Movie Review | The House with a Clock in Its Walls

10.11.2018 – Fantasy-based adapted from novels are getting rare nowadays with every blockbuster film now is making comic books as its source material. There are also films that surely are underrated that it flew under the radar for those not in the know that immediately disappeared in some cinemas. "The House with a Clock in Its Walls," quite a mouthful for a title is surely one of those films that can be considered incognito that in some cinemas rarely gets the second look.

It might not be one of those popular family fantasy films that bring a horde of fans but certainly a whole lot of fun if you have Jack Black and Cate Blanchett in lead you must have noticed it.

The star of the film is not entirely shined at Jack Black and Cate Blanchett, but The House with a Clock in Its Walls has Owen Vaccaro, a new face and the hero portraying Lewis Barnavelt. It’s quite noting that this is not your typical fantasy film for kids. Certainly, a good one at hand when it comes to its visuals.



Not dark as you thought and intentionally to be a PG film, but when you have Jack Black things gets a little crazy on the set and on screen. But over the years it seems Mr. Black has mellowed and a bit toned down on some of his characters. This time his acting refined and more moving to serious but still one of the funniest actors with good chemistry with Cate Blanchett.

Cate Blanchett must had fun with the cast behind the scenes and chemistry-wise Florence Zimmerman with Black’s Jonathan Barnavelt had a good platatonic relationship that translates to how they did the press tours to promote this film that some can be sold to see this.



Originally adapted from the novel by John Bellairs of the same name the usual coming of age kid having gone through tragedy is of a ride through the scenes with Eli Roth at the helm. It was a delightful hue of colours that makes the haunted house more charming than something out from a film that uses an amateur video recorder. "The House with a Clock in Its Walls” was not all thrill ride when you talk about pacing though it makes the audience not only enjoy the scenic view it made them think and analyze.

On the edge of everyone’s seat it is a something that keeps you think what happens next as to just being entertained with whatever reaction the film throws at you. Though sometimes you can’t avoid the down parts of this film it does show its imperfection, but at the same time you have to think this was a PG-rated film for everyone and you stop at nitpicking its flaws.



Overall, you’ll never see Cate Blanchett as athletic character as her bad-ass villainy as Hela in Thor Ragnarok, but her comedic chops are impeccable chemistry with Jack Black making this an underrated film that you should see before it leaves the cinemas entirely and don’t forget to sit through the film’s animated post-credits that includes the interesting score.

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"The House with a Clock in Its Walls” is now showing in Philippine cinemas since September 19, 2017, from Universal Pictures, it is distributed by Universal International Pictures in the Philippines and also playing in Australian cinemas since 20 October 2018.

RATED: B+