Case 39

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Case 39

R

Released Oct 1, 2010

1h 49m

Horror

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

22%

Tomatometer

74 Reviews

40%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

In her many years as a social worker, Emily Jenkins (Renée Zellweger) thinks she has seen it all -- until she meets 10-year-old Lilith (Jodelle Ferland) and the girl's cruel parents. When the parents try to harm the child, Emily assumes custody of Lilith while looking for a foster family. However, she soon finds that dark forces surround the seemingly innocent child, and the more she tries to protect Lilith, the more horrors she encounters.

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Critics Consensus

Director Christian Alvert has a certain stylish flair, but it's wasted on Case 39's frightless, unoriginal plot.

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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Almost identical to 2009's Orphan, Case 39 does little keep your attention as its riddled with cliches--menacing music, domino casualties, and predictable horror plotline.

Rated: C

Sep 9, 2017

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Neither so awful as to be enjoyable nor eerily artful enough to be anything other than a snoozy also-ran.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 9, 2010

Full Review

Ethan Gilsdorf

Boston Globe

It's a bummer when the audience is smarter than the protagonist.

Rated: 1.5/4

Oct 7, 2010

Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

In the realm of evil child movies such as, most recently, Orphan, the dull supernatural thriller Case 39 does a disservice to the sometimes entertaining horror subgenre.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 3, 2023

Full Review

James Croot

The Post NZ

[Zellweger] looks downright miserable throughout.

Rated: 1/5

Oct 4, 2021

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

Not even hardcore Zellweger fans should worry about catching this flick on the big screen.

Rated: 1.5/4.0

Sep 5, 2020

Full Review

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Lieven R

I actually enjoyed this horror movie. I regularly watch horror movies and do not considder this a lesser one. I am surprised by its low rating. I loved the acting of Jodelle Ferland playing this spooky kid.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/05/25

Full Review

Brendon P

**A Highly Underrated Gem** I just watched *Case 39* and honestly, I really loved it. First of all, the actors did an amazing job—every performance felt believable and intense. The storyline kept me engaged from start to finish, and the pacing was just right. I especially appreciated the color grading and the overall atmosphere—it gave the movie a captivating and immersive feel. I know a lot of people didn’t seem to like it, but I’m not sure why. For me, it was one of the good ones. Suspenseful, well-made, and memorable. If you’re into psychological horror with a touch of mystery, definitely give this one a chance. One of the things I loved most about *Case 39* was how they played with our expectations. At first, it really makes you believe the parents are the villains, and you feel bad for the little girl. But as the story unfolds, you slowly start realizing the terrifying truth, that the girl is actually the evil one, and the parents were just trying to protect themselves. The way the movie reveals this twist is done so well. It’s not rushed, and it keeps you guessing the whole time. I thought that was brilliant. It added so much depth and suspense to the film. Honestly, that twist alone made the movie stand out for me.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/24/25

Full Review

Stephanie P

Why not just shoot her in the head? Why go through all that sleeping pills and fire! Just shoot

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/23/25

Full Review

Robert D

This movies is . . . Kind of ok? It’s more of a mystery as opposed to horror or thriller. Pretty much the only actual scary parts are seeing flashes of that young guy killing his parents with a rod, and 1 of the detectives being killed by wasps which I’d imagine is another adreni-llusion. But you’d expect the most mysterious one, Lilith, to be the most scary but she’s HELL of annoying that you almost wanna skip past all the scenes except the last after the 2nd scene to include her, closes. Then the acting and fake sounds could be better, so that’s why 2 stars is being generous.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

Full Review

Darío C

Intriguing plot. The kid is a great actress. But overall, it's a bit lame.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/14/24

Full Review

Calvin T

Ignore the low ratings......Renee and the kid are great actress 👍🏾

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/05/24

Full Review

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Christian Alvart

Director

Renée Zellweger

Emily Jenkins

Jodelle Ferland

Lillith Sullivan

Ian McShane

Detective Mike Barron

Bradley Cooper

Doug Ames

Kerry O'Malley

Margaret Sullivan

Case 39: Official Clip - You Silly Pumpkin Head

2:13

Case 39: Official Clip - Let Me In!

2:13

Case 39: Official Clip - Hornet Problem

2:13

Case 39: Official Clip - What Scares You?

2:01

Case 39: Official Clip - I Killed My Mom and Dad

2:03

Case 39: Official Clip - Just Die!

2:13

Case 39: Official Clip - In The Oven

2:13

Case 39: Official Clip - Why Emily?

1:25

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Synopsis

In her many years as a social worker, Emily Jenkins (Renée Zellweger) thinks she has seen it all -- until she meets 10-year-old Lilith (Jodelle Ferland) and the girl's cruel parents. When the parents try to harm the child, Emily assumes custody of Lilith while looking for a foster family. However, she soon finds that dark forces surround the seemingly innocent child, and the more she tries to protect Lilith, the more horrors she encounters.

Director: Christian Alvart
Producer: Steve Golin, Kevin Misher
Screenwriter: Ray Wright
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Misher Films, Anonymous Content
Rating: R (Violence and Terror|Disturbing Images)
Genre: Horror, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 1, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.2M
Runtime: 1h 49m
Sound Mix: SDDS, Dolby Digital, DTS

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