Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- campy
- operatic
- menacing
- horror movie night
- sleepover
What critics said
Critics broadly found the prequel entertaining for its tight pacing, wild twists, and intentional camp, while some faulted its lack of originality compared with the original.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film turns Esther's murderous family infiltration into exaggerated, knowingly soapy spectacle.
Leena escapes confinement and assumes the identity of the Albrights' missing daughter.
The Albright household conceals its own damaging secrets while confronting Esther's deception.
As a prequel, the film expands Esther's origin while using reversals to reshape the franchise mythology.
Films like Orphan: First Kill, and why
Orphan
Shares campy psychological horror, murderous identity deception, and dangerous family secrets.
The Bad Seed
Shares operatic family horror, manipulative childlike villainy, and escalating domestic violence.
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Shares gothic domestic suspense, hidden identities, and a sinister outsider infiltrating a wealthy household.
Ready or Not
Shares self-aware slasher energy, dark humor, and an unpredictable killer manipulating genre expectations.
Movie Details
- Director
- William Brent Bell
- Release Date
- 2022-07-27
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (2365)
Cast
- Isabelle Fuhrman
- Julia Stiles
- Rossif Sutherland
- Hiro Kanagawa
- Matthew Finlan
- Samantha Walkes
- David Lawrence Brown
- Lauren Cochrane
- Gwendolyn Collins
- Kristen Sawatzky
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Orphan: First Kill about?
- An escaped killer impersonates a wealthy family's missing daughter, only to meet a mother whose own ruthless secrets make the deception a perilous contest.
- What is Orphan: First Kill like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Orphan: First Kill as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Orphan: First Kill violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Orphan: First Kill as graphic.
- What did critics think of Orphan: First Kill?
- Critics broadly found the prequel entertaining for its tight pacing, wild twists, and intentional camp, while some faulted its lack of originality compared with the original.
- Which films are like Orphan: First Kill?
- Films with a similar feel include Orphan, The Bad Seed, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and Ready or Not.
- How long is Orphan: First Kill?
- Orphan: First Kill runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Orphan: First Kill?
- In United States, Orphan: First Kill streams on Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.
