In 1955, 10-year-old Lewis Barnavelt’s (Owen Vaccaro) parents were killed in a car accident. Now, he is on a bus bound for New Zebedee, Michigan, to live with an uncle he hardly knows. Jonathan Barnavelt (Jack Black) is a free spirited warlock who knows nothing about raising a child—he’s still very much a child himself. He used to be a stage magician, but now spends his days bickering with next door neighbor Mrs. Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), who used to be quite the spell-caster herself, until a personal tragedy drained her of her magical energy. Jonathan lives in a big, mysterious house, filled with an alarming number of clocks of various shapes and sizes. And the clocks are just the start of the strange wonders inside this home, which also include a stained glass window, a lounge chair, automatons, and a topiary lion that all appear to come to life. The house had previously belonged to Jonathan’s former stage partner, Isaac Izard (Kyle MacLachlan), who had mysteriously died a year earlier and was suspected of murdering his wife Selna (Renée Elise Goldsberry) in the process.

Lewis is an intelligent kid, who has a love for vocabulary, though he’s not very good socially. He has trouble fitting in at school, which isn’t helped by the fact that he is constantly wearing aviator goggles like his favorite TV character, The Indomitable Captain Midnight. When Lewis first arrives, he suspects that his uncle is hiding something. He hears strange noises at night, and sees his uncle behaving oddly, looking for a clock in the walls of the house. Lewis also starts to see visions of his mother, asking him to bring her the book and the key, whatever that means. When Lewis learns that his uncle is a warlock, he immediately requests to be taught how to cast spells. Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman take the boy under their wing and start him off with the basics, but warn him about the dangers of more advanced blood magic. As Lewis learns to hone his skills, he starts to use them to make his situation at school a little more tolerable and tries to impress a friend. However, things backfire and he accidentally unleashes a deadly, powerful force that must be stopped.

I was surprised when I first saw that the PG-rated The House with a Clock in Its Walls was going to be directed by Eli Roth, a man who is known for his incredibly gruesome horror films. However, the director finds an excellent blend of humor and family-friendly horror that is just scary enough, but not too terrifying for younger viewers. There is nothing gruesome—except for some pumpkin puke, and leaf-based lion topiary projectile excrement. The film was produced by Amblin Entertainment, and it feels like the company has gone back to its roots, calling back to its adventure-filled, family-friendly action/thrillers of the early-mid 80s. This is the type of movie I loved growing up—outcast Lewis finds himself in this fantastical, wondrous new world of magic and wizardry, and must rise up to be the hero to fight off an evil force.

The house in the film is like a character upon itself. It is an amazing set, with so many interesting aspects to explore over the course of the film. It also offers many opportunities for humor—the dog-like lounge chair is so much fun. The human cast is also great, and really embody their characters. Jack Black is perfectly cast as this absent-minded, free-spirited warlock who just rolls with the punches. Cate Blanchett is absolutely hilarious as his bickering partner-in-crime. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her do comedy before, but she is a natural, and so delightful on screen. And young Owen Vaccaro holds his own working alongside such big stars.

Universal’s 4K Ultra HD release looks and sounds excellent. The picture is clean and crisp throughout, without any film grain. The 4K picture is incredibly detailed, showcasing all of the various wonders and knickknacks strewn throughout the house, and the special effects blend seamlessly with the rest of the film. It really feels like the various creatures that come to life in the house are actually there. The colors look rich and natural, and darker scenes didn’t show any signs of black crush. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack provides a wonderfully immersive experience that makes the viewer feel a part of the action on screen—whether it be the sounds of creaking floor boards, clocks chiming, or creatures coming to life.

The 4K Ultra HD release comes packed in standard UHD keepcase with a slipcover, and contains an insert with a code to redeem for a 4K Movies Anywhere digital copy of the film. The bonus features included on both 4K and Blu-ray discs include an alternate opening and ending, 9 deleted scenes, a gag reel, and an audio commentary. In addition, the Blu-ray includes over 45-minutes of additional behind-the-scenes featurettes and fun with the cast and crew.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:45:03)

4K Ultra HD:
• 2160p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• HDR 10
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, Spanish DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1, French DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Blu-ray:

• 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• Audio: English Dolby Atmos, English Descriptive Video Service, Spanish DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1, French DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1
• Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French

Digital (for redemption deadline, see NBCUcodes.com):

• 4K Digital copy redeemable via Movies Anywhere

Extras:

The following features can be found on both the 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray discs, plus the Digital

• Alternate Opening and Ending (5:35)
  Available with optional commentary by director Eli Roth and actor Jack Black. Play All, or select from:
  • Alternate Opening (4:08)
    Starts a year earlier than the final cut opening before jumping ahead to a year later with Lewis on the bus. Some of this footage is used for flashbacks in the final cut of the film.
  • Alternate Ending (1:24)
    Short backyard dance montage to close out the film.
• Deleted Scenes (9:20)
  Collection of 9 deleted scenes with optional commentary by director Eli Roth and actor Jack Black. Play All, or select from:
  • More Books, Please (1:48)
  • A Horrible Practical Joke (1:06)
  • Tarby Ditches Lewis (1:18)
  • Eat Up (1:28)
  • Play for Him (:55)
  • Get Out of the Way (1:06)
  • Time Is of the Essence (:24)
  • The Clock That Never Breaks (:56)
  • 12 Minutes to Go (:25)
• Gag Reel (3:33)
  Fun with the cast as they flub their lines, giggle, dance, and have a good time on set.
• Feature Commentary with Director Eli Roth and Actor Jack Black (1:45:03)
  Eli Roth and Jack Black provide a fun, entertaining and informative commentary throughout the film. They get a little sidetracked at the beginning, talking about Jack Black’s preparation to go on tour with Tenacious D. Once they reel things back in, they get into a more standard commentary, talking about the cast, the set, and pointing out various Easter eggs strewn throughout the film. They also talk about how Jack broke into acting via a video game ad in the 80s, his nervousness about working with Cate Blanchett, working his mole into his character, and more. The two really play well off one another.

The following features can only be found on the Blu-ray disc & Digital

• Warlocks and Witches (9:58)
  A look at the cast of the film. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with with director Eli Roth, and stars Cate Blanchett (“Florence Zimmerman”), Owen Vaccaro (“Lewis Barnavelt”), Lorenza Izzo (“Mother”), Jack Black (“Jonathan Barnavelt”), Kyle MacLachlan (“Isaac Izard”), and Renée Elise Goldsberry (“Selena Izard”). Play All, or select from:
  • Finding Lewis (2:16)
    The director and cast talk about working with Owen Vaccaro. Includes audition footage of the young star.
  • Jack’s Magical Journey (2:57)
    The director and cast talk about the character of Jonathan Barnavelt, and working with Jack Black.
  • The Great Cate (2:19)
    The director and cast talk about the character of Florence Zimmerman, and working with Cate Blanchett.
  • The Terrifying Isaac Izard (2:26)
    The director and cast talk about Kyle MacLachlan’s transformation into the evil Isaac Izard.
• Movie Magic (9:53)
  A look at the making of the film with the cast and crew. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with with director Eli Roth, production designer Jon Hutman, set decorator Ellen Brill, and stars Jack Black, Owen Vaccaro, and Cate Blanchett. Play All, or select from:
  • The Ultimate Haunted House (2:26)
    Take a tour of the incredibly detailed and unique house that plays a central role in the movie.
    
  • Automatons Attack (2:18)
    A look at bringing the creepy mechanical automatons to life.
  • Pumpkin Puke (2:10)
    The cast and filmmakers talk about filming the pumpkin attack sequence and dealing with the sticky pumpkin puke.
  • Moving Pieces (1:24)
    A look at the clock room set.
  • Baby Jack (1:36)
    A look at the creepy animatronic Jack Black baby.
    
• Tick Tock: Bringing the Book to Life (3:27)
  The filmmakers talk about adapting Jon Bellairs’ book for the big screen, keeping it a scary horror film, but also aiming it for families and a younger audience members. Includes interviews with director Eli Roth, screenwriter/producer Eric Kripke, producers Bradley J. Fischer & James Vanderbilt, and stars Jack Black & Cate Blanchett.
• Eli Roth: Director’s Journals (7:23)
  Collection of short behind-the-scenes videos with director Eli Roth. Play All, or select from:
  • Candler Mansion (1:34)
    A look at Isaac’s secret laboratory.
  • Newnan, GA (1:04)
    Filming the house exteriors in Newnan, GA.
  • The Chair (1:02)
    Bringing the chair to life.
  • Comrade Ivan (1:03)
    Director Eli Roth talks about his cameo as Comrade Ivan in the mirror.
  • New Zebedee Elementary (1:06)
    Shooting the school exteriors.
  • Wrap Day (1:39)
    The last day of filming, and a look at the crew jackets.
• Owen Goes Behind the Scenes (4:11)
  Collection of short behind-the-scenes with with young star Owen Vaccaro as he walks around the set with a Go Pro camera. Play All, or select from:
  • Around the Set (1:04)
    Owen walks around the school set talking to some of the cast and crew members.
  • Behind the Camera (:58)
    Owen and Sunny Suljic (“Tarby Corrigan”) film each other interviewing each other.
  • The Big Interview (1:02)
    Owen tours the house set, and interviews Jack Black and Eli Roth.
  • Downtime on Set (1:05)
    Owen heads through the wardrobe trailer, and gambles on dice with Sunny.
• Theme Song Challenge (2:48)
  Director Eli Roth and cast members Jack Black, Owen Vaccaro, Lorenza Izzo and Kyle MacLachlan join forces to come up with a unique theme song for the film.
• Do You Know Jack Black? (4:01)
  Cast members Owen Vaccaro, Lorenza Izzo and Kyle MacLachlan compete in a Jack Black trivia challenge gameshow, hosted by Jack Black.
• Abracadabra! (1:06)
  Eli Roth performs a card trick for Owen Vaccaro
• Jack Black’s Greatest Fear (1:27)
  Eli Roth and Owen Vaccaro play a prank on Jack Black, filling his trailer with goats.
• The Mighty Wurlitzer (2:26)
  Composer Nathan Barr demonstrates the 1928 organ he restored and used to create the film’s unique score.

Final Thoughts:

The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a fun and exciting thriller that the whole family can enjoy together. It has some frights, but nothing that should be too scarring for younger viewers. It has an interesting story, sets up a beautiful, fantastical world, has some excellent special effects, and a cast that is hilarious and delightful. Universal’s 4K release looks and sounds great, and the discs contain a nice selection of bonus material that is sure to please fans and entertain younger viewers. This is a solid release that comes highly recommended.