A QUINN REVIEW: THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS
(2018)
AGE: 11+
65% SWEET/SOUR
So What’s The Story?
Based off the book by John Bellairs comes the story of young Lewis who goes to live with his uncle after his parents die from a car crash. Soon he is introduced to a magical world within the walls of his uncle’s house. Only the house holds a clock with the power to end the world with it’s last strike. Will Lewis, along with his uncle, and next door neighbor mrs Zimmerman be able to stop the clock or is the world doomed to end just like that!
Is It Worth Your While?
The House With a Clock in its Walls was surprisingly better than I imagined. Now here are my reasons. First I thought that horror director Eli Roth was able to bring audiences into a world of pure magic, and a creepy atmosphere with the power to leave audiences in suspense. Although it seemed that he could not work extremely well with Owen throughout the movie, he solidly managed the rest of the cast. Next I thought that the small budget of only 42 million not only helped the box office numbers, but projected the perfect amount of special effects on to the big screen. For me the effects were dazzling at times, and creepy at other points during the movie, and it seemed to have everyone else in the cinema satisfied with their experience of colorful special effects. Third I have not read the book, but seeing the movie I thought that the story was solidly constructed with a few twists, some Jack Black fun, but a less demanding set of gore. Overall I thought that The House With a Clock in its Walls provided a visual splendor, solid directing, and a solidly constructed story.
How Was the Cast
The cast in The House With a Clock in its Walls was charming, and overall satisfying. First we have Jack Black as Jonathan Barnavelt. Of course Jack Black provided many laughs, and brought most of the charm in the movie along with Cate Blanchett. He is always able to be a different character every time he does another movie, and he always gets into whatever chosen character he needs to be. Next we have Cate Blanchett as Florence Zimmerman. She worked very well with Jack Black, and was able to give the audience a comedic splendor full of teasing, and nonstop fun. It’s pretty much obvious to see that with this amazing performance, that those academy awards were meant for her. Third, and finally we have Owen Vaccaro as Lewis Barnavelt. I thought that compared to other kid actors such as Daniel Radcliffe he was well… not as good. He tended to be over the top in his very important scenes such as the crying ones, when Daniel Radcliffe was completely in the moment, and not too over the top. To define over the top? Well his character is a wimpy one, and when he tried to be a wimpy character it came out false. Or in his crying scenes when he made these weird puffing noises with his mouth, and started to look weird. I’m not saying he’s a bad actor, he was good in Daddy’s Home 2015 when he was not such a big character, and I just don’t think that he was up to the task playing such a big character such as Lewis.
Aging ‘The Clocks’
I gave this film 11+ mostly because of scares. The film has a creepy atmosphere filled with thought provoking themes, and evil forces that look very un satisfying during the movie. There are creepy dolls, jumpscares one zombie, blood oaths etc. The film also has bravery, and many laughs for older kids to enjoy throughout.
Comparing ‘the clock’s’ to other jack black features
the house with a clock in it’s walls 65% sweet/sour
story 3.5/5
cast 3.5/5
quality 3.5/5
School of rock 85% sweet
story 4/5
cast 5/5
quality 4.3/5
news related to ‘the house with a clock in it’s walls’
$plurge, $tream, $kip: The House with a Clock in it’s Walls provides solid directing, a solid cast, and a fun visual splendor. Even if it does have a less demanding set of gore… $TREAM IT