The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018) Review - Director Series
After a career in horror, Eli took a job remaking a 70s thriller Death Wish. Though there are horrific moments it was Eli’s first foray out of horror. He took a small step back into the genre with his next film. A family horror film based on the first book in a young adult novel series.
The first of 12 novels, they follow teen Lewis Barnavelt. He is a recently orphaned teen who is sent to live with his uncle a warlock with a witch neighbor. On the first night, Lewis hears a strange ticking from inside the house’s walls.
Maybe it is watching this right after the abysmal Death Wish but this was better than expected. I was skeptical when it was announced Eli was going to be making a family film. If you’ve seen his other work Eli is the last filmmaker you’d expect to make a family film.
Roth knows the tone he needs for the film and casts two excellent committed actors to bring the vision to life. Jack Black and Cate Blanchett are a pair of good Warlock and Witch who become guardians of a teenage boy.
They do a lot of the film’s heavy lifting. If not for their committed performances, this film would be a slog to get through. It makes a lot of sense that Jack Black got cast in here. This is just three years removed from his turn as R. L. Stine in the Goosebumps film.
Jack could make an entire career out of making young adult horror films. His playful mannerisms fit right into this genre. It would be interesting to know how Cate got into this film. How she was approached, and if there was a sizeable sum of money given to her.
If there was she didn’t treat this like a cash grab. Cate is having a blast as Jack’s witch neighbor. Clad all in purple she has a tragic backstory but finds comfort and joy practicing magic with Jack and teach the young Lewis.
Cate and Jack do a lot of heavy lifting because the film’s weak point is the script. It’s under-baked, talking through details with my wife after the film we were putting pieces together in the story that the script did not provide.
What I’d love to know if Cate and Jack’s clapbacks were scripted or improvised. I’d like to think there is a Judd Apatow-style film reel of Jack and Cate trading improvised insults.
Though the film is enjoyable in the moment (again thanks to the actors) it is ultimately forgettable due to the less-than-stellar script. It’s neither a disaster nor a raging success, which is probably why there has not been a sequel announced even though it was a financial success.
Honestly, this could probably make for a decent young adult series on Netflix or Disney Plus.
The House with a Clock in Its Walls is fun in the moment but forgettable. It was a welcome breath of fresh air after Roth’s disastrous Death Wish. If you have kids around the age of 10-13 give this a shot.
P.S. I will warn there is a moment in this film that is more horrifying than anything Eli Roth ever put on screen. Jack Black’s baby body is all I will say.
3.5/5 Stars (Probably should be 3 but my expectations were exceeded).
