The 2009 horror film Case 39, starring Renée Zellweger, is now available for streaming on Netflix in the UK. Directed by German filmmaker Christian Alvart, the movie features Zellweger as social worker Emily Jenkins, who takes in a troubled girl named Lilith (Jodelle Ferland) who has endured an abusive upbringing. Emily soon discovers that supernatural forces may be following the child, leading to a series of terrifying events.
All-Star Cast and Memorable Twist
In addition to Zellweger, the film boasts an all-star cast including Bradley Cooper, Ian McShane, and Adrian Lester. Case 39 is perhaps best remembered for its mid-film twist, which divided audiences at the time but set the film on a shocking path of death and destruction.
Upon its release, The Guardian gave the film four stars, describing it as 'gleefully gruesome' and highlighting its 'sheer, sustained nastiness.' E! Online praised Ferland's 'top-notch' performance, calling her 'particularly creepy' as young Lilith. The FilmFile called it 'a well-crafted, aesthetically artful suspenser,' while ViewLondon said it was 'enjoyably over-the-top.'
Audience Reception and Rotten Tomatoes Score
On Rotten Tomatoes, audience members have shared mixed reactions. Harrie K described it as a 'fun horror that gets under your skin,' while Joji J noted that one scene made them 'feel sick to my stomach.' Nat commented that the film 'scarred me as a child.' Despite these positive remarks, Case 39 holds a critics' score of 22% and an audience score of 40% on the review aggregator.
Tumultuous Journey to the Screen
Originally filmed in 2007, Case 39 faced a delayed release. Scheduled for 2008, it did not hit US cinemas until 2010, by which time the thematically similar film Orphan had already been released. Interestingly, Orphan star Isabelle Fuhrman had been considered for the role of Lilith before it went to Ferland.
By the time Case 39 was released, Zellweger seemed reluctant to promote it, largely avoiding the press circuit. The film is not her first foray into horror; she previously starred in the 1995 sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation alongside Matthew McConaughey. Reflecting on that experience, Zellweger told Yahoo Movies: 'It was ridiculous. How we pulled that off, I have no idea. I'm sure none of it was legal… But what an experience. It was kamikaze filmmaking.'
Case 39 is now streaming on Netflix UK.
