Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 13, 2018

With The House with a Clock in Its Walls, gore maestro Eli Roth (The Green Inferno, Cabin Fever) has left his comfort zone to expand his horizons into more family friendly filmmaking territory, shaping a tale made not of viscera and violence but rather witchcraft and wizardry with a metaphorical stab at exploring the human heart. The film follows the experiences of a young, recently orphaned boy who comes to live with his peculiar warlock uncle who himself lives in a supposedly haunted house. The film is based on the book of the same name by John Bellairs, a 1973 novel and one in a series featuring young protagonist Lewis Barnavelt, played by Owen Vaccaro (the Daddy's Home films) in this 2018 film adaptation.

Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) is a well-read 10-year-old boy whose life was recently turned upside down when both of his parents were killed in an automobile accident. He's moving away from the life he's known to live with his uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). The eccentric Jonathan lives in a house lined with clocks along its walls. He keeps Jack-O-Lanterns lit year round. He imposes no rules: no bedtime, no bath time, and tells Lewis he can eat whatever he wants for dinner, including chocolate chip cookies. When strange happenings begin to become too strange and Lewis grows suspicious of his uncle and his new surroundings, Jonathan admits that he's not just an ordinary man but also a practicing warlock. Jonathan's neighbor, Florence (Cate Blanchett), is a witch and a frequent guest in Jonathan's home. The two are searching for a clock hidden in the walls, placed there by the previous owners, the deceased Isaac and Selena Izard. At school, Lewis learns that local legend says the house he's living in is haunted. Lewis hears strange noises at night and witnesses peculiar happenings during the day, supporting that theory. When Jonathan's secrets are out and Lewis discovers that the house is essentially alive with animated objects that should have no life in them, Jonathan eventually agrees to train Lewis in the ways of magic. As Lewis attempts to build his magical skills, he befriends a boy at school named Tarby (Sunny Suljic), a popular and athletic student who is running for class president. Desperate to impress and keep his friend, Lewis dabbles in darker magics with disastrous result.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a superficial movie that dazzles and delights with its seamless integration of modern wizardry: computer generated special effects. The film expertly integrates them into its dense and detailed world -- Jonathan's house, primarily -- that like many of the Harry Potter interiors comes alive but often in the background rather than as a focal point. Certainly there is some fun to be had with the various animated objects, both friendly and, at film's end, not-so-friendly, but the film is first and foremost a character study, following young Lewis through the grieving process and exploring how dabbling in the world of magic and then devouring everything he can get his hands on both helps and hinders the process. Roth smartly balances character and special effects, creating a world of wonder but one that does not overwhelm the story. He makes magic integral but not the focal point. There's always a tangible sense of flesh and blood to the movie, pulling focus on Lewis' emotional needs throughout the entire journey. His own wizardry introduces him to dark and dangerous paths that may lead him to destruction but may also lead him to come to peace with his parents' tragic death and his new place, and abilities, in the world.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Eli Roth and Cinematographer Rogier Stoffers, who collaborated with Roth on the recent Death Wish remake, shot The House with a Clock in Its Walls digitally. The period setting and the density within the house might have been more organically at home on film, but the digital source carries the picture well enough, visually, and translates very well to Blu-ray. Beyond some low-light noise, particularly in those warmer interiors, the picture excels, boasting precision detail on the more densely constructed period attire, which reveals some pleasant tactile intricacies. Odds and ends around the home, whether warmer wooden accents, furnishings, nicknacks, or close-ups of magic textbooks, enjoy the fruits of top-line clarity and sharpness. Character details are a strength, with facial textures and hairs appearing nicely complex. Nighttime exteriors hold fairly firm in terms of black levels; there's a little wavering here and there, with blacks appearing slightly raised at times, but general depth is quite good. Skin tones are reflective of various environments, whether in the warm home interiors or the more evenly lit school interiors and exteriors. Beyond noise, there's only a hint of source/encode flaws: minuscule banding (most prominently accompanying the title card) and really nothing else. This is a very good Blu-ray presentation from Universal; the companion UHD, of course, improves on the picture in terms of both clarity and color.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sound design is critical to this movie's structure, cadence, and presentation. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack delivers it with care, attention to detail, and no shortage of big and immersive moments, yielding a very balanced track that is big on activity but capable of nuance as well. The opening moments are somewhat reminiscent of the open to Back to the Future, with ticking clock sounds encircling the listener, here mobile sounds rather than static sounds that are accompanied by a modest overhead component. The music to follow delivers the Harry Potter-influenced notes with wonderful immersion and attention to instrumental detail. The low end supports both music and effects. It's not overly pronounced, but it is noticeable, more of a complimentary delivery that adds weight but not usually excess. The track features several good "Atmos" moments, such as a school announcement declaring the winner of the fourth-grade election in chapter nine, a cacophony of noise making toys all doing their thing at one time in chapter 12, and a barrage of batty books beating poor Lewis in a key scene in the second half. The first features one of the best discrete overhead moments in the film, the second a rousing din with various pinpoint discrete effects standing out, and the third one of the more purely active, swirling sound moments in the movie. The track further handles the general atmosphere very well, particularly with regard to all those clocks, and perfectly draws the listener into the film's world. Dialogue is clear and well prioritized. Positioning is firm in the front-center.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The House with a Clock in Its Walls contains a number of supplemental features, including deleted scenes, an alternate opening and ending, featurettes, and a commentary track. A DVD copy of the film and a Movies Anywhere digital copy code are included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Alterante Opening and Ending (1080p): An alternate opening (4:08) and ending (1:24) with optional commentary by Director Eli Roth and Actor Jack Black.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 9:20 total runtime): Includes More Books, Please; A Horrible Practical Joke; Tarby Ditches Lewis; Eat Up; Play for Him; Get Out of the Way; Time Is of the Essence; The Clock That Never Breaks; and 12 Minutes to Go. With optional commentary by Director Eli Roth and Actor Jack Black.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 3:33): Humorous moments from the shoot.
• Warlocks and Witches (1080p): A four-part feature that takes a closer look at casting the main roles and the qualities the actors brought to the film. Included are Finding Lewis (2:16), Jack's Magical Journey (2:57), The Great Cate (2:19), and The Terrifying Eddie Izard (2:26).
• Movie Magic (1080p): A five-part feature that explores locations, objects, and visual effects. Included are The Ultimate Haunted House (2:26), Automatons Attack (2:18), Pumpkin Puke (2:10), Moving Pieces (1:24), and Baby Jack (1:36).
• Tick Tock: Bringing the Book to Life (1080p, 3:27): A short feature that looks at the original book and repurposing it for the screen.
• Eli Roth: Director's Journals (1080p): A six-part supplement that features Roth discussing locations and making various scenes, including a cameo appearance. Included are Candler Mansion (1:34), Newnan, GA (1:04), The Chair (1:02), Comrade Ivan (1:03), New Zebedee Elementary (1:06), and Wrap Day (1:39).
• Owen Goes Behind the Scenes (1080p): A four-part feature in which young Owen Vaccaro hosts a quick look through the set and life on it. Included are Around the Set (1:04), Behind the Camera (0:58), The Big Interview (1:02), and Downtime on the Set (1:05).
• Theme Song Challenge (1080p, 2:48): Eli Roth, Jack Black, Owen Vaccaro, Kyle MacLachlan, and Lorenza Izzo comically create a theme song for the film.
• Do You Know Jack Black? (1080p, 4:01): Owen Vaccaro, Kyle MacLachlan, and Lorenza Izzo attempt to answer questions about Jack Black.
• Abracadabra! (1080p, 1:06): Eli Roth performs a magic trick for Owen Vaccaro.
• Jack Black's Greatest Fear (1080p, 1:27): Owen Vaccaro and Eli Roth prank Jack Black on the set.
• The Mighty Wurlitzer (1080p, 2:26): Composer Nathan Barr talks about the instrument's history while he and Eli Roth discuss restoring it and using the instrument to create the film's unique score.
• Audio Commentary: Director Eli Roth and Actor Jack Black explore all of the basic commentary highlights with, unsurprising given Black's participation, a humorous bend.

The House with a Clock in Its Walls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Eli Roth crafts an enjoyable film with The House with a Clock in Its Walls. It can't quite find the heart it so desperately wants to uncover, though the film does balance narrative with visual effects in satisfying structural execution. Performances are strong, unsurprising with heavyweights like Black and Blanchett in lead roles, and young Owen Vaccaro capably carries the film as the protagonist. Universal's Blu-ray delivers rock-solid 1080p video, a terrific Atmos soundtrack, and a healthy assortment of bonus content. Recommended.