While Eli Roth is a staple of the horror genre, the director has also made a memorable movie for kids. 2018’sThe House with a Clock in its Wallsis a fun and smart film about 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) moving into a creepy and haunted old house. Roth is known for directing much darker fare, including 2002’sCabin Fever, 2005’sHostel, and 2013’sThe Green Inferno. But it’s always cool to see a filmmaker do something different.
Horror fans might not associate Eli Roth with a children’s fantasy movie, butThe House with a Clock in its Wallsis an enjoyable addition to this genre. The film is also based on a popular children’s book series that was published from 1973 to 2008. What happens during Eli Roth’sThe House with a Clock in its Wallsand how does the movie end?
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What Is The House With A Clock In Its Walls About?
The House with a Clock in its Wallsis a great Eli Roth kids movie about Lewis Barnavelt living with his uncle Jonathan Barnavelt (Jack Black). But Jonathan is no ordinary uncle, and Lewis soon finds out that he’s a warlock. The cast of characters is what makesThe House with a Clock in its Wallssuch an enjoyable movie. Jonathan is good friends with a witch named Florence Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) and their scenes are particularly entertaining.
While there are someentertaining ’90s horror TV shows aimed at kids,The House with a Clock in its Wallsproves that there are several fantasy/horror movies aimed at this audience as well. But there is plenty here for adults to enjoy. Lewis is instantly relatable. He hopes to bond with his uncle while also wanting to learn as much as he can about this strange and fascinating old house.
Lewis is also a fun protagonist to follow because he wants to see if he can do magic on his own. While Jonathan isn’t a fan of that idea, Lewis is strong-willed and wants to follow his gut instincts. It’s also fun to watch Jack Black having so much fun in the movie. WhileThe House with a Clock in its Wallsmight not be considered amovie with one of the best Cate Blanchett performances, she is perfectly mysterious and eerie as Florence.
There aredifferent types of fantasy, from low to high, andThe House with a Clock in its Wallsworks so well because the clock itself is fun. It’s easy for audiences to put themselves in Lewis’s position and feel equally fascinated and horrified by this source of magic. And because he lost his parents, Lewis is a sympathetic and well-written character.
What Is The House With A Clock In Its Walls Based On?
The House with a Clock in its Wallsis adapted from the book series by John Bellairs with illustrations by Edward Gorey. The first book came out in 1973 and there are twelve in total. The twelfth and final book,The Sign of the Sinister Sorcerer, was published in 2008. Gorey is known for his Gothic art style and he illustratedThe War of the Worldsby H.G. Wells andDraculaby Bram Stoker.
Just like there aregreat TV shows based on young adult novels, there have been some memorable movies that bring these beloved stories to life. John Bellairs wrote several other books, all in the fantasy genre, includingThe Face in the Forestwhich was published in 1969.
How Does The House With A Clock In Its Walls End?
The ending ofThe House with a Clock in its Wallsis memorable because the story turns in a wild and intense direction. Jonathan becomes a baby thanks to the clock’s magic. Lewis throws the Magic 8-Ball onto the ground after seeing the words “Say goodbye” and learning a tough lesson about moving on from his parents' death. When the clock is broken, Lewis uses the clock’s magics to defeat the evil witch and warlock couple Selena Izard (Renée Elise Goldsberry) and Isaac Izard (Kyle McLaughlan). It’s fun seeing them disappear into thin air.
The House with a Clock in its Wallshas a happy ending typical ofmovies aimed at kids, particularly Christmas movies. Florence and Jonathan get Lewis from school and it’s clear that the characters are getting along great. Lewis has a better time at school, becoming friends with Rose Rita Pottinger (Vanessa Anne Williams).
Likewholesome sci-fi movies for children,The House with a Clock in its Wallsis sweet and charming. The ending is just what audiences want. It’s nice to imagine Lewis living a happy life with Florence and Jonathan and becoming part of a family again after experiencing a terrible loss.
