The House with a Clock in Its Walls

2018
PG
1h 45m

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

57K

YOUR RATING

Cate Blanchett, Jack Black, and Owen Vaccaro in The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)

A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.

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Dark Fantasy Steampunk Comedy Family Fantasy Horror Mystery Sci-Fi

A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.1/10

57K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Trivia
While talking to Lewis about how she lost her magic and family, Florence Zimmerman's bare arm is shown, and a tattoo is visible implying that she was in a concentration camp.

Goofs
Florence uses the phrase "24-7", a saying that didn't come into use until the mid-1980s.

Quotes
Jonathan Barnavelt: Have a look around, it's perfectly safe...
[a tentacled monster opens a door, Jonathan shoves it back]
Lewis Barnavelt: THAT's safe?
Jonathan Barnavelt: As long as it's fed.

Crazy credits
The Universal Pictures logo is the 1970s version, from the era when the "House With a Clock in its Walls" story was first published (1973). It also runs backwards, in keeping with the titular clock's magical power.

Alternate versions
Theatrical versions of the movie are longer by 10 seconds, with a bumper for Universal Parks and Resorts placed before the Amblin Partners logo. this is removed from home video releases however, instead cutting directly to the Amblin Partners logo after the credits.

Connections
Featured in The One Show: Episode dated 6 September 2018 (2018)

Soundtracks
Hey Lolly Lolly
Written by Jimmie Thomas and Oscar McLollie
Performed by Oscar McLollie & His Honeyjumpers
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from Universal Music Enteprises

User reviews484

Review

Featured review

6/10

Silly but Entertaining

In 1955, the orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) arrives in Michigan to live with his uncle Jonathan Barnavelt (Jack Black). Soon he learns that his uncle is a warlock and his best friend Florence Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett) is a witch. Jonathan accepts to teach witchcrafts to Lewis and explains that there is only one rule in the house: the boy cannot open a cabinet in the house. Lewis is outcast at school and his mate Tarby Corrigan (Sunny Suljic) is the only boy that pays attention to him. He decides to invite Tarby to come home and the boy opens the cabinet and they discover a necromancy book inside. Lewis goes to the cemetery with Tarby to resurrect a dead and they choose the tomb of Isaac Izard (Kyle MacLachlan), who is a powerful wizard and plans to destroy mankind. What will happen next?

"The House with a Clock in Its Walls" is a silly but entertaining film with Cate Blanchett, Jack Black and Kyle MacLachlan. The target audience is teenagers but also entertains adults. The special effects are top-notch. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Mistério do Relógio na Parede" ("The Mystery of the Clock in the Wall")