Anti-adoption horror movie, Orphan, to be released by Warner Brothers

May 23, 9:37 PMInternational Adoption ExaminerCathy Doheny

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Warner Brothers studio in Hollywood (Wikimedia Commons)

Orphan, a horror movie with an anti-adoption theme, is set to be released on July 24 by Warner Brothers Pictures. The slasher film is about a family who adopts an older girl, Esther, from an orphanage. Though Esther is at first "angelic", it quickly becomes apparent to her new mother that she is "not what she appears to be". "There's something wrong with Esther," the movie trailer warns ominously.  Concerned with the safety of her family, Esther's mother attempts to convince her husband and others of the evil that surrounds Esther, but her warnings go unheeded until "it may be too late...for everyone."

 This movie is currently being promoted and seems to carry a negative message about adoption. The statement, "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own," is included in the short trailer. In particular, this movie may be damaging to the cause of older child adoption, as it suggests that these children may be troubled, further increasing the stigma that goes with adopting a child who has spent time in an orphanage.

There is currently a movement in the adoption community to protest this movie in the following ways:

1. boycott the movie
2. spread the word to others and ask them to also boycott the movie
3. post a warning about the movie on adoption forums
4. start a petition asking Warner Brothers to change some of the negative adoption lingo, such as "It must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own."
5. contact the distributors (Warner Brothers),  the producer (Dark Castle Entertainment), and the developer of the material (Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way, who is also co-producing the film) and express your concern about the negative impact of the film on the cause of adoption

It may also be wise to talk to school-age adoptees about this movie before it is released to prepare them for the comments they may receive from other children, who have viewed the movie or promotional material. Giving these children ways to cope with the misconceptions suggested by this movie could help to minimize the social damage that may result.

Warner Brothers management did not respond to my emails requesting a statement for this article.

For more info: Adoption in the Movies, Adoption Community Protest Movie "Orphan"