THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS (2018) Review
Directed by Eli Roth
Fantasy movies are slowly losing my interest these days, maybe because some are just replicating what successful fantasy franchises have done but maybe because some of them are bland and won’t have the guts to be grand. That’s why while I enjoyed The House with a Clock in its Walls, I am also disappointed that even though the story looks and feels rich, there aren’t that much visuals and depth the film presented.
The film tells the story of Lewis (Owen Vaccaro), a young orphan who moves to his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). But Jonathan isn’t your normal uncle, he and his house companion Florence (Cate Blanchett) are a powerful warlock and witch. But we all know that not all wizards are good. And unfortunately, things aren’t looking as magical as Lewis wanted his life to be.
Owen Vaccaro was charming, Jack Black was his usual funny on screen and Cate Blanchett still makes you listen when she talks and watch when she moves. The House with a Clock in its Walls feels like its from the Cirque du Freak franchise, I may only be familiar with The Vampire’s Assistant but the mixture of comedy, fantasy and mystery is fair. But you don’t get to be in awe of what you’re watching, the potential the story and its character has isn’t fully utilized.
But the film is decent, entertaining and gives the right amount of curiosity, imagination and thrills the audience would expect from it. It is perfect Halloween movie for the family. I wish it used more theatrics in making the audience feel the magic of it all, that even though most of the scenes where in the house, the events that happened are far larger than life itself.
3 OUT OF 5 STARS
“The House with a Clock in its Walls” is now showing in cinemas nationwide from United International Pictures. Also in 4D and IMAX 3D. Rated PG by the MTRCB.