Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘The House with a Clock in Its Walls’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

I have to admit, that I’m always incredibly curious about what a particular writer or filmmaker will bring to the table when it is announced that they are planning to try something new and leave the genre that gave them notoriety behind. Because when you’re a master of horror, like the late George Romero or the iconic Stephen King, you’re truly engrained in that genre and breaking out of it is no easy task. In fact, Romero found minimal success when he tried it by way of the film There’s Always Vanilla and King outright had to write under a pseudonym to make that happen. 
 
But seeing what creative minds have to offer up to other genres is downright fascinating and magical in its own right and when I heard that Director Eli Roth was going to attempt a little cross genre move of his own, well my ears perked right up. Because it was made clear early on that Mister Roth was going to try his hand at creating a family-oriented film, which considering Eli’s body of work, and the terrors he’s put on the screen, that seemed like quite the tall order when all is said and done. But, I simply had to know how this venture was going to turn out for him and it doesn’t take long to discover that Eli has successfully made the transition from horror director to family film director when one settles in to watch The House with a Clock in Its Walls.
 
Because this feels like a children’s classic from the get go, which is a wonderful thing, but what truly caught me off guard when it comes to this aspect of the film, is how fine a job the story does of encapsulating what it’s like to be a young child, thrust into a situation that one is not comfortable with and all of that is accomplished by making the adults seem larger than life, and by making Lewis’ new home uncomfortable and foreign and of course, the true centerpiece of awkwardness for all of us when we were young, making new friends at a new school. But while all of this is important to establish the wonder of Lewis’ world, what utterly shocked me when it comes to this motion picture, is what it has to offer for the adults sitting in the audience as well. 

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​Case in point, the fact that this motion picture deals with some heavy thematic concepts, such as loss and grief and the impact it has on a young mind since it’s clear here that Lewis is struggling mightily with the death of his parents and will do anything to feel as though they’re still in his life and that’s really handled in careful enough fashion that only adults will pick up on it, but the powerful concepts present in this film don’t end there. Because the movie also deals with the lasting trauma that can come with loss, as is evidenced by Florence Zimmerman’s struggles with how she lost her family, and the subtlety that comes with this part of the story is handled in respectful and genius fashion. 
 
However, while at first glance, one would never know that this movie came forth from the man who gave us the waking nightmare that is Hostel, Eli Roth never quite abandons his roots in this story because there are elements of horror to be found here as well. Granted, it’s presented to the audience in the most careful of fashion, but those perfectly chilling camera angels, paired nicely with some genuinely creepy moments add a wonderful level of gravity to the story, since it actually manages to create a solid sense of danger within the framework of the story, to the point where the viewer (and this reviewer) hope to see the good guys save the day since our villain has quite the dastardly plan when all is said and done.
 
But, while all of these components are important, there is of course one big question that needs to be answered when discussing this film, is it any fun? Because a kids’ film devoid of fun is simply a waste of time for parents and thankfully, the answer to that all-important question is a resounding yes. Because the delightful performances from the cast, and the lighthearted humor and magnificent visuals make this movie a blast to watch and there’s definitely something for everyone in this motion picture. So, if you’re looking to entertain the kids, or yourself for that matter, then definitely check this one out, because it’s just plain fun.

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