Now that summer is coming to an end, and the time for high-concept event pictures is officially kaput, we’re getting to the point in the calendar year when Hollywood begins airing out its dirty laundry; the long-delayed efforts that have been gathering dust on the shelves for far too long. It’s fitting then, that this week saw the release of the new Hayden Christensen opus “Takers” – which itself was delayed for quite some time – as it acts as an unofficial entrance-way into the dregs of the fall movie season.
Perhaps the most high-profile “lost” film finally emerging this impending season is “Case 39,” the Renee Zellweger/Bradley Cooper supernatural thriller involving a troubled young girl and her ominous supernatural secrets, which was shot almost two years ago and thus far has seen about a half-dozen planned public unveilings scrapped at the last minute. Whether it’s because the film is crap-on-a-stick, mournfully mediocre or merely a tough sell is difficult to say, although territories such as Australia and sections of Europe have already seen both a theatrical and DVD release and given it a confidence-deflating 6.2 on the Internet Movie Database. Though I don’t usually put much faith in public-appointed scores, it’s hard to get particularly amped for a flick that the studio had all but buried from North American eyes until now.
The good crew over at Trailer Addict have posted up the new trailer for “Case 39” and you may be surprised to see that it doesn’t look terrible (lthough, to be fair, neither did “The Unborn”…). There is a good sense of tingly dread hanging over each darkly lit scene and also a nice creep-out moment involving Cooper and a horde of touchy-feely insects. Sure, the movie doesn’t look very original or unpredictable, but I can totally see myself giving it a watch on a two-for-one rental deal some day in the future. And I’m pretty certain that that isn’t just my undying Zellweger crush speaking.
Since my opinion is somewhat compromised, I’ll simply leave it to you to check it out and decide whether Renee’s ghoulish misadventures scream opening weekend ticket-purchase, or sleepy late-night cable TV screening. Keep in mind, though, that it’s literally impossible for “Case 39” to be worse than the actress’ last dabble in the horror genre: “Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.” A small comfort, I know, but I still feel an inexplicable duty to keep a glimmer of hope alive wherever the lovely Ms. Zellweger is concerned.
. . .
Follow Cam Smith on Twitter at http://twitter.com/camspcepisodes.