Case 39 (2009) Movie Review, Trailer, Film Still and Poster

USA, CANADA 2007
Director: Christian Alvart
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Jodelle Ferland, Bradley Cooper, Ian McShane, Callum Keith Rennie, Kerry O'Malley, Adrian Lester
Rating: R
Release Date: 13 August 2009 (New Zealand)
Running Time: 1 hour 48 minutes

The Movie Review

Case 39 film still 1


CASE 39
Storyline:
Cast:
Ending:
Overall:

Any household and any family have their own problems, especially concerning their children. A fact that has been brought up intensely with reality shows such as The Nanny or Super Nanny. But while those reality shows are fun in their own way, the problem in Case 39 is not something uplifting. It's something so f*cked up daunting as heck! The problem is so serious, so dead serious that it needs intensive attention from the Child Services. And so enter Emily Jenkins (Renée Zellweger), a dedicated worker from the Child Services who barely has time for her own for working on as many as 38 cases. But eventually she decides to take another case, the 39th, the one that she will regret for the rest of her life. It's the house of the Sullivan's who at first seem to abuse their only daughter, Lily (Jodelle Ferland). But as Emily learns her case and gets close to her, things gradually to shift into creepy and she may just take side to Lily's parents. What is this case really about? Who is Lily actually?

Remarkable. For a horror film, everything is near perfect. Splendidly remarkable acting performance from Jodelle Ferland (of The Messengers (2007)), who is really a shining star. Put her more on any horror movies, it's a guarantee of quality enhancement. And she teams up with Renée Zellweger which makes this movie almost flawless from the acting department. And the pacing is unrelenting, there are no useless fillers, talking about perfect editing! There isn't any moment that could bore me, everything counts, and I am very very critical about pacing. The horror scenes are perfectly shot as well, with the combination of the camerawork, the boo scares and of course the smart story it holds. Don't think that Case 39 is standing upon a pile of boo scares, no, not at all, the evil in this movie is so evil, that you won't fear about the horror but fear and shocked of such a smooth strategist and cleverly evil she is.

I really don't know what 'happen' to this movie, since the studio was rather empty, it's understandable since at that time moviegoers were cramming the studio of Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). But I really think that Case 39 is way underrated. It's not as clever as The Sixth Sense (1999) or The Others (2001), and the original The Eye (2002) still rules. But to feel the fear and tension covered with curiosity seeping gradually into your feeling, then Case 39 is a great choice. If you're a horror fan, don't hesitate to watch the movie, be warned though to at least see it with someone. And that someone should not be a pre-teen girl.