Renee Zellweger and Jodelle Ferland in "Case 39." Photo courtesy of Paramount.

Oscar-winning actress Renee Zellweger will star as a social worker in the upcoming horror film “Case 39.”

But don’t get excited yet. All evidence indicates the film will be a bomb. In fact, odds are it could go straight to DVD, independent film critic Forrest Hartman told SocialWorkersSpeak.org.

So Hartman said social workers should not fret about being portrayed inaccurately in “Case 39” because very few folks will likely see it. “I think from a film standpoint it’s not going to make blip,” he said.

In the film Zellweger plays Emily Jenkins, a social worker who rescues Lillith (15-year-old Canadian actress Jodelle Ferland) from what she thinks is an abusive home. But it turns out Lillith, and not her mother and father, may be the real monster.

The name Lillith should have been a dead giveaway. “Lilith” is a female demon in Mesopotamian mythology and ancient Jewish lore.

“Case 39” was filmed starting in 2006 but Paramount has repeatedly delayed showing the movie in the United States. The Internet Movie Database says the movie will open domestically on New Year’s Day but the film’s official Web site does not list a U.S. opening date.

“When we’re talking years (to release a movie) that typically means the studio either thinks it’s terrible or doesn’t know how to market it,” Hartman said.

Officials at Paramount and Zellweger’s representatives did not immediately respond to interview requests from SocialWorkersSpeak.org, which wanted to know how Zellweger prepared to play a social worker.

News reports indicate Hartman’s predictions are likely correct. The film has already shown in Australia and New Zealand and the response was not good.

“This is one of the least scary, dumbest movies I’ve seen in a long time,” Australian film critic Margaret Pomeranz said.

Q: Do you agree “Case 39” will not have an impact on the public perception of social workers? Leave your comments below.