White Orchid, The2018

Director
Steve Anderson

Actors

Rachael Taylor (Jessica)
Olivia Thirlby (Claire)
Jennifer Beals (Vivian)
Janina Gavankar (Tina)
Raymond J. Barry (Caretaker)
John Carroll Lynch (Sheriff Mann)

Shy and reserved, Claire Decker, 30ish, is a part-time investigator for Social Services.

Typically, she solves cases where senior citizens have died alone, leaving no indication of who must handle their estate. This time however, Claire is reluctantly drawn into a puzzling murder case. The local police have been unable to solve the horrific crime, or even decipher the victim’s true identity. A beautiful and enigmatic young blond, known only as The White Orchid, has been brutally murdered. As Claire is drawn deeper and more intimately into the dead woman’s life, she finds herself taking dangerous chances and pushing personal and professional boundaries. As she gets closer to the truth, Claire must effectively become the charismatic White Orchid in order to solve the mysterious crime.

“Everyone dreams of resurrecting the film noir classics that flourished in the 1940s. The White Orchid, aims to stir fond memories of The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep, and it is even presented under the auspices of the Humphrey Bogart Estate, with Bogart’s son, Stephen Bogart, as one of the executive producers. The film cleverly updates the formula by introducing a female detective. All in all, it has rewards for fans of the genre.” – The Hollywood Reporter

“Anderson really does a terrific job with both shot selection and the overall aesthetic of the whole thing. Olivia Thirlby is absolutely great here… If this is any indication Thirlby is going to be a leading lady hot and in demand… This film is an example of a modern noir. Its sexy vibe mixed with the mystery of a murder takes us back to the days of Bogart in a trench coat and fedora.” – Film Snob Reviews

“The White Orchid wraps up in a unique way with complete resolution, yet leaves the viewer backtracking throughout the entire film connecting the dots and breadcrumbs that were left.” – Edhat Santa Barbara