BLU-RAY REVIEW

Case 39

Featured In Issue 153, January 2011

Picture4
Sound4.5
WSR Score3.5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Paramount Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
12967
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Violece and terror, including disturbing images
(Retail Price):
$34.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
109
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
Not Indicated
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/04/11
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Christian Alvart
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

"Case 39" is supernatural thriller with a startling ending. A Family Services Social Worker (Zellweger) fights to save a little girl with a haunted past, only to find out that this mysterious new case turns into a nightmare she may never survive. (Gary Reber)

Special features include four featurettes: "Filed Under 'Evil': Inside Case 39" (SD 08:07), "Turning Up The Heat On The Chill Factor" (SD 04:24), "Inside The Hornet's Nest" (SD 03:02), and "Playing With Fire" (SD 04:26); and 18 deleted scenes and an alternate ending (SD 30:06).

The 2.35:1 1080p AVC picture exhibits an overall natural quality but is generally softly focused. Hues are naturally rendered, without over saturation. Contrast is well balanced, with deep blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Close-ups reveal more detail in facial features, clothes, and object textures. Generally, though, the imagery is softly focused. Still, the picture is pleasing throughout, though, not particularly distinguished. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is well produced, with a haunting music score punctuated with deep bass .1 LFE energy for dramatic effect. The bass sounds very natural. Dialogue is nicely produced, with good spatial integration throughout. The music score is spread wide and deep across the soundstage and well into the surrounds. The overall effect is holosonically® enveloping. Sound effects build as the story unfolds. The effects are strongly executed with energized SPL and deep bass extension. This is a well-produced soundtrack that delivers the chills. (Gary Reber)