Case 39
Rating: R

NOTE: Slight spoilers!

Brought to you by OBS staff member Annabell Cadiz

Case 39 is centered around social worker Emily Jenkins (Renee Zellweger). She gets called to home to investigate possible abuse of a young girl, Lilith Sullivan (Jodelle Ferland). The school believes she is being abused due to her drop in grades and her deep lack of social interaction (she won’t talk). Emily doesn’t see any signs of physical abuse on the girl but is disturbed by the parents. The husband refuses to speak directly to Emily and whispers all his replies into the ear of his wife so she can address Emily and the wife looks as if she hasn’t slept for days. She looks worn down and sickly. Emily leaves the home and returns to work, demanding that her boss do something about removing the girl but without proof of abuse that cannot happen.

One night, Emily gets a call at her home from the little girl Lilith. Lilith claims that her parents are going to kill her, they want to send her to hell. Emily rushes to the home along with one of her friends who is a cop and they break into the house to find Lilith’s parents locking her into the oven to set her on fire. Emily is able to save Lilith and ends up becoming Lilith’s adoptive parent. But soon strange things start to happen. Lilith is no longer acting like the innocent sweet girl she portrayed herself to be. She is selfish, manipulative, and fake. Emily soon finds out the cute little girl she fought so hard to help save, is far from innocent. Something evil is about to come out and play, with Emily as the target.

I will admit I went to go see Case 39 against my better judgment, fearing it would be another bland horror movie. I was proven VERY wrong! Now, do I not only want to see Case 39 again, I want to buy it when it comes out on DVD!

The movie did drag out too much in the middle. A good chunk of it could have been taken out the movie still would have been good. The beginning of the movie starts off well. You are led to believe the young girl, Lilith, is living in a house with demented parents and needs to be rescued. You sympathize with her and feel like saving her along with Renee Zellweger’s character. The movie does a wonderful job of making you believe one thing then completely twisting around the plot to reveal the real truth.  Renee Zellweger is all right in the movie. I’m not quite sure she is suitable for horror/suspenseful films but she did pretty well. Bradley Cooper has a small role in this movie as Lilith’s therapist and does a very convincing job in his role and of being uneasy of the little girl.

Jodelle Ferland as Lilith is PHENOMENAL! She did a marvelous job of jumping from the sweet and shy girl to the evil possessed demon. At the beginning you want to hug her and keep her safe. Then as she starts to reveal her true nature you want to slap the hell outta her then take her to a church to get an exorcism. Jodelle Ferland for such a young actress (16 years old) she stole the spotlight in Case 39. She will freak the living hell out of you when you watch this movie!

Case 39 is more suspense than horror. The movie will start off making you comfortable and relaxed then you’ll be thrown forward in a whirlwind of secrets, blood, death, and a battle as ancient as time.

If you enjoy movies that keep you on the edge of your seat, then Case 39 is a movie you should definitely go watch!

Running Time: 109 minutes
Director: Christian Alvart

Rating: 8/10 stars