I love movies, fall, Halloween, good spooks, and icees. So last Friday, when "The House with a Clock in Its Walls" came out, my boyfriend and I went to see it.
If we are honest, I did not go in with very high expectations. The trailers made it look good, but I was also a little apprehensive because it seemed like the "Goosebumps" movie again. (If you loved that movie, I'm sorry. To me, "Goosebumps" was a huge letdown.) It was another Halloween-y movie with Jack Black and a creepy house.
However, this movie was not what I thought it was going to be- and I'm super glad about that.
The biggest criticism I keep hearing is that it was not really a "kids movie." I get that it has a "PG" rating, but honestly, it is your job to know your kid. I'm not a parent, but having a sensitive 14yr old sister, I would say that this movie should be fine for 10+. I wouldn't take my 5-yr-old brother to it. But I wouldn't take a 5-yr-old to a lot of movies, even f they are "PG." There were definitely some dark, albeit short, themes that were NOT expected. Some people are really upset about these; I think they really brought the movie together.
Jack Black and Cate Blanchett are both very funny, and this movie is no exception. They make a perfect best friend pairing, and they exchange insults beautifully and completely believably. (My favorite line out of the whole movie was when Jonathan (Black) told Mrs. Zimmerman (Blanchett) to get cocoa for herself and she retorted with "Choke and die," without blinking or missing a beat.)
This film balances between funny and dark/spooky very well. There was about one jump scare that got me, and two to three more that could potentially get someone. This is a film I recommend to kick off your scary movie season, or to introduce someone to the scary/horror genre.
It has about all the elements for spooks, yet it does not take itself too seriously. There's a room full of dolls that become animate, and moments later Jonathan cuts into the moment by saying how creepy the scene is. Something similar happens when pumpkins surround our protagonists. The film lets you get that prickle of apprehension and then cuts through that with a chuckle.
When we learn about our villain, the movie takes a turn (I thought it was a necessary one) away from the fun towards the darker side of things. Necromancy and demons come to mind. They do not play a huge role in the film, but they definitely are not to be skipped over. Isaac Izard is a force to be reckoned with, but as a fan of good backstories, I love his.
This movie also will tug at your heartstrings a bit. 10-yr-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) just lost his parents; he does not just move on and act like he's fine. I was really glad to see this- it made the character so much more realistic. He also moved to a new house in a new town with family he's never met and has to attend a new school. Who wouldn't feel out of place? My heart went out to him as he did so many things to make a friend, only to be reminded that kids are mean. Even the worst decisions can be made with good intentions, and I think both Lewis and Jonathan show us this.
On the other hand, Blanchett perfectly embodied a strong independent woman who didn't let the world break her. She put herself back together every time. However, some losses break something inside of us that we just can't quite put back. She accepts this and I love her even more for it. She is mom goals, telling us that love, particularly in parenting, is being so scared for someone and doing the right thing anyway.
I do not think you will have nightmares of clocks ticking after watching. That being said, someone walked into the bathroom after me after the film and claimed she would. So that's up to you to decide.
Overall, it was a fun watch that got me in the mood for scary movie season and reminded me to face my fears. I'm not going to tell you it was by any means a cinema masterpiece, but I thought it was worth the $6 for my ticket. I'm not going to rush to go buy it on Blu-ray, but if it is ever on sale I would definitely pick it up.
