Parents' Guide to The House with a Clock in Its Walls

Movie PG 2018 104 minutes
The House with a Clock in Its Walls movie poster: Collage of Jonathan, Florence, and Lewis surrounded by swirling magic

Common Sense Media Review

Sandie Angulo Chen By Sandie Angulo Chen , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 11+

Eli Roth's aged-down spookfest has jump-worthy scenes.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 11+?

Any Positive Content?

  • 1:03
  • The House with a Clock in Its Walls Trailer
  • The House With a Clock in Its Walls movie: Mrs. Zimmerman, Lewis, and Uncle Jonathan in shadow indoors, looking stern
  • The House With a Clock in Its Walls movie: Jonathan listens to the walls with. stethoscope

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 253 parent reviews

 

 

See all 253 parent reviews
age 11+

Based on 120 kid reviews

Kids say this movie is a mixed bag, with strong opinions about its suitability for different ages. While some find it a fun introduction to spooky themes and enjoy its humor, many reviews express concern over its intense and disturbing scenes, leading to calls for a higher rating than PG, especially for younger viewers who may be more sensitive.

  • scary elements
  • mixed age appeal
  • intense scenes
  • unsuitable for young children
  • varied viewer experiences
  • humor and creativity
Summarized with AI
 

 

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What's the Story?

THE HOUSE WITH THE CLOCK IN ITS WALLS is based on author John Bellairs' classic children's novel set in 1955 about tween orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro), who's sent to live with his single Uncle Jonathan (Jack Black) in New Zebedee, Michigan. Soon after arriving at Uncle Jonathan's large, haunted-looking mansion, Lewis discovers that the eccentric Jonathan and his best friend/neighbor, Mrs. Florence Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), are (spoiler alert!) actually a warlock and witch -- and the house is full of magical, creepy occurrences. One of those eerie elements is the titular clock, which is loudly counting down to something designed by the house's former inhabitants. Lewis convinces Jonathan to teach him spells and other magic, and the sessions result in a climactic problem for the trio of magicians.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 253 ):
Kids say ( 120 ):

Director Eli Roth's first foray into family-friendly movies isn't a masterpiece, but it's just spooky and funny enough to entertain young moviegoers who are new to the horror genre. Black and Blanchett are an amusing pair, trading barbs, bickering, and working together to keep Lewis safe. Given her mostly serious filmography, it's easy to forget that Blanchett has finely honed comedic skills. Unfortunately, the laughs here are sometimes awkwardly timed. But Black, as always, is goofy and hams it up in an affable way for the audience. And Vaccaro, who played the son in both Daddy's Home movies, is believable as a shy, slightly nerdy orphan who's hoping to fit in at a new home and school.

The movie is technically well made, but its story is uneven in parts. It's young-kid friendly one moment and then unsettling the next. And once the villains are revealed, the movie gets downright creepy. A lot starts happening rather quickly in the final act, and a few flashbacks and the big magical battle scenes may frighten kids who are sensitive to scary stuff. Roth still has some wrinkles to iron out if he wants to continue making starter horror films for kids, but this first attempt is serviceable enough to be on rotation for Halloween night and sleepover viewings.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in The House with a Clock in Its Walls. Is it realistic, stylized, or fantastical? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Did you find the movie scary? Why or why not? How much scary stuff can kids handle?

  • Director Eli Roth has said that this movie is a perfect "starter horror movie." Do you agree? What are some other horror movies that make good introductions to the genre?

  • Do you consider anyone in the movie a role model? If so, what character strengths do they display?

  • What era is this movie set in? How can you tell? Consider the wardrobes, dialogue, cars, school backgrounds; is it clear in what decade the story is set?

Movie Details

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The House with a Clock in Its Walls movie poster: Collage of Jonathan, Florence, and Lewis surrounded by swirling magic

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