IMDb 6.2 2009 HD

Case 39

Case 39

2009
Horror Mystery Thriller
109 min R Canada
6.316 / 10
6.2 IMDB

In her many years as a social worker, Emily Jenkins believes she has seen it all, until she meets 10-year-old Lilith and the girl's cruel parents. Emily's worst…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Christian Alvart / Danielle de Smit / Tracey Poirier / Greg Milton / Warren Hanna / Scott J. Ateah / Patrice Leung
Starring
Renée Zellweger / Jodelle Ferland / Ian McShane / Bradley Cooper / Adrian Lester / Kerry O'Malley / Callum Keith Rennie / Cynthia Stevenson

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

unnerving chilling suspenseful unsettling dark atmospheric creepy predictable competent grim disturbing eerie

Reviews

S
Seraphina Khan
May 1, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

‘Case 39’ offers a solid, if somewhat familiar, foray into supernatural horror, anchored by a strong central performance from Renée Zellweger. She plays Emily Jenkins with a believable mix of compassion and growing fear, making her plight all…

J
Julian Croft
May 1, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

This is a film that starts with a compelling, real-world hook – a social worker’s desperate attempt to save a child – and then veers into more predictable supernatural territory. Renée Zellweger gives a committed performance as Emily,…

I
Isabelle Dubois
May 1, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

‘Case 39’ delivers a potent cocktail of social concern and supernatural dread. Renée Zellweger is excellent as Emily, a social worker whose protective instincts become her undoing. The film’s strength lies in its atmosphere; it’s a masterclass in…

M
Marcus Thorne
May 1, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

There's a certain grim satisfaction to be had from 'Case 39', largely thanks to Jodelle Ferland's unnerving portrayal of young Lilith. Her vacant stares and unsettling pronouncements are genuinely chilling. Renée Zellweger does her best to portray a…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 1, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

Renée Zellweger anchors 'Case 39' with a performance that grounds the escalating supernatural mayhem. As social worker Emily Jenkins, she convincingly portrays a woman whose professional empathy curdles into abject terror when she takes in the peculiar Lilith.…

FAQs

Whether 'Case 39' is a classic is subjective and depends on audience reception and lasting impact. While it features a compelling premise and a strong lead performance, its status as a horror classic is not definitively established. It contributes to the genre with its blend of psychological tension and supernatural scares, offering a disquieting viewing experience that resonates with fans of the genre.