This article discusses 5 films you must watch like the Paramount+ film Orphan: First Kill. It does not contain spoilers.
With the terrifying prequel to Orphan soon to be streaming on Paramount+, we look at some similar properties that may cover some familiar ground. Here are 5 films like Orphan: First Kill that you must watch.
Like for Like: 5 films like Orphan: First Kill that you must watch
Case 39 (2009)
Renee Zellweger and Ian McShane are embroiled in a disturbing thriller, with Zellweger as social worker Emily, investigating the home life of young Lilith Sullivan, whose family life is under scrutiny. The horror escalates, with Lilith phoning Emily, convinced her parents are coming to murder her. Emily is saved from a horrendous fate and takes the step of taking care of Lilith herself however, the true secret of Lilith is still to be uncovered and leads to a terrifying climax.
The Good Son (1993)
From 1993, Macaulay Calkin stars as 12-year-old Mark that has been traumatized by the death of his mother and relocated to stay with his Aunt and Uncle in Maine. He is re-introduced to cousins Connie and Henry, however, Henry soon starts to act like a psychopath threatening Mark and displaying horrific behavior. The two boys are eventually trapped in a terrifying battle. More thriller than supernatural, but with plenty of creepy kid scares, The Good Son still has the power to chill.
Full Circle aka The Haunting of Julia (1977)
Mia Farrow has had her fair share of creepy kid movies, but this little-known atmospheric slow-burning ghost story is often overlooked by fans of horror. Based on the novel Julia by Peter Straub, we see the gut-wrenching death of daughter Kate, choking on a piece of apple, as her parents try desperately to save her, pre Heimlich maneuver. The parents Mia and Keir Dullea, split, and Julia ends up living alone in a creepy old mansion, convinced her ex is breaking in, and slowly realizing that something more supernatural is occurring. Some criticize the slow ambient unraveling of the story, but the final scene of the movie is often cited as one of the most haunting ever seen.
https://youtu.be/4D5mTQhErvY
The Omen (1976)
It’s hard not to mention the classic 1976 movie that spawned hundreds of knock-offs in a similar vein, but The Omen really has to be mentioned, even though young Damien is nothing more than a presence than an antagonist here. Young Damien is adopted by proxy here and finds himself in a perfect position to start his career growth into the world of politics, and ultimate world domination. The imaginative kills, all done in the name of Damien himself, continue through the sequels, and though the story perhaps now seems almost cliched, there is no denying that The Omen is a benchmark in horror and frightfully scary children with an unknown agenda.
The Bad Seed (1956)
Another forgotten classic, The Bad Seed sees 8-year-old Rhoda, accused of murdering a classmate, and a back story that implies she may have acquired a murderous side from her mother. Based on a 1954 novel by William March, the book was bizarrely adapted as a stage play, then finally a movie in 1956. The film’s ending was considered so disturbing, that it was changed before being allowed to be distributed.
Check out any of these classics if you are a fan of Orphan: First Kill and let us know if you have any others to add to the list. Comment below.
You can watch Orphan: First Kill with a subscription to Paramount+.
FULL CIRCLE: aka THE HAUNTING OF JULIA 1977. As one of the Cast members in this film, I admit I am bias, but I LOVE the film, the Music score by Colin Towns is SUPERB, the Cast give great performances, and yes it i slow paced, but works well as a creepy British made horror, (though I still think deleted scenes we filmed should have been kept in) for more shock value,at the time of release,I Adored working with Mia Farrow, (the Playground scene), and the crew, my first Feature Film I got to work on as a child Actor at Stage School, though I had done TV work before, including a featured part in a BBC Drama Series, but even though my speaking part was cut out in the final cut of this Film, and the remaining scenes are a blink and you miss me affair, (apart from being in the photo Mia takes and places on the bench,) it is still a film I am so proud of being involved with, and will love and adore always, I went on to do lots more work, and be featured in Grange Hill, BBC TV and other productions, but FULL CIRCLE has a very special place in my heart, if you watch it, I hope you enjoy it, for what it is, a ghost story and not your normal gory Horror, and appreciate the style Director Richard Loncraine produced with this wonderful film.