I don't watch horror movies a lot and when I do it's either when I'm drunk and I want to see some teenage morons getting slaughtered or when I'm in particular creative mood and I'm looking for inspiration - horrors are the only movies with that kind of atmosphere - dark, dense, sad, fascinating. This is the fine example for the latter.

I haven't seen horror movie that good since 'The Skeleton Key' which by the way is my favorite horror of all time. The tagline reads 'There's something wrong with Esther' and that pretty much sums up everything - little girl is taken from orphanage to the nice family. But that little girl is so disturbing, does things so unthinkable that I think she is the only psychopath who could stand against Patrick Bateman in a fight and actually stand a chance. The character is played by 11-year old Isabelle Fuhrman and I'm so hoping she's gonna get Academy Award for this. That was the best performance given by a child I've ever seen - I have no idea how she did that. Esther is also one of the most interesting movie-psychos all around and I'm sure girls dressed as her during this Halloween. In many reviews people write she is creepier than Damien in 'Omen'. I agree - the scene with Russian roulette especially froze my blood.

What's so great in this movie is that no satanic powers or supernatural stuff are incorporated - there is logical explanation for everything in the film, brought in as - of course - plot twist, which is exceptionally well-presented. I was amazed how moving and emotional the film was - every character has something going on, the mother lost the baby, the little daughter is deaf, the husband cheated - there is so much drama here and a sincere feeling of looking for closeness. I was very sympathetic towards Esther too - her case is so tragic, when the viewer actually tries to imagine what is she going through.

The movie features nice, atmospheric music and wonderful cinematography. The acting is very good - Vera Farmiga shows she is excellent yet another time. I'd probably give 9+ but there are some cliches here - the heroine looks in the mirror, than looks again and there's someone behind her, creepy paintings (with the exception of Esther's art - this is so creepy that I think every psycho who saw the film will copy this idea in his/her room) and of course the deadly hide-n-seek near the end. However I really recommend this movie - this is second best movie of 2009 and for me - instant classic