Film Review: ‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’ is Movie Magic

CHICAGO – “The House With The Clock In Its Walls” is a surprisingly restrained and endearing haunted house pic for kids just getting rid of their training wheels. It’s all a spooky atmosphere with cobwebs galore, creaking doors, a stained glass window which changes on its own, and a library of books which at times resemble the avifauna predators from the Hitchcock classic “The Birds.”

Young orphan Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) is sent to live with his eccentric kimono wearing uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) in small town Michigan after his parents are killed in a car crash. He soon discovers that his uncle is a warlock, albeit a mediocre one. But his next door neighbor, Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), is a much more powerful purple clad witch. Together, they trade insults like Ralph and Alice on”The Honeymooners,” but with knowing glances as they maintain a solid but platonic friendship. Jack Black seems right at home in this frolic full of fantasy, cocking an eyebrow and getting remarkable mileage out of simply uttering the word “creepy.” Ms. Blanchett sports an occasional French accent and wields the most powerful umbrella this side of Mary Poppins.

“The House With a Clock in Its Walls” opens everywhere in on September 21st, in IMAX and regular screenings. See local listings for IMAX theaters and show times. Featuring Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle McLachlan and Colleen Camp. Screenplay adapted by Eric Kripke, from a novel by John Bellairs. Directed by Eli Roth. Rated “PG”