Review of Case 39 (2009) by Richard L — 21 Oct 2011

CASE 39 rises slightly above being a cliche-riddled, predictable bit of horror/thriller fare for one reason and one reason only: Jodelle Ferland. Her performance is what makes the film, swinging from adorable and cute to terrifying and over-the-top creepy.

What remains in CASE 39 is your rather standard horror fare, complete with the well meaning protagonist (Zellweger), her disbelieving yet supportive friend (Ian McShane), and her sacrificial lamb boyfriend meant to draw some sympathy out of the audience when there's none to get elsewhere (Bradley Cooper). McShane and Cooper are fine in their roles, with McShane, like Ferland, lending the film a performance of which it's not particularly worthy. Cooper, on the other hand, feels rather underused, and the film might have benefited from giving him a few more scenes, if for no other reason than to give him more of a rapport with Zelwegger.

The details of the film aren't really all that important, as this is just another in the long stream of "creepy kid" films in the vein of THE OMEN and THE EXORCIST, although this film doesn't in any way approach the heights of those films. This film simply takes that concept and implants it into the area of social work and foster care. CASE 39 is nothing that the audience hasn't already seen, and seen done much better, for that matter. The reason to watch CASE 39 is for the performances, which elevate it above similar fare in the genre.