Review
JAMIE EAST AT THE MOVIES
The House With The Clock In Its Walls is elevated by it’s lead stars
You may think you're in for a sick and twisted gore-a-thon, as it's directed by Eli Roth, but it's more Goosebumps
WEIRDLY, every film in the column this week is based on a book!
John Bellair’s YA novel (having already been adapted for TV in 1979) takes us to the wonderfully named New Zebedee, where a clock ticks within the walls of a mysterious house owned by Jonathan Barnavelt (Jack Black), the uncle to Lewis - an orphaned 10 year old who arrives on his doorstep looking for stability - and getting an adventure.
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Jonathan is a slightly rubbish Warlock who, alongside his neighbour Florence (Cate Blanchett) tries to unpick the dangerous puzzle left by the house’s former owners - the evil Isaac and Selena Izard.
Directed by Eli Roth you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in for some sick and twisted twisted gore-a-thon (he’s most well known for the Hostel series).
This is Jack Black in full Goosebumps mode having the time of his life with Cate Blanchett occasionally nibbling on the scenery.
The two together are brilliant - with Blanchett a welcome calming influence on Black’s ‘exuberance’ (while looking like a sex-pest Orson Welles ina kimono).
The counterbalance works well.
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It’s obviously a bit Goosebumps, a bit Lemony Snickett, perhaps even some elements of Potter there (plot wise at least) and all set in what could be the next ‘The Room’ app (oh the hours I’ve lost to that).
It has a lovely Amblin sheen to it, but where Potter is steeped in responsibility and destiny, this is a much more casual affair.
“You wanna be a Warlock? Sure kid - read a book then” is about as close as we come to a Dumbledore soliloquy.
While adults will get frustrated at the pace, lack of tension (it can often feel rushed) and the actually completely pointless clock - kids will love the puking pumpkins and disturbing Jack Black baby segment.
They may not get the PTSD or holocaust subtext, but it’s the right side of scary and fantastical, with not much preachy morale to get in the way of their fun (although the obligatory death of parents and bullying are of course present).
A sometimes average film elevated above and beyond by it’s leads.
The House with the Clock in its Walls, 105mins (12)
★★★★☆
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