Orphan: First Kill

Leena, also known as Esther, begins her sinister journey in Estonia, where her escape from the Saarne Institute sets off her dangerous scheme of impersonation. She manages to escape after convincing a guard to let her go and then kills Anna, the therapist who encountered her early on, to eliminate any witnesses. Using her knowledge and cunning, she adopts Esther’s identity by finding her picture, copying her look, and even learning to paint like her, ultimately convincing the Albrights that she is their missing daughter. Tricia and Gunnar, however, harbor dark secrets—they know the truth that Esther died at Gunnar’s hands years ago, a fact they hide from the world.

As Esther, she acclimates to her new family but quickly senses the thinness of their lie. Detective Donnan, suspicious and relentless, begins to unravel the truth. Esther, feeling threatened, kills him when he gets too close, revealing her ruthless nature. Meanwhile, Tricia and Gunnar realize Esther’s true identity and plot to suppress her. A tense game of manipulation and violence ensues, with Esther fighting to maintain her cover while also turning the tables on her hosts.

The climax erupts into chaos when Gunnar is killed by Esther using a crossbow and a fencing sword, and Tricia is burned alive in the house fire. As the flames engulf the house, both women struggle on the roof, and their fight ends with them hanging dangerously off the edge. During this deadly confrontation, Allen, the father, arrives at the scene. He tries to assist, but in a heartbreaking turn, he chooses to save Esther—whom he believes to be his daughter—over Tricia. This decision results in Tricia falling to her death. Finally, Esther, in her true, unnerving form, pushes Allen off the roof after revealing her real identity as Leena. When she does so, her plan to fully assume the role of Esther is complete, leaving her as a remorseless, dangerous impostor. The film concludes with her adopting her alias again, while her future remains uncertain, leaving the audience with a chilling reminder of her capacity for deception and violence.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 09:00