After having made spectators tremble when it was released in theaters in 2009, Esther is back for a film about her origins… Isabelle Fuhrman, now 25, takes on the role of the little girl.
After having traumatized 640,000 spectators when it was released in French cinemas in 2009, the terrifying Esther is back in the cinema in a film on the origins of the character, still played by Isabelle Fuhrman.
Directed by William Brent Bell (already at the controls of the 2 parts of the horror film The Boy), Esther 2: The Origins therefore takes place before the film by Jaume Collet-Serra.
After orchestrating a brilliant escape from a mental institution, Esther travels to America posing as the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But, faced with a mother ready to do anything to protect her family, her plan will take an unexpected turn.
WARNING THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS ON “ESTHER”
In the original feature film, a 9-year-old orphan was adopted by an American couple. Very quickly, Kate, the mother (played by Vera Farmiga) discovered the hidden face of the little girl, who actually turned out to be a 33-year-old woman suffering from a rare hormonal disorder that stunted her growth.
The Origins therefore tells the story of Esther before her meeting with Kate and John Coleman, yet it is Isabelle Fuhrman who takes over the role that made her famous. Which means the actress will have to look even younger than in the 2009 feature film.
When the project was announced, the latter specified that she would take over the role without resorting to computer graphics to age her. The production used only make-up and the director filmed the actress in forced perspective, a visual process that aims to give an impression of depth. The actress was also dubbed by a child for the wide shot scenes.
“I know how we did. I know all the stuff and I’m completely overwhelmed, because somehow I’m nine again and it doesn’t make any sense.s”, she then declared to the HollywoodReporter.
“I love the challenge of being able to play a child because it’s never been done in film without special effects. (…) Resuming a role you played as a child as an adult seems impossible. Yet we did it and I think that’s what makes the movie work, because it’s hard to understand how I manage to look like a 9 year old. It’s really scaryt”.
And the bet seems successful since in the trailer unveiled today, Isabelle Fuhrman does not seem to have aged.
Julia Stiles, Rossif Sutherland, Matthew Finlan and Hiro Kanagawa also star in this prequel, which hits theaters on August 17.