The House with a Clock in its Walls was directed by Eli Roth and the storyline was written by John Bellairs. Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, and Owen Vaccaro are the main characters of this amusing fantasy.

The movie takes place in the 1970s when an orphan boy, Lewis, goes to live with his goofy uncle in his old, creepy house. Jonathan’s oldest and close friend, Mrs. Zimmerman, is occasionally around helping Jonathan.

The relationships between some of the characters were very thought out and interesting. Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman were a very comedic, entertaining pair of characters with their constant bickering and smart comebacks. Losing his family, Lewis feels alone, so Mrs. Zimmerman and Jonathan protect and love Lewis like their own, which was a nice added element to the story.

After Lewis goes to live with Jonathan, he finds it hard to fit in. Soon he finds out that Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman practice magic, and he has a great interest in practicing magic himself.  Lewis, who is a curious, young boy brings back the dead. But the dark figure is an old friend of Jonathan’s and Mrs. Zimmerman, and he displays a terrible threat to the entire world. So Jonathan, Mrs. Zimmerman, and Lewis team up to put a stop to his evil ways.

The visuals and scenes are amazing. This movie has a great deal of magic that would interest younger audiences more than adults. Although, the movie does have many comedic parts that would entertain many teenage and adult audiences. But the magic and wizardry would open the minds and imaginations of children.

Although “The House with a Clock in its Walls” is entertaining, it does lack a storyline. The story has a conflict and resolution, but it was vague in some areas, which is perfect for children. As a child you can enjoy the movie just for the magic and creativity.

I recommend this movie to families with younger children. The children would be interested in the fantasy part, while the adults would be interested in the comedic pairing of Jack Black and Cate Blanchett.