![\"FILM:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/SEI_17599307-2d6f.jpg\")
\n\t\tRen\u00e9e Zellweger stars in the 2009 horror film (Picture: Paramount)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tRen\u00e9e Zellweger stars in the 2009 horror film (Picture: Paramount)<\/p>\n
A 2009 horror film starring Ren\u00e9e <\/a>Zellweger<\/a> is streaming now on Netflix<\/a> in the UK.<\/p>\n Directed by German filmmaker Christian Alvart, it stars the Bridget Jones<\/a> Diary actress as social worker Emily Jenkins, who takes in a troubled girl who\u2019s been subject to an abusive upbringing.<\/p>\n However, Emily gets far more than she bargained for when she welcomes little Lilith (Jodelle Ferland) into her home \u2013 and soon comes to worry that supernatural forces might be following the child.<\/p>\n In addition to Zellweger, the film\u2019s all-star cast also includes Bradley Cooper<\/a>, Ian McShane and Adrian Lester.<\/p>\n It\u2019s perhaps best remembered for its mid-film twist, which divided audiences at the time, but set the film on its shocking path of death and destruction.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGet personalised updates on all things Netflix\t\t\t<\/p>\n Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro\u2019s TV Newsletter.<\/p>\n Sign up to our newsletter<\/a> and then select your show in the link we\u2019ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t Upon its release, The Guardian <\/a>gave Case 39 four stars, and described it as \u2018gleefully gruesome,\u2019 while highlighting its \u2018sheer, sustained nastiness.\u2019<\/p>\n E! Online<\/a> picked out Ferland\u2019s \u2018top-notch\u2019 performance for praise, describing her as being particularly \u2018creepy\u2019 as young Lilith.<\/p>\n The FilmFile <\/a>called it \u2018a well-crafted, aesthetically artful suspenser,\u2019 while ViewLondon<\/a> said that it was \u2018enjoyably over-the-top.\u2019<\/p>\n Among the audience members singing its praises on Rotten Tomatoes was Harrie K, who described it as a \u2018fun horror that gets under your skin.\u2019<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Joji J singled out one scene as the one which made them \u2018feel sick to my stomach,\u2019 as Nat noted that it \u2018scarred me as a child.\u2019<\/p>\n These voices help to elevate Case 39\u2019s somewhat paltry score of 40% on the review aggregator, with the critics\u2019 consensus faring even worse at 22%.<\/p>\n \t\t Originally filmed in 2007, Case 39 underwent a tumultuous journey to the screen.<\/p>\n Originally scheduled for release in 2008, it wasn\u2019t actually put out into US cinemas until 2010 \u2013 in which time the thematically similar Orphan<\/a> had already come and gone.<\/p>\n Coincidentally, Orphan star Isabelle Furhman<\/a> had been considered to play the part of Lilith, before it ultimately went to Ferland instead.<\/p>\n By the time it did hit cinemas, Zellweger seemed reluctant to talk about it, largely swerving the press circuit surrounding its release. <\/p>\n Still, it\u2019s far from the first embarrassing horror film on Zellweger\u2019s resume, having previously starred with Matthew McConaughey in the 1995 sequel Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.<\/p>\n \u2018It was ridiculous. How we pulled that off, I have no idea. I\u2019m sure none of it was legal\u2026 But what an experience. It was kamikaze filmmaking,\u2019 she later told Yahoo Movies<\/a>.<\/p>\n Case 39 is streaming now on Netflix UK.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Film:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AY_38862669-84fe.jpg\")
\n\t\tZellweger plays social worker Emily (Picture: Paramount)<\/p>\n![\"Film:](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AY_86088374-2cfa.jpg\")
\n\t\tEmily soon comes to learn that something\u2019s not right with her new house guest (Picture: Paramount)<\/p>\n![\"RENEE](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AY_57651324-2284.jpg\")
\n\t\tViewers were full of praise for Zellweger\u2019s performance in it, at least (Picture: Paramount)<\/p>\n
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