing (1982). Don't watch the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy. Read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe first, not Magician's Nephew. And watch Orphan before Orphan: First Kill.
And whenever esther takes a bath cause esther needs the bathroom door locked but the mother doesn't like it so esther said that she'll sing for the mother to know esther was alright
And whenever esther takes a bath cause esther needs the bathroom door locked but the mother doesn't like it, so esther said that she'll sing for the mother to know esther was alright
Just wanted to say that thanks for working so hard all the time for us, every time you do a movie review on the podcast I appreciate it in a different way, found myself looking back on the film in a better light
Loved this movie! Just so twisted and fun! How about doing a third installment that explores Esther's history? Maybe show her life before she gets taken away to the Saarne Institute? Call it Orphan: Origins.
I love these episodes. It really just makes me feel like I'm hanging out with friends. It's been rough lately for me and you guys and your love and your enthusiasm for horror movies are helping me so much more than you'll ever know. Thank you.
if i remember correctly, the family’s wealth is “old money”. Julia Stiles makes mention of protecting the family legacy and all they’ve built…the film also seems to imply that the husband is an artist who is reliant on his wife’s financial support….this makes her motive more clear, as she is attempting to salvage the family that is at her feet when all is quiet on the home front….thus, she has the most to lose…her power.
I love the line where the parents say let’s hope they don’t burn the house down, and she says yeah gunner, but the dad says he’s not the one I’m worried about 😅
The Orphan (2009) is so underrated. Isabell as you guys stated is incredible, and vera farmiga is always outstanding. Isabell isn’t very tall in real life, in “the novice “ Amy Forsyth (e.g. HellFest) towered over her... that definitely helped in First Kill along with her costars platform shoes, if she was 6 inches taller, wouldn’t have really worked. Speaking of, you guys have to see the novice if you haven’t. Really wonderful, one of my favorites last year.
this movie was so amazing. i thought it’d be a rehashing of the first one with a different family, but the twist truly gave this film the ability to stand on its own. it’s definitely not what the original was, but it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be which i appreciated. i was define left wanting to see more of Esther’s story. i also liked that Isabelle Furhman looked noticeably more like an adult in this one. for me, it makes sense since Esther is a grown woman posing as a child. idk, it just worked for the film in my opinion.
I feel like the next movie should take place before the prequel and explain the backstory of the actual Esther. I think it should be about how she went missing and her families way of dealing with it, I don't think they can do much after that though, with Leena being dead, it will be hard to pump out more movies. But another idea for the next movie could be about the adoptive families life after Esther, finding out more about her and Esther somehow come back.
Hey James and Chelsea! Me and my gf JUST watched this movie last night and we BOTH loved the F'K out of it!!! Sendbacks to the original movie, great pacing, and...... The AWSUM twist! Great movie! I recommend it to EVERYONE!!!
Fun fact, Isabelle Pfirman is in the Hunger Games, which I think makes her the second one on this podcast! I think one of the cast in Bodies Bodies Bodies is in Hunger Games as well!
i had so much fun with this movie, and the scene at the end with esther walking through the burning building with the song playing reminded me so much of the ending of last night in soho - which is one of my favorite movies, so i was delighted to be reminded of it !
I have been thinking about both of those films recently, so it is pretty convenient to see this comment, they were good and some very solid things as well to happen in them, lol! 💯
11:00 I laughed at all the scenes when it cut to the clearly child actress from behind, it didn’t take me out of it one bit, I thought it was hilarious, and I loved seeing it personally
I just watched it on Paramount, and you guys are echoing my sentiments. I went in expecting them to more or less redo the original Orphan, but BOY, was I in for a surprise. What a treat!
I love the Kill Count, but I love the reviews so much more! I turn these on and listen to them for hours. I've gone through the entire catalogue, so new ones are always welcome 😁
41:46 i think in the movie they address how she normally does this, where she would get adopted by a family and once she had stolen their valuable stuff she would run away. it was only that one family that she ended up killing i think
This was a great follow up (down) to the first movie! Can’t wait to see this movie on the Kill Count! Esther/Leena has become one of my favorite Horror movie Villains. I love this Gem of a Character! Thanks Dead Meat for introducing me to her!
I actually think a Childs Play/Candyman esque sequel would work really well, seeing that the surviving family are 1. A (previously) alcoholic mom, 2. the daughter who can't verbally communicate, and 3. the son who was comatose for a lot of that situation and might have brain damage. I can easily see noone in this situation being believed by the police
I love any content dead meat puts out its fun seeing y’all 2 talk about movies and point things out I didn’t even recognize kill counts are really good but ik they take a lot of time to make
Typing this before listening. I think this film really knew who the audience was, they know we love Esther and made it pretty easy to root for her also didn’t do the same plot and knew we’re up for some out there stuff if we watched the first one. I was very entertained, I think it holds up next to to the first one. I also think the de aging they did for Isabelle was pretty good, I don’t know it never took me out of the movie + in this movie the audience isn’t supposed to believe she’s a child so it’s easier to let it slide in scenes where she looks older.
The whole point is that the twist in this movie releases the audience of any guilt rooting for Esther, and you can enjoy her doing her thing without any guilt from that point on. It's great!
There were so many scenes in this where I was just chuckling at the absurd evil of it, like the rat in the smoothie! They bait with the poison and twist it with a rat!
I loved the first movie, but I went into this one with low expectations, thinking a prequel would be boring since we already know the twist. But the movie got me with the new twist, and I loved it. So glad I watched these movies, thanks for the recommendations!
The Orphan films remind me of stuff like "the Good Son",the Stepfather(1987),"Little Man",TipToes and the BatmanTAS episode "Baby-Doll". First Kill is 1 of those rare occasions where the prequel and the original film make each other better.
I read somewhere that the reason Esther makes so many mistakes and slip ups in the prequel is to show you why in the second one she's so calculated and precise, she learns from her mistakes.
I mean she's already shown how she adapts to her surroundings so it's no surprise she learned so quickly. You know I'd really want a 2 season mini series of just her time with the family before this one and her time in the orphanage. I'd feel like it could work.
@@aidawaswhere I’ll take anything with Esther, not going to lie. As long as it’s Isabelle though.
I guess that can make some type of sense in some ways.
For me even though Ester looks older I feel like it kinda makes sense in the story. I feel like she hasn’t perfected her make up and mannerisms for her to appear as a child. And between First Kill and Orphan she figured out the perfect make up.
That's a real neat explanation/headcanon!
That makes perfect sense!
The de-aging isn’t the issue. It’s the plot holes
She definitely seemed very green in this one, like she had to work on her manipulation, and con skills, which I like that they did that.
Yup and Julia was given her tips
This movie got me full on laughing in the middle of the night and I think we can all agree that Esther deserves a spot in the most iconic horror movie villains hall of fame
Laughed where?
Esther has been in my hall of fame since 2009. I absolutely love the twisted concept and hope to see more. Hopefully not just Esther but others like her would be pure joy.
Hope her signature weapon becomes the Hammer
And Isabelle Furhman need more works on the horror media
@@OhWowThatsDumb some of the dialogue was so bad we couldn’t help but laugh in theatre
We need a sequel where she survived for some bullshit reason and lives with a new family. The Twist this time: there's a second evil child in the family that's even worse than esther.
Lmfao that would be great. Two different adopted adults who do like a spy vs spy thing
Thats an idea I can get behind. Esther gets adopted again and dead bodies start showing up. As an audience we expected it was Esther, but turns out the biological kid is also just a psycho
If they do a sequel they’d be better off going with the alternate ending. She wouldn’t have survived a kick like that to the face which would’ve fractured her neck and spine and plundered into a below freezing lake and if she did she would’ve been incapacitated
The only reason she got away in the prequel was because the whole family was killed and burning away the evidence that she was living with them. The mother in the first movie lived so unless Esther finds a way to shut her up she could be locked away
We found an orphan writer
As a grown woman who could pass as a teenager for most of my adult life, I appreciate the digs against Dmitri. I've definitely come in contact with creeps like that before.
One of my coworkers, who is 37, looks like a teenage girl (she's tiny in stature and complexion) and this one coworker was being a creep telling her that he liked that she looked like a teenager 🤢🤢🤢
I’m sorry that’s happened to you :(
I'm 24 and could pass for a high school freshman
@@WYIN98 omg ew 🤢
"I've always looked young", Narcissistic much? Unless you got her specific disease you ain't relating to it
My favourite part of the whole damn thing, is how they still set up a super unexpected plot twist. Because they gave us a plot twist in the first one, you wouldn't expect another big one in the prequel.. Because the audience already knows "the big secret." So, the fact that they sprinkled one in anyways IS what made it such a good movie. I know people love Orphan, but its honestly underrated. I hope we get to see more movies of stories from Leena aka Esther.
(Side note: I was on Google and discovered something pretty wild. In the Hebrew bible, queen Esther was born with the name Hadassah, but her name was changed to Esther to hide her real identity. So, the attention to detail is amazing)
The twist really caught me off guard in both movies. I do think the first movie is better than the prequel but I love both of them more than I expected to be
"Hello cops, I am small child" I almost choked on my tea.
Also, speaking of creepy horror children that have dollhouses that are replicas, Amma in Sharp Objects has a dollhouse of her mother's mansion and there are some *MAJOR* disturbing things that happen with that dollhouse, especially in the novel.
I liked the foreshadow (that they didn't mention) when he was in the kitchen cleaning out his eyes from the pepper spray saying "it's like i'm being stabbed a thousand times" also how the father joked about Esther burning the house down
That’s a nice touch actually
I don’t think the black light title cards are a random, doesn’t-matter choice. I think it’s supposed to be a nod to appearing as one thing but there’s something else hidden in another layer, whether that’s a metaphor for Esther or in this movie the hidden truth that Gunner and Tricia are holding.
spot on
Werent they also in the first?
Excellent
right because the paintings that she makes in the first and second movie are demure and innocent but the "darkness" is hiding something more sinister kinda thing.
Wait that’s smart oh my god
Just like I think this movie took from theories surrounding JonBenét Ramsey, I think it also borrowed from the story of Nicholas Barclay, who was a 13 year old who went missing from San Antonio, Texas and was later found in a Spanish village 3 years later. Turns out it was actually a man named Frédéric Pierre Bourdin who assumed the identities of over 500 missing children. The big kicker is that when Bourdin adopted the identity of Barclay, the family began teaching him how Nicholas would act and showing him pictures of family so that he could accurately embody the role, leading him to believe the family knew more about what actually happened to Nicholas than what they were revealing.
The character I felt the most for was the Dad. The poor guy seemed like a legitimately nice guy and the shit he goes through is just heartbreaking. I was hoping the ending would be him finding out the truth and Esther at least giving him some form of closure.
I mean he’s white and rich and kinda ambivalent. But yes he is the least insane and psychopathic.
I thought the exact same thing. Felt so bad for the dad
I do feel terrible for him, but at the same time, idk how he would've gone on living after losing his daughter, son, and wife AND THEN realizing the hope and happiness he felt at getting her back was for nothing AND THEN finding out his wife and son covered up the murder of their actual daughter. Like I'd probably wanna die too at that point.
I feel like this family is an inverse of the family from the first film. The mom and other kid(s) are still against Esther and the dad still loves her, but the mom and kid(s) are not the protagonists this time around.
Also I love how Leena's interactions with the family from the prequel seem to influence her dynamic with the family from the first movie. In this movie she sees the mother figure as a threat and opponent, the brother as an annoying hindrance, and the father as someone she could love and fantasize over. This could explain why she tries to sabotage and gaslight Vera Farming's character while wanting to seduce the father, wants to take out their son and takes the daughter under her wing (manipulatively so) as a protegé or accomplice
And it's interesting how it influenced those dynamics, but they're much less "justified" with the future family. Julia Stiles legit wants to kill her, but Vera Farmiga wants to love her. The future brother is a brat, but not a killer like Gunner. And Esther adores and idealizes the future dad, but he's not nearly as kind or as sympathetic as the prequel one. It's like she pushes these learned images onto the new family when it doesn't apply.
“Hello mommy. thank you mommy. I know mommy. Mommy... Sigh' mommy……🙄” Cracks me up🤣🤣
I like how this movie actually works as an origin story. She's already a murderer and good at manipulation, but she learns how to be a GREAT manipulator with Julia Stiles.
This film after the twist is seriously fucked up and I enjoyed it. But it's nowhere close to the first one tho which I consider being a horror classic, it is such a well-made film where every character serves a purpose and the drama and suspense are very well-cooked. Nevertheless this one is a very good watch.
Exactly my opinion the first one was a Master piece
This one was what I deem a "worthy sequel". Not as good as the first one, but really friggin' great in its own right.
Im glad this comment exists, i just dont have the energy to explain what the first means to me and you did it so well, the 2 hour runtime and lifetime movie vibe mixed with a big budget psychological thriller is just chefs kiss
I imagine it's a lot like Alien vs Aliens. They COULD try to recreate the great horror atmosphere of it, or do something that aims to have a bit more fun with the premise, especially since there is a bit of Humor in Esther's actions even in the first one.
Most of the time the first is better than the second. Both easily hold a place in my heart. I wasn't expecting another Orphan movie but here we are.
I already know that these comments are going to be focused on James’s mustache, but can we take a moment to appreciate how amazing Chelsea’s hair is in this episode!?
Chelsea’s hair always looks good
No
It's so shiny. I think the shirt she's wearing really makes it pop too. 😍😍
@@iwatchyoutube6539 Her hair is beautiful and I think we should appreciate it.
Her hair always looks great :)
I have an explanation for the subtitle, since technically Esther only became an "orphan" after killing her "family" hence why it's her "first kill" as an "orphan"
Omg that’s true
6:18 “He did both, hon” that was so sweet lol I love them!
The doctor in the institute mentions to the art therapist that Leena spent her early life “doing what she had to in order to survive” so I assumed she wasn’t always evil and learned her methods from experience.
With that stache, James can cosplay as the cop from Sleepaway Camp.
Then he'll shave it off and come back with a fake stache
@@basementdwellercosplay Brilliant!
@@tuckershuff1441 or someone from breaking bad
Scrolling to see if anyone called James a cop but this is much better
In the first movie she sang The Glory of Love because Kate didn’t want her to close and lock the door while she bathed. She had said something to effect that the nuns had her sing to know she was okay.
I love how the OG Orphan film uses that song and don't actually play it until the film is over but this film keeps on playing it and it kind of loses that feeling of what made it useful in my opinion, personally! 💯
I just wanna say that this podcast is one of the reasons why I'm majoring in media students at college. I always love how much work Chelsea would do for the research episodes and I hope one day those come back. I am currently doing a research project on the Found Footage genre and it's simultaneously fun and exhausting.
Kick ass, bro! You got this!!
I love Isabelle Fuhrman in Orphan, I love her in The Hunger Games as Clove, and I love her in First Kill. She's a magnetic actress.
MUSTACHE JAMES. I REPEAT. MUSTACHE JAMES
ROB ZOMBIE JAMES
YYYYYEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS
he can actually pull it off too
Bro, I’m 20 years old & mexican , grinding hard to get out the hood, I can’t be 30 with nothing to show for so i smoke weed on my youtube channel 😂🤒🤒
I'm more impressed that he remembered the ring! 🤩
I think the wealth of the family was supposed to come from the dead grandma, at least I interpreted the line that was like "she did so much for us" as she was some sort of important person who was able to set the father some sweet contracts.
Inheritance for sure, on mom's side. Mayflower comment seemed to cement that.
I took "First Kill" to be the start of her life as Esther so this family is her first kill as her. If they do another one I'm sure the nun in the first one says she was adopted like 3 or 4 times so they have some other families to target.
If you told me I'd be rooting for Esther to run away and kill the mom and brother, I would never have believed you. The fact they did and I internally cheered when Esther stabbed Gunner is impressive 👏 congrats to the cast and crew for some how making me root for the sociopathic 30 year old 👏
Good writing lmao. The scene where Stiles goes off on Esther is so funny
the hazy look could be in reference to a flashback setting of the prequel- giving it a sort of daydream effect
Agreed! It gives everything a flashback quality.
I enjoy it
That’s what I thought too! Like it was a dream of some kind
My first thought leaving the theater opening night was “I can’t wait for Chelsea and James to review this.” So excited to listen!
I love when the twist is revealed you realize that she was showing all the pictures on the phone to train Esther who these people were! Also, what is mup mup?
Isn't that the dog they used to have?
I was sure the mustache was gonna be for the barber in Child's play 3
"Presto! You're baaaald!"
When I saw Isabelle Fuhrman in The Hunger Games I realised she’s actually more who I imagined Katniss to look like, rather than a more obvious statuesque classic celebrity star look like Lawrence. And she’s an amazing actress, I think she’d definitely have had the chops to play the role - just not the star power or conventional starlet look as defined by Hollywood standards.
She was auditioned to play Katniss, like most of the female cast. She plays sadostic Clove perfectly. She looks too cruel to play Katniss's weakness and love.
Funny thing is that Isabelle actually did audition for the role of Katniss but was rejected on the basis that she was too young to play the part (14 at the time). She was called back to audition for the role of Clove of course, but it’s still interesting to think that had she been a bit older, she might have been Katniss herself.
That's funny because that was definitely not the opinion most people had when Jennifer was first casted
I loved how little focus was given to the mom trying to expose Leena, it came off like the dad completely ignored what she said. So when Leena's dentures pop out, the dad is basically "hey, that's not my daughter's dentition! who are you!?" There was so much pathos that could have been milked from the dialogue between him and Leena, but what we got was him just being incredibly confused.
I only just watched this podcast today, after seeing the kill count- watching the actual movies first then the kill count and this. They are both great films. Watching First Kill, knowing who Esther is, makes it so much better. I think you have to watch it a few times- to see how Tricia and Gunnar try to pretend for the dad that Esther really has come back. Esther is such a great character. Can't wait for Orphan 3- what that brings. I just hope they keep Isabelle Fuhrman as Esther- she plays the character really well.
I didn’t know what to expect from this movie but it was really good! I actually just watched it last night in theaters it was really fun
When i watched the movie, i was loving it, and when the Plot twist came out, it made me GASP. I was shocked on what the mother and Gunner did. And in the emd when the final show down happened i had a real difficult tim choosing who to cheer on. On one hand, Esther was a crazy killer and did deserve to get smacked around, but on the other i hated the mother and spoiled brat Gunner more and more and just wanted them both dead and wanted Esther to finish them. Both parties were horrible, i wanted them to both lose and win, i enjoyed the movie and loved the plot
Same here! I loved that twist so much. Had so much fun watching the movie, that I even laughed at a few scenes.
I hated the mother and son far more than Esther, as well. Maybe it's because I'm biased since Orphan is a classic that I remember watching with my grandfather in my childhood. Ever since then, Esther has been one of my favorite slashers. If she counts as one? Either way, even if it is biased, I still cheered on for Esther. Didn't expect the movie to make me start doing that at all. 😂
Esther's motivation to run away was the fact that the detective wanted a group therapy session.
Im so happy Orphan and Isabelle Fuhrman in particular are getting so much praise. I saw it around when it came out (when I was actually 9) and was so enamored with Fuhrman's performance that i've been a fan ever since and its such a great movie to show to friends. Im so glad this prequel is good as well. I would love a 3rd (without the haze)
Loved when the mum said to the officer that esther said that she jokes about killing herself and that she thinks she's being serious sometimes, then when they go in the house they plan to make it a suicide.
I think the fact that Esther looks older at least kind of works in the context of the movie. I can suspend my disbelief that the other characters don't notice she looks older, but the fact that we notice as viewers adds to the "unsettling" factor.
I have to admit it was taking me out a bit of the film.
so they loosely based the first one on the Skrlová story, now doubled down with Frederic Bourdin and the Ramsey theory… jeez, third installment is going to be insane😄
Yeah that's what I was saying!! I think these details definitely enhance the story and world building around Esther because it's happened in our world before.
Loved Julia and Isabelle in this them choosing to do a villain vs villain storyline was great. The Dad really was so good to bring some heart to the story everyone around were horrible. I didn't think it would be better just happy it was entertaining as the 1st. I did once again not like the brother character but this time he was even worst of course I wish they explored him a bit more but I'm assuming he was pretty crazy just like Esther
Isabella Furhman deserves an oscar bruh she is such an amazing actor!!
I love her in the OG Orphan film so much! 💯
Don’t ever stop reviewing movies!! I look forward to listening to you guys every week! I’m definitely more of a devoted podcast fan, and I probably look like a crazy person when I’m mowing the lawn and giggling my ass off listening to Chelsea and James’ banter in my ear. Been a fan since 2018 keep up the great work 🧡
the excitement in James' voice going "Julia Styles, with a GUN" is killing me hahaha
The alternate ending of the original Orphan actually doesn’t involve the house burning down; after Vera Farmiga and her daughter escape to the police, Esther’s still apparently alive and goes back to put her ribbons on to greet the police. It’s an alternate ending because it wouldn’t make sense at all; her neck had already been broken and Vera Farmiga and the kids and the Saarne Institute knew the truth about who she was, so she wouldn’t have been able to get away with it.
Thank you for the “gunner, more like stabber!” Joke because I thought the exact same thing 😂
I been waiting on this! Orphan: First Kill was freaking insane.
yeah this movie really made the whole family into a nuthouse. Its kill count is gonna be pretty freaking insane too
@@Nicholas_Chen_ true
Indeed the twists and turns was amazing 🙌
I think Esther is the only character that I've rooted being the villain then rooted for her being a final girl in the same movie
This is also the theory with Nicolas Barclay. It is believed that when Frédéric Bourdin took over his life after he went missing that the mom and brother knew. They didn’t say anything because his brother killed him. Barclay was missing for 3 years when the family found out he was in Spain. I’m assuming a lot of the inspiration came from that case and the theory’s around it.
And when they were "reunited", the brother just told Frederic "good luck" and never interacted with him again
I wonder if that's not only the inspiration they took from Bourdin. Since I believe he's tried to con multiple families into thinking he's their missing relative.
As an Estonian, I rarely see my country in horror movies ( or in movies in general ), so it’s awesome that it takes place in Estonian so that other horror fans know what Estonia is. And also thanks James and Chelsea you’re videos are so entertaining and always make me laugh so thank you. Elagu Eesti! 🇪🇪
I laughed so fucking hard when I got to the scene in the “Airport” where Ester meets the rest of the family.
I’ve walked through that convention centre hundreds of times and there is barely enough room in downtown Winnipeg to park your car, let alone a runway for a even a tiny little private jet.
Also the fencing competition was filmed in the same building, probably on the same day. My high school graduation happened in that room.
And last but not least, Anna’s “nice” apartment is actually a total pit. That whole area is super dangerous after dark and pretty gross at any given time of day. Im seriously impressed that they managed to cgi the used needles and condoms out of all the shots. Winnipeg is not a pretty city.
Yes the blacklight works for art.. and glow in the dark paint could be used the same way. You can also use different color lights for makeup... like body paint or sfx makeup. You could do a happy clown with reds and a sad clown over it with blues, so under a blue light you see the red clown and vice versa.
I am going to just try and get back into painting and hopefully get this stuff for myself.
I wanted to watch the Dead Meat Podcast about Orphan 1 recently, and when James urged to watch the movie prior to it, i actually did so! And it was great to experience the ending unspoiled and go through all the details and background info after that. Thx for all the good work, you make me want to watch movies more :)
Don't remember if I've commented this here before, but YES, you need to see the first one. Not for plot reasons necessarily, this film probably stands on its own...but you will FULLY ruin your initial watch of the first one if you watch the prequel first, as this movie takes it as a given that you know the first movie's twist. Experience serial media in published order, always, with very few exceptions. Don't watch The Thing (2011) before The Thing (1982). Don't watch the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy. Read The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe first, not Magician's Nephew. And watch Orphan before Orphan: First Kill.
Esther is singing The Glory of Love when Kate and John meet her at the orphanage.
And whenever esther takes a bath cause esther needs the bathroom door locked but the mother doesn't like it so esther said that she'll sing for the mother to know esther was alright
And whenever esther takes a bath cause esther needs the bathroom door locked but the mother doesn't like it, so esther said that she'll sing for the mother to know esther was alright
Ah yes, the family of Esther, Julia Styles, Stabber, and Daddy
Just wanted to say that thanks for working so hard all the time for us, every time you do a movie review on the podcast I appreciate it in a different way, found myself looking back on the film in a better light
Loved this movie! Just so twisted and fun! How about doing a third installment that explores Esther's history? Maybe show her life before she gets taken away to the Saarne Institute? Call it Orphan: Origins.
James showing his wedding ring was the cutest thing ever
I gotta say this. I hope these two never break up, never gets a divorce. They are awesome.
I love the chemistry between them even if this review is hilarious.
I love these episodes. It really just makes me feel like I'm hanging out with friends. It's been rough lately for me and you guys and your love and your enthusiasm for horror movies are helping me so much more than you'll ever know. Thank you.
I really loved the "Evil" by Interpol needle drop, and after a certain point in the movie it all came together and made it like 10x better!
I literally just left the theatre and couldn't wait to get home to watch this podcast. The whole theatre was gasping and cheering at the twist.
I honestly need you guys to do an episode on Saint Maud, that ending still gets me
if i remember correctly, the family’s wealth is “old money”. Julia Stiles makes mention of protecting the family legacy and all they’ve built…the film also seems to imply that the husband is an artist who is reliant on his wife’s financial support….this makes her motive more clear, as she is attempting to salvage the family that is at her feet when all is quiet on the home front….thus, she has the most to lose…her power.
I love the line where the parents say let’s hope they don’t burn the house down, and she says yeah gunner, but the dad says he’s not the one I’m worried about 😅
But wasn't that an entirely different family she does that to in the OG Orphan film, lol.
The Orphan (2009) is so underrated. Isabell as you guys stated is incredible, and vera farmiga is always outstanding.
Isabell isn’t very tall in real life, in “the novice “ Amy Forsyth (e.g. HellFest) towered over her... that definitely helped in First Kill along with her costars platform shoes, if she was 6 inches taller, wouldn’t have really worked.
Speaking of, you guys have to see the novice if you haven’t. Really wonderful, one of my favorites last year.
I saw that film so many times and was able to enjoy it for what it was personally! 💯
this movie was so amazing. i thought it’d be a rehashing of the first one with a different family, but the twist truly gave this film the ability to stand on its own. it’s definitely not what the original was, but it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to be which i appreciated. i was define left wanting to see more of Esther’s story.
i also liked that Isabelle Furhman looked noticeably more like an adult in this one. for me, it makes sense since Esther is a grown woman posing as a child. idk, it just worked for the film in my opinion.
I feel like the next movie should take place before the prequel and explain the backstory of the actual Esther. I think it should be about how she went missing and her families way of dealing with it, I don't think they can do much after that though, with Leena being dead, it will be hard to pump out more movies. But another idea for the next movie could be about the adoptive families life after Esther, finding out more about her and Esther somehow come back.
genuine question estonia's average is like 40 farenheit. The heat waves even in the northern US are brutal. Rest in peace Esther in the summer
I'm so glad I was able to see in theaters, very happy for their success
Hey James and Chelsea!
Me and my gf JUST watched this movie last night and we BOTH loved the F'K out of it!!!
Sendbacks to the original movie, great pacing, and......
The AWSUM twist!
Great movie!
I recommend it to EVERYONE!!!
Fun fact, Isabelle Pfirman is in the Hunger Games, which I think makes her the second one on this podcast! I think one of the cast in Bodies Bodies Bodies is in Hunger Games as well!
i had so much fun with this movie, and the scene at the end with esther walking through the burning building with the song playing reminded me so much of the ending of last night in soho - which is one of my favorite movies, so i was delighted to be reminded of it !
I have been thinking about both of those films recently, so it is pretty convenient to see this comment, they were good and some very solid things as well to happen in them, lol! 💯
11:00 I laughed at all the scenes when it cut to the clearly child actress from behind, it didn’t take me out of it one bit, I thought it was hilarious, and I loved seeing it personally
I just watched it on Paramount, and you guys are echoing my sentiments. I went in expecting them to more or less redo the original Orphan, but BOY, was I in for a surprise. What a treat!
James: Gunnar! Shouldn't his name be Stabber?
(insert cricket chirping sound effect)
I love the Kill Count, but I love the reviews so much more! I turn these on and listen to them for hours. I've gone through the entire catalogue, so new ones are always welcome 😁
This was a great episode. That twist was absolutely insane
41:46 i think in the movie they address how she normally does this, where she would get adopted by a family and once she had stolen their valuable stuff she would run away. it was only that one family that she ended up killing i think
Heck I just watched Orphan First Kill yesterday and here’s a podcast episode on it!
This was a great follow up (down) to the first movie! Can’t wait to see this movie on the Kill Count! Esther/Leena has become one of my favorite Horror movie Villains. I love this Gem of a Character! Thanks Dead Meat for introducing me to her!
This movie spends half its duration pretending to be a rehash, and then it goes seriously insane. I wish we got more time post-twist.
I actually think a Childs Play/Candyman esque sequel would work really well, seeing that the surviving family are 1. A (previously) alcoholic mom, 2. the daughter who can't verbally communicate, and 3. the son who was comatose for a lot of that situation and might have brain damage. I can easily see noone in this situation being believed by the police
33:49 James has the ultimate defeated face. Good joke James we love you. 😂
I love any content dead meat puts out its fun seeing y’all 2 talk about movies and point things out I didn’t even recognize kill counts are really good but ik they take a lot of time to make
I love how insane the twist is.
Typing this before listening. I think this film really knew who the audience was, they know we love Esther and made it pretty easy to root for her also didn’t do the same plot and knew we’re up for some out there stuff if we watched the first one. I was very entertained, I think it holds up next to to the first one. I also think the de aging they did for Isabelle was pretty good, I don’t know it never took me out of the movie + in this movie the audience isn’t supposed to believe she’s a child so it’s easier to let it slide in scenes where she looks older.
Been ready for this one! Just watched the movie yesterday and ready to hear my fav horrorheads’ thoughts
The whole point is that the twist in this movie releases the audience of any guilt rooting for Esther, and you can enjoy her doing her thing without any guilt from that point on. It's great!
Chelsea is SO CUTE! I loved this review because of how much you guys obviously enjoyed the movie as much as I did also.
this channel makes me so unbelievably happy
I can't wait for the official kill count.
I hope they release it soon enough honestly.
Finally got to see the movie last night so I'm looking forward to this one!
There were so many scenes in this where I was just chuckling at the absurd evil of it, like the rat in the smoothie! They bait with the poison and twist it with a rat!
I loved the first movie, but I went into this one with low expectations, thinking a prequel would be boring since we already know the twist. But the movie got me with the new twist, and I loved it. So glad I watched these movies, thanks for the recommendations!
I still think the Ring and Prom Night movies would make excellent kill counts.
he only takes suggestions from emails btw
The Orphan films remind me of stuff like "the Good Son",the Stepfather(1987),"Little Man",TipToes and the BatmanTAS episode "Baby-Doll". First Kill is 1 of those rare occasions where the prequel and the original film make each other better.
I did think it was super obvious whenever they switched to a body double for Esther though
Agree.
It makes her smallness more believable for me
This is my favorite podcast dead meat has done so far, u guys make it so fun!!!!!