Movie Review: The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018)

The House With a Clock in Its Walls (2018) directed by Eli Roth

Recently orphaned Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) moves in with his estranged uncle (Jack Black) who lives in the eponymous house. The uncle is eccentric but that's because he is a boy witch warlock. He and the neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), search the house when Lewis isn't looking. She can also do magic. The house has plenty of creepy and funny magical items (like bizarre automatons and the chair that acts like a dog), giving Lewis plenty to marvel at. Lewis also starts school which is rough because Lewis is himself eccentric. He wears goggles on top of his head like his favorite hero, Captain Midnight. He has the typical struggles fitting in at school. But that's nothing compared to the struggles dealing with the evil presence in the house.

The movie is fairly entertaining for a children's horror/fantasy film. Jack Black is in regular form and Cate Blanchett is charming. The story only has one or two surprises, but plenty of laughs. Some parts are never really explained and some things go by too quickly, probably to keep the pacing steady. The movie has a good balance of scares and silliness if not a fully satisfying plot.

My children had mixed reactions--the nine-year old girl didn't like the scary bits (which are clearly set up by the film--my daughter had plenty of time to leave before the creepy stuff hit the screen). My eleven-year old son didn't like the boy-girl bits, which are very few and very far between. The four-year old was oblivious and just had a good time.

Recommended--this is a pretty average kids' horror/fantasy movie.