Orchid (2025) Movie Review: An impressive but meandering directorial debut about the repercussions of emotional instability 

“Orchid,” directed by Jacque Rabie, has an interesting visual grammar. Set almost entirely inside the suburban house belonging to Henrietta (Varda Appleton), the film leans heavily on traditional Gothic elements, yet somehow fits right into the heart of modern-day elevated horror, wherein loneliness, obsession, and isolation become the driving forces of this narrative. The result is an impressive directorial debut that builds tension from the outset, although it meanders and limps towards a conclusion. 

Central to the story is Gus, played by co-writer Jacob Vaus. He is weird, uncomfortable in his own skin, and awkward in every single interaction he has. To put it bluntly, he is a middle-aged man with mommy issues – although his character’s motifs are only fleshed out by his description of his older brother, whom he lost during the war. Gus is a cohabitant at Henrietta’s lush, truly American house, where he sometimes helps out with basic chores like cleaning, etc. 

However, he is also obsessed with the woman of the house. Henrietta, who is also quite lonely, plays into Gus’s lust towards her as the duo develops a strange, kinky relationship where Henrietta’s control over the young Gus is seethingly visible. This strange turn is further set off when Henrita’s ex-lover, Teddy (Ron Grigsby), arrives at her doorstep. Teddy is charismatic, well-travelled, and knows his way around women. His presence initially distracts Gus, but once he starts acting like a father-figure to him, he also opens up – only to shut himself up again when Henritta and Teddy start to rekindle their pent-up sexual chemistry. 

Now, “Orchid” works as a film because director Jacque Rabie has a clear eye for scene blocking. Aided by Tegan Slattery’s intimate, darkly rendered production design and DOP Khoi Nguyen’s brilliant camerawork, the filmmaker is able to establish a surreal, sexually charged reality that feels like a walk from a dream to reality and vice versa. The greatest compliment I can give here is that the fade-ins, fade-outs, and odd but carefully administered transition shots will remind you of Park Chan-wook’s body of work. 

That said, the film is not without its flaws. The low-budget constraints aside, the languorous pacing and meandering second and third acts deflate some of the tension that Rabie’s technical craftsmanship are able to conjure up. The broader metaphors of people latching onto one another or taking up space that is not meant for them often fall flat. It also doesn’t help that these characters are paper-thin, with their arc completely dependent on the way the filmmaker handles the atmosphere. I know that Jacob Vaus’s turn is supposed to be off-putting, but I wouldn’t be lying if I said that he is unable to build a convincing character that deserves your unfailing attention at all times.

Overall, “Orchid” is impressive due to the sheer passion you can feel with every passing second – there is some really well-done CGI (for the budget), and the animated sequences are a surprise. I just wish there was more attention paid to building a mystery that culminated in something more terrifying and memorable. 

Read More: 20 Great Psychosexual Movies That Are Worth Your Time

Orchid (2025) Movie Links: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Letterboxd
Orchid (2025) Movie Cast: Jacob Vaus, Varda Appleton, Ron Grigsby