By Nigel Powlson

OSCAR-WINNING actresses slumming it in horror films is nothing new.

For example, Jennifer Connelly followed her Academy Award for A Beautiful Mind with Dark Water. And Naomi Watts (Oscar-nominated for 21 Grams) suffered through two Ring films. After all, low-budget indie flicks might dazzle the critics but they don't generally do a good job of paying the rent.

But you still have to be choosy.

Clearly Renee Zellweger (Oscar winner for Cold Mountain) wasn't when she read the script for Case 39 – an implausible, immensely silly horror film that she should have binned on sight.

Zellweger plays the world's least likely social worker, Emily Jenkins, who is troubled by her latest case involving disturbed 10-year old Lilith Sullivan (Jodelle Ferland).

Lilith looks all sweetness and light but her parents want to kill her. Emily saves the child with the help of a detective (a bemused Ian McShane) but then decides to take her into her own home.

Needless to say, the girl turns out to be just as demonic as everyone but Emily suspects.

CASE 39

CERTIFICATE: 15

RUNNING TIME: 109 mins

STARTS: At the Showcase, Odeon and Cinema De Lux in Derby.

RATING: 2/5