Case 39 – review

Ok Its Friday again. No notable Bollywood releases. Chief is busy at desk as always especially with BPL these days. So what do I do now? Can I try a review on my own? – A movie review. I have never tried it really. I am seriously handicapped at it because anything that moves in a big screen with the Dolby digital works and stuff fascinates me, no matter what trash it might be, barring aside of course Ram Gopal  Verma’s aag. But what if I watch a DVD, then? How about it? Yeah I might churn out something that is unbiased. Well yes! Let me do so. Ok here I go and the DVD is aha! Case 39 – starring René Zelleweiger and movie of the genre horror. With the tag line – some cases should not be opened (err do they mean the DVD case?)Ok… ok I know I should be doing this seriously especially with the genre, but it’s my first time.

Ok here I go.

1 hr 40 minutes later.

Play- Emily Jenkins (Rene Zelleweiger) is from the child social service who deals with neglected and abused children. Then comes, the case no 39 of a ten year old Lillith Sullivan(Jodelle Ferland). There is something mysterious about  the family of that particular child and in a bizarre development Emily rescues lillith, in the nick of time from her parents  who were just about to roast her alive in the oven.  Emily offers her home as a sanctuary till they can find an adoptive family for Lillith and it seems everything might turn out fine but of course this isn’t a melodrama of sisterly tale rather it’s a horror movie and the terror starts unfolding from here. The terror that is the child called lillith who has some inborn evil in her, some thing supernatural… something demonic which survives on the Goodness of a person ( like Emily) before moving onto the next victim. A demon which kills by playing on the fear of her victims, Emily realizes it late when her close friends start dying one after another in illogical manner. (No it is not one of those slasher movies either with high body count) but will it turn out to be too late or will she survive her worst fears or will her worst fears be confirmed?

Rewinds – There is a sophisticated air of terror throughout the movie without the regular gore. The kid has done a very good job, the transformation of the sweet helpless little gal lillith into a cold menacing evil projected through the scene – where she is sitting on the swivel chair and rotating. The scene where she is being interviewed by the psychiatrist Doug where instead of lillith being analysed , she ends up analyzing him and scaring him in the process, His answer to Emily’s query of “what do you feel?”- “Threatened” is a high point of the movie.  The swarm of bee scene- well they have rewind value.

Fast Forward- Some of the scenes are clichéd.  The endless dead stares.The chases. The sudden appearances from behind.  Being chased by a ghoul or ghost and protagonist trying to open a door desperately to escape which opens at the last moment. Yes these are there, so is the scene where a person is killed by a dog- can be fast forwarded.

Slow motion- the climax which had lots of potential, though good, could have been better if they had not wrapped it too fast.

Pace of the movie – fast paced. It does not drag on.

Credits- Rene Zelleweiger as expected is superb as the terrorized Emily. But the little girl (Jodelle Ferland) has done fantastic job as the evil.  Sometimes sweet sometimes helpless switching over to a menacing cold evil… Rest of the star cast pitches on too.

Pauses- like umpteenth holly wood horror movies it stars an angelic kid and a female protagonist.  E.g. Ring, Silent hill, Grudge, The reaping and the list goes on. What’s with the Hollywood’s fascination for woman and children and horror movies? What’s the association, I could not understand till date.

Another pause – I was just wondering if it had played with my fear then how would it kill me (oh these days my greatest fear is wardrobe malfunction)

Chill factor- The sound effects and the visual effects together may give you some spine chilling moments. But it will not linger on later for the simple reason that you will not identify yourself with Emily or with the fact that the next kid you see might have come from the depths of hell. Well that’s it.

Verdict- DVD worth renting. I did not say buying.

Additional info:

Direction: Christian Alvart

Running time: 115 minutes

Mani Padma

She is a Doctor by profession , working in Delhi. Loves traveling, mind games and playing with words… And also the chief-co brewer of GingerChai. She is the chief brewer of some of the interesting categories you see in GingerChai.Follow @manishalsam

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