Case 39 (2009)

A social worker fights to save a girl from her abusive parents, only to discover that the situation is more dangerous than she ever expected.

Director:

Christian Alvart

Writer:

Ray Wright

Stars:

Renée Zellweger, Jodelle Ferland, Ian McShane

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Zellweger	...	Emily Jenkins
Jodelle Ferland	...	Lilith Sullivan
Ian McShane	...	Det. Mike Barron
Bradley Cooper	...	Doug
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Edward Sullivan
Adrian Lester	...	Wayne
Kerry O'Malley	...	Margaret Sullivan
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Nancy
Alexander Conti	...	Diego
Philip Cabrita	...	Javier
Vanesa Tomasino	...	Javier's Wife
Mary Black	...	Custody Judge
Domenico D'Ambrosio	...	Plainclothes Cop
Benita Ha	...	Therapist
J. Winston Carroll	...	Judge (as John Carroll)

Storyline

"Case 39" centers on an idealistic social worker who saves an abused 10-year-old girl from her parents only to discover that the girl is not as innocent as she thinks.

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Plot Keywords:

social worker | tire iron | thunderstorm | alarm clock | detective | 

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Taglines:

Some cases should never be opened.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and terror including disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

MySpace Official site

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 October 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

Caso 39

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$27,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$5,350,570 (USA) (2 October 2010)

Gross:

$13,248,477 (USA) (12 November 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Vantage, Misher Films, Anonymous Content

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christian Alvart:  [mirror shot]  As Doug (Bradley Cooper) pulls hornets out of his right ear with a cotton swab, Doug is reflected by three mirrors, effectively showing him four times from all angles (and the hornets as well).

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Goofs

When social worker is driving home (at beginning of the movie) already in her subdivision, the car windows are all up then when she is parking the car in front of her house her window is down and in another angle of her getting out (continuous motion) it is up again.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lillith Sullivan: [waking] I can see you.

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Connections

Featured in Great Movie Mistakes III: Not in 3D (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Jamaican Girl"
Written by Eminem (as Marshall B. Mathers), Mike Strange, Luis Resto & Obie Trice
Performed by Obie Trice featuring Brick and Lace (as Brick & Lace)
Courtesy of Shady Records/Interscope Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

loved it

After having been let down by many films recently this, and then newly released Triangle, have been a welcome release.

Everything in Case 39 is at least very good. Renne Zellweger is excellent as the empathic, Emily Jenkins. Really perfectly cast for the role and gives the film an underlying security, which for me at least, was needed. The young actress,Jodelle Ferland, is generally really good and at times, show stealing. She is in fact superb as the rather troubled youngster.. The chemistry between the two leads is what compliments what is a rather twisted but truly fantastic story.

The story paces itself perfectly and draws you into its sphere of horror with a soft hand and kicks you out with a firm smack at the end. The only sad thing is a lack of replay value. I just wish i could go back and watch it for the first time all over again..

Chilling and enchanting horror film, a must see