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Case 39

  • 2009
  • 16
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
92K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,539
1,822
Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
A social worker (Zellweger) fights to save a girl from her abusive parents, only to discover that the situation is more dangerous than she ever expected.
Play trailer2:33
9 Videos
93 Photos
HorrorMysteryThriller

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.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.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
    • Ian McShane
    • Jodelle Ferland
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    92K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,539
    1,822
    • Director
      • Christian Alvart
    • Writer
      • Ray Wright
    • Stars
      • Renée Zellweger
      • Ian McShane
      • Jodelle Ferland
    • 315User reviews
    • 100Critic reviews
    • 25Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations

    Videos9

    Case 39
    Trailer 2:33
    Watch Case 39
    Le cas 39
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch Le cas 39
    Case 39: International Trailer
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch Case 39: International Trailer
    "Mrs. Sullivan"
    Clip 0:38
    Watch "Mrs. Sullivan"
    Case 39: Closet
    Clip 0:52
    Watch Case 39: Closet
    Case 39: Underwater
    Clip 0:34
    Watch Case 39: Underwater
    Case 39: On Fire
    Clip 0:38
    Watch Case 39: On Fire
    What Scares Bradley Cooper?
    Featurette 0:49
    Watch What Scares Bradley Cooper?
    Case 39: Bradley Cooper Featurette
    Featurette 0:48
    Watch Case 39: Bradley Cooper Featurette

    Photos93

    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Bradley Cooper in Case 39 (2009)
    Kerry O'Malley and Callum Keith Rennie in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger and Callum Keith Rennie in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger and Bradley Cooper in Case 39 (2009)
    Renée Zellweger and Ian McShane in Case 39 (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Renée Zellweger
    Renée Zellweger
    • Emily Jenkins
    Ian McShane
    Ian McShane
    • Detective Barron
    Jodelle Ferland
    Jodelle Ferland
    • Lilith Sullivan
    Bradley Cooper
    Bradley Cooper
    • Doug
    Callum Keith Rennie
    Callum Keith Rennie
    • Edward Sullivan
    Adrian Lester
    Adrian Lester
    • Wayne
    Kerry O'Malley
    Kerry O'Malley
    • Margaret Sullivan
    Cynthia Stevenson
    Cynthia Stevenson
    • Nancy
    Alexander Conti
    Alexander Conti
    • Diego
    Philip Cabrita
    • Javier
    Vanesa Tomasino
    Vanesa Tomasino
    • Javier's Wife
    Mary Black
    Mary Black
    • Custody Judge
    Domenico D'Ambrosio
    • Plainclothes Cop
    Benita Ha
    Benita Ha
    • Therapist
    J. Winston Carroll
    • Judge
    • (as John Carroll)
    Michael Bean
    • Co-Worker
    Lesley Ewen
    Lesley Ewen
    • Co-Worker
    David Patrick Green
    David Patrick Green
    • Chief Psychiatrist
    • Director
      • Christian Alvart
    • Writer
      • Ray Wright
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This movie was completed in 2007, and was initially scheduled for an American release in August 2008, but was delayed twice before its final release date on October 1, 2010, three years after completing production.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 17 mins) When Emily locks herself in the bedroom at night, Lilith tries to break down the door. When she stops, Emily is on the ground next to the closet. When Emily opens the closet, it is daylight outside. As Emily runs out of the house, it is night again.
    • Quotes

      Douglas J. Ames: Everybody has fears... now, what scares you?

      Lillith Sullivan: Me.

      Douglas J. Ames: You scare yourself?

      Lillith Sullivan: Sometimes.

      Douglas J. Ames: Why? What about yourself scares you?

      Lillith Sullivan: I have bad thoughts.

      Douglas J. Ames: About what?

      Lillith Sullivan: People.

      Douglas J. Ames: People in general or... certain people?

      Lillith Sullivan: Certain people.

      Douglas J. Ames: Like who?

      Lillith Sullivan: You.

      Douglas J. Ames: You have bad thoughts about me? Why?

      Lillith Sullivan: I just do.

      Douglas J. Ames: Did I do something or say something that upset you?

      Lillith Sullivan: It's just... the way you are.

      Douglas J. Ames: How am I?

      Lillith Sullivan: Facile.

      Douglas J. Ames: Facile? Pfff... do you even know what that means?

      Lillith Sullivan: Easily comprehended, often lacking sincerity or depth. You're smug too... want me to tell you what that means?

      Douglas J. Ames: Uhm, If I... seem smug or facile, I want...

      Lillith Sullivan: Don't apologize.

      Douglas J. Ames: Why not?

      Lillith Sullivan: You're a grown-up... it's embarrassing.

    • Connections
      Featured in Phelous & the Movies: Phelous Is on Case 39 (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Like Dat
      Written by Stat Quo (as Stanley Benton), Gerald Griffin & Lt. Mo (as Todd Moore)

      Performed by Stat Quo

      Courtesy of Interscope Records

      Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

    User reviews315

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    A surprise scary movie with two terrific performances
    Case 39 (2009)

    The clever plot isn't quite clever enough to keep you going through the whole movie, but almost. And both Renee Zellwegger as the passionate and trapped social worker and Jodelle Ferland as the adorable but mysterious child are quite amazing. Both are actors at the best of their powers, Zellwegger limited only by the role and the writing, which is very good but not quite flexible enough to let her show as many of those perplexed and touching nuances she is so good at (seen equally in "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Nurse Betty"). But it's possible Ferland has the role of her life here. She's not only playing a precocious child, but is clearly a precocious young actress, bright, expressive, surprising, and not merely cute. By the way she was fifteen when it was filmed, even though she looks and acts, in most ways, like she's ten.

    You can't ignore the plot, of course, since this is a plot driven movie saved by two great actresses, not the other way around. And the story is a little bit of a formula with a twist. The twist is good, but it is singular. Eventually we are carried from a personal and social drama with some evil people to a supernatural drama. It's here where things get scariest, but also where things wobble slightly in terms of believability or logic, if logic has any place here. For example, once the antagonist is shown to have really limitless powers of some kind (possibly imaginary), why does this person not have the power to just kill someone out and out? There is dangled the idea that this bad force depends on fear to proceed, but this isn't developed clearly, or maybe you have to see it twice to get.

    On the other hand, if you just go with the flow, it's really increasingly scary. There are some scenes, like the woman in the hospital room that turns into a kind of large oven, that are chilling and really well done. Certainly Zellwegger's character is able to find the outlines of logic as she tries to survive by outsmarting the situation, and we're on her side. Eventually it comes to a dramatic climax, and it's pretty exciting. A sleeper, for sure.
    helpful•88
    22
    • secondtake
    • Jan 29, 2011

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    FAQ27

    • How long is Case 39?Powered by Alexa
    • What is "Case 39" about?
    • Is 'Case 39' based on a book?
    • Why did Lily keep falling asleep during class?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 2010 (Netherlands)
    • Countries of origin
      • Canada
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • MySpace
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Đứa Con Của Quỷ
    • Filming locations
      • Portland, Oregon, USA(flyover shots)
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Vantage
      • Misher Films
      • Anonymous Content
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $26,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $13,261,851
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,350,570
      • Oct 3, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $28,190,603
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 49 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • SDDS
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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