Case 39 Blu-ray Review

The video presentation of "Case 39" on Blu-ray employs a distinct dark and gritty visual style that coheres with the film’s ominous tone. The transfer is delivered in 1080p, framed at 2.35:1. Paramount’s transfer remains largely faithful to the film's visual intentions, offering a consistent grain structure that permeates every scene. This granular texture adds a tangible feel to the imagery, although the presence of speckles and random pops are noticeable. The color palette leans towards subdued hues, with only sporadic bursts of brighter colors, such as a yellow bus, standing out. Shadow delineation is handled adeptly, revealing nuanced details within dark scenes and adding substantial visual depth. Blacks are stable and contribute to the overall gradation and contrast, though some issues with whites appearing overly bright do occur during outdoor sequences.

Detailing in "Case 39" is intricate in close-ups, particularly accentuating facial textures and skin details. However, medium and wide shots occasionally lack the same level of sharpness and can appear somewhat softened, diminishing the high-definition impact expected from modern transfers. The softer focus can wash out facial details in wider frames, making some scenes appear less defined than others. Despite these minor drawbacks, the image remains clean, free from digital anomalies such as banding or aliasing, and maintains stable black levels for the most part, contributing to an appreciable viewing experience.

Overall, while there are minor issues with softness and contrast inconsistencies – especially with whites in well-lit scenes – the video presentation of "Case 39" on Blu-ray is solid. It faithfully captures the film’s gritty ambiance and delivers a stable and mostly intricate visual experience that suits the movie's storytelling style.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround mix of "Case 39" presents a soundscape that’s both enigmatic and enthralling. Dialogue is clear and finely intonated, allowing for the appreciation of subtle vocal nuances. The dynamic range is commendable, with a soundstage that opens up well into the room, delivering a seamless and immersive experience. While the rear channel activity isn't consistently extensive, the film's elements of fright are adeptly supported by a robust sound field. Low-frequency effects are frequently active, reproducing the film's music and lower bass frequencies with palpable impact and room-filling extension.

However, the audio presentation starts off inconsistently. Early portions of the film are characterized by muted dialogue, making whispered lines somewhat unintelligible. The initial mix feels underpowered, scarcely engaging the surround channels and subduing even intense moments. This leads to a somewhat front-focused experience where most of the atmospheric details come through the front speakers, establishing general office sounds and other light effects.

Interestingly, as the film progresses, the audio mix ramps up significantly. The surround channels become more active, particularly during scenes teeming with buzzing insects or chaotic sequences like an elevator plummeting down its shaft. This latter part of the mix delivers a highly immersive experience with dynamic ambient sounds and a notable raucous affair in sections involving fright or action elements. Despite its initially lackluster setup, "Case 39’s" audio ultimately succeeds in providing a solid and engaging auditory accompaniment to the narrative through its thoughtful use of the entire soundstage and impactful LFE integration.

The extras included in the Blu-ray of "Case 39" provide a brief yet informative peek behind the scenes. Despite being presented in standard definition, these featurettes and deleted scenes collectively offer valuable insights into the film’s production. "Filed Under Evil: Inside Case 39" presents an 8-minute Electronic Press Kit (EPK) style featurette where the cast and crew discuss the filmmaking process and their performances. "Turning Up the Heat on the Chill Factor" delves into a crucial scene's burn-victim makeup application in a 4-minute segment. "Inside the Hornet's Nest" discusses the film's hornet scene over 3 minutes, while "Playing with Fire" dedicates 4 minutes to showcasing the intricacies of on-set pyrotechnics and a structure fire. Lastly, the disc includes 18 deleted scenes and an alternate ending, offering over 30 minutes of additional footage.

Extras included in this disc:

• Filed Under Evil: Inside Case 39: Cast and crew discuss the filmmaking process.
• Turning Up the Heat on the Chill Factor: Behind the scenes on burn-victim makeup application.
• Inside the Hornet's Nest: Insights into the hornet scene.
• Playing with Fire: Examination of pyrotechnics and burning a house on set.
• Deleted Scenes: 18 scenes including an alternate ending.

"Case 39," directed by Christian Alvart, stars Renée Zellweger as an overworked social worker named Emily Jenkins and Jodelle Ferland as Lilith Sullivan, a child with a disturbing past. The movie initially positions itself as a compelling psychological drama centered around Emily's determination to protect Lilith from her seemingly malevolent parents. This dynamic establishes an engaging relationship between the two characters, with Jenkins playing the role of a protective figure. However, as events unfold and the narrative veers into supernatural territory, the film becomes increasingly disjointed and formulaic.

The film suffers from a lackluster script that fails to sustain the tension and intrigue necessary for a gripping horror thriller. While it shows promise in its opening act with a gritty aesthetic and atmospheric tension, "Case 39" quickly descends into a series of clichéd and predictable plot points. Scenes featuring over-the-top special effects, such as Bradley Cooper's character being swarmed by CGI insects, detract from the film's potential for genuine scares. Performance-wise, Jodelle Ferland delivers a nuanced portrayal of Lilith, skillfully balancing innocence with underlying malevolence. In contrast, Zellweger's performance starts strong but falters as the script's quality declines. The supporting cast, including Ian McShane and Bradley Cooper, provide competent but unremarkable contributions.

In conclusion, "Case 39" aims to create fear through its exploration of a seemingly innocent but ultimately sinister child. Despite a promising premise and some commendable performances, the film ultimately succumbs to a muddled narrative and reliance on horror tropes that fail to leave a lasting impact. It serves as an average entry in the genre, offering brief moments of intrigue but ultimately lacking the coherence and originality needed to stand out.

"Case 39" presents a curious descent from promising beginnings into a disappointing finish, marred by narrative and executional shortcomings. The film’s initial intrigue quickly deteriorates into a predictable and tired thematic representation of the possessed child trope, which has worn out its welcome in horror cinema. Jodelle Ferland's commendable performance could have been a redeeming factor, but it's overshadowed by lackluster storytelling and clichéd horror elements. Despite these narrative flaws, Paramount has ensured that the Blu-ray release is technically competent.

The Blu-ray features respectable audio and video performance, though it falls short of exemplary. The imagery, while clear and detailed, is plagued by moments of inconsistency. The audio mix, albeit functional, doesn’t significantly enhance the viewing experience, lacking the immersive quality expected in high-definition releases. Compounding the issue is the inclusion of extra content that feels like an afterthought; standard definition EPK materials do little to enrich the purchase value.

In sum, "Case 39" fails to deliver as a compelling horror film but manages an adequate Blu-ray presentation. Despite solid technical aspects, the unremarkable special features and uneven AV performance make it hard to recommend purchasing. This Blu-ray is best considered for a rental if other options are unavailable.