A comedy-fantasy movie that follows Lewis Barnavelt, the young boy who is going to live with his uncle Jonathan in his old house. There was a weird magician of Jonathan who before his death left a mysterious clock that can end the world. Suddenly, Lewis and his uncle find this clock and they enter a magical adventure together trying to solve its' mystery.
The short-term excitement of jump-scares and readily accessible spells are a poor trade-off for the steadily deepening mysteries and fears that have made Bellairs' book such an enduring classic.
It runs out of steam at about the midway point and falls victim to clumsy, overcooked plotting. It's fun for a while, until it becomes more trick than treat.
Each of the following statements are true: 1) Eli Roth made a film based on a 1973 children's novel. 2) The film stars Jack Black. 3) It's a blast. Who knew?
Despite its special effects and two proven stars, "The House With a Clock in Its Walls" never manages to create the magic we keep hoping will materialize.
The House With A Clock In Its Walls is charming and is certainly entertaining enough for families, with young children. It just doesn't quite hold up to other children horror-fantasies, despite having some really great ingredients.
