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Orphan: First Kill

Orphan: First Kill is a 2022 American psychological horror film directed by William Brent Bell.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Orphan: First Kill is a 2022 American psychological horror film directed by William Brent Bell. It serves as a prequel to the 2009 film Orphan and stars Isabelle Fuhrman reprising her role as Leena Klammer, also known as Esther. The story follows Leena after she escapes from an Estonian psychiatric facility and impersonates the missing daughter of a wealthy family.

Premise

The film follows Leena Klammer after she escapes from a psychiatric facility in Estonia. She travels to the United States by pretending to be the missing daughter of a wealthy family.

Cast and characters

Isabelle Fuhrman returns as Leena Klammer. The supporting cast includes Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Matthew Finlan, and Hiro Kanagawa.

Release

Orphan: First Kill premiered in some territories before opening in the United States on August 19, 2022. In the U.S., it was released in theatres, on digital platforms, and via Paramount+.

Relationship to the series

The film is the second entry in the Orphan film series and expands on the backstory of the character first introduced in Orphan (2009).

Key facts

  • The film is a prequel to Orphan (2009).
  • It was directed by William Brent Bell and written by David Coggeshall.
  • Isabelle Fuhrman reprises the role of Leena Klammer, also known as Esther.
  • The story is set in 2007, before the events of the first film.
  • The film was released in select theatres, digitally, and on Paramount+ in the United States.
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Canadian context

The film was released internationally and is available through major home-entertainment and streaming channels used by Canadian viewers, though the provided sources do not identify a Canada-specific release date or distributor.

Frequently asked questions

What is Orphan: First Kill?
It is a 2022 American psychological horror film and prequel to Orphan (2009).
Who directed Orphan: First Kill?
William Brent Bell directed the film.
Who plays Leena Klammer?
Isabelle Fuhrman reprises the role of Leena Klammer, also known as Esther.
When was the film released?
It was released in the United States on August 19, 2022.
What is the plot about?
It follows Leena after she escapes from an Estonian psychiatric facility and impersonates a missing wealthy family's daughter.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan:_First_Kill
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, writer, cast, prequel status, release date, and premise.
  2. Paramount Pictures — https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/orphan-first-kill
    Supports: Official synopsis, release date, genre, and distribution information.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11851548/plotsummary/
    Supports: Plot summary and character names.
  4. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/orphan-first-kill-movie-review-2022
    Supports: Release availability and general plot context.
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/81603581
    Supports: Film identification, genre, rating, and cast listing.