The 2009 horror film Case 39, directed by German filmmaker Christian Alvart and starring Renée Zellweger, Bradley Cooper, Ian McShane, and Adrian Lester, is now streaming on Netflix in the UK.
Zellweger plays social worker Emily Jenkins, who takes in a troubled girl named Lilith (Jodelle Ferland) from an abusive home. Soon, Emily suspects supernatural forces are following the child, leading to a shocking mid-film twist that divided audiences but set the story on a path of death and destruction.
Critical Reception and Audience Reactions
Upon its release, The Guardian gave Case 39 four stars, calling it “gleefully gruesome” and highlighting its “sheer, sustained nastiness.” E! Online praised Ferland’s “top-notch” performance, describing her as “particularly creepy.” The FilmFile called it “a well-crafted, aesthetically artful suspenser,” while ViewLondon said it was “enjoyably over-the-top.”
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 40% audience score and a 22% critics’ consensus. Audience member Harrie K called it “a fun horror that gets under your skin,” while Joji J noted a scene that made them “feel sick to my stomach.” Nat commented that the film “scarred me as a child.”
Production Journey and Casting
Originally filmed in 2007, Case 39 had a turbulent path to release. Scheduled for 2008, it did not hit US cinemas until 2010, by which time the thematically similar Orphan (2009) had already come and gone. Interestingly, Orphan star Isabelle Fuhrman was considered for the role of Lilith before it went to Ferland.
Zellweger appeared reluctant to promote the film upon its release, largely avoiding the press circuit. She had previously starred in the 1995 horror sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation with Matthew McConaughey, which she later described as “ridiculous” and “kamikaze filmmaking” in an interview with Yahoo Movies.
Case 39 is now streaming on Netflix UK.
