Case 39

Starring: Renee Zellweger, Ian McShane, Jodelle Ferland, Bradley Cooper, Callum Keith Rennie, Adrian Lester, Kerry O'Malley
Directed by: Christian Alvart
Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A social worker (Renee Zellweger) fights to save a young girl (Jodelle Ferland) from her abusive parents. However, the situation is far more complex- and sinister- than she can possibly imagine.

Review:

Tim: Case 39 is a pretty forgettable little horror movie that had a few interesting moments, but eventually succumbs to the same tired horror cliches that have sunk so many films. The movie does seem to be going somewhere, but by the conclusion, it feels far too similar to countless other films that missed the mark.

I like the basic premise of the movie- a social worker tries to save an abused girl. What starts out seeming like a normal case soon turns supernatural- and terrifying. Movies with young, creepy children are always fun, and it's interesting to see how the story unfolds. Unfortunately, the movie falls too much in step with dozens of other films with similar storylines. Ultimately, I was disappointed in the movie.

I like the casting of Renee Zellweger. I feel she's been absent from screens lately, so it was nice seeing her here. She is a talented actress, and certainly brings some class to this horror film. It was also fun seeing Ian McShane in a nice supporting role, and I liked Bradley Cooper in a small role, too. I actually felt like Cooper was under-utilized in the film. Jodelle Ferland was fairly good as Lilith. She certainly had some creepy moments, but I wasn't blown away by her performance. The creepy kid thing has been done significantly better in other films, and her inability to reach those heights definitely hurt the movie.

Case 39 suffers from a similar flaw to many horror movies. While the movie rolls along, it builds up a head of steam due to the mysterious nature of the story. The mystery intrigues us, and we want to see how things turn out. However, while we're getting more intrigued, eventually it comes time for the reveal- the curtain has to be pulled back and the audience let in on what's happening. In many films (including this one), the curtain pulls back to reveal nothing spectacular- something rather ordinary and a bit yawn-inducing. I felt like this film did not deliver on the reveal aspect. I felt disappointed in the "truth" and the events that followed.

While this film certainly gives a few frightening moments, most of the film just feels cheap. The scene with the wasps or hornets featured some laughably bad special effects. They just looked ridiculous, which ruined what could have been a very cringe-inducing scene. The movie also features a few plot holes and questionable moments, all which undermine the overall quality of the film.

While I didn't hate Case 39 (and considering how long it took to finally reach theaters, I worried I might), I didn't like it very much, either. It just doesn't do enough to truly hold our attention. It's ultimately far too forgettable a story. This is a horror movie that fails, like so many before it. I appreciate the attempt to deliver a more adult horror film, but this should have been much better.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 5.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Omen, The Ring, The Grudge, Devil