A supernatural horror film that struggled to find its footing on screen and off
In short: The 2009 thriller Case 39 follows a social worker who discovers that the child she rescued from abusive parents is far more dangerous than she imagined. Despite a high-profile cast, the production was plagued by delays and a disastrous set fire, ultimately failing to impress critics or audiences.
Directed by Christian Alvart, the film centers on Emily, a social worker who intervenes to save 10-year-old Lillith Sullivan from her parents. After the parents attempt to kill the child, Emily takes her in, only to realize that Lillith is a malevolent entity that feeds on human fear. As those around Emily begin to die under bizarre circumstances, she learns that the girl is a demon who can only be stopped while asleep. The narrative culminates in a desperate attempt by Emily to drown the entity, though the ending suggests the cycle of horror is far from over.
The production history of Case 39 was notably troubled. Filming took place in Vancouver in late 2006, but the project suffered a major setback on October 31, 2006, when a fire destroyed the set and studio. Fortunately, no cast members were present, and no serious injuries occurred. Following completion, the film faced significant distribution hurdles, with its American theatrical debut delayed twice from an initial August 2008 target until October 1, 2010.
Upon release, the film was largely panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 22% approval rating, with reviewers criticizing its lack of originality and scares. Metacritic assigned it a score of 25 out of 100, reflecting generally unfavorable reception. Commercially, the movie struggled to find an audience, grossing $28.2 million worldwide against a $26 million budget. Critics like Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton dismissed the film as ridiculous and uninspired, suggesting that its long delay in reaching domestic markets was perhaps unsurprising given the final quality of the work.
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