**After Thoughts**

**The Good**
• It has a somewhat creepy atmosphere that maintains some sense of wonder.
• Okay morals, that, for myself, didn't work the way it was trying to.
• Jack Black and Cate Blanchett are a quirky and lovable pair that I thought was the highlight of the movie.
• Visually it works with the environment and makes the movie feel that much more haunting yet inviting to young and older eyes.
• Scares are good and will leave children in a state of fear for a bit. For adults, don't expect anything but jumpscares or little quiet moments. But on the plus side, the designs of the baddies here are actually quite scary in their own right. Especially in the way they move and interact with the cast.

**The Bad**
• The plot is something we have seen time and time before from these types of movies. It doesn't really bring anything new to the moral plane as well with its story, so it is nothing special. But some could argue it would leave an impression on younger viewers more than most other films like it.
• Owen Vaccaro's character just didn't work for me at all, and besides plot, was the most disappointing thing about the movie. Him trying to be overly unique and stereotypical was annoying, to say the least. While I'm not doubting the actor, I just think the script and imagination went overboard with the character's design.

**Conclusion**
The House with a Clock in Its Walls is an okay kid's scary film to put on during the month of October. While lacking in its story, you could say it makes up for it with the background feeling it leaves you with. Characters aren't anything special and the lessons to be learnt are probably already in the child's mind, to begin with. Not adding to anything with its own unique flair sadly. Basically, it's a mood building piece you put on before you put on the real scary movie.