After experiencing years of bad YA dystopian future films after the success of “The Hunger Games,” it appears that long tradition of studios using previous box office hits as templates for their future films is alive and well. And with “The House with a Clock in the Walls,” we see Universal try to mimic their own ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, but this time with Jack Black and Cate Blanchett leading the way.
In the new trailer for the children’s’ fantasy film, we meet a young boy who goes to live with his eccentric uncle and their “old hag” neighbor, played by Black and Blanchett, respectively. Of course, as you might expect, the two adults hide their true occupations – magic. Through the tutelage of his two mentors, the young boy learns the magical arts and becomes Harry Potter…errr…a warlock just in time to battle an enemy so devious that he put a clock in the walls of the house.
Sure, it sounds like we’re poking fun at the clear attempt of Universal to ape their own franchise with this new film from director Eli Roth. And yes, on the surface, it appears that’s exactly the case. However, with Black and Blanchett, the film does have some fine actors, with Black, in particular, surprising many with his recent mainstream work in ‘Jumanji 2’ and “Goosebumps.” Plus, even though Eli Roth’s output is suspect, to say the least, he has proven himself to be a filmmaker that can do dark and visually impressive projects.
We’ll see if “The House with Clocks in Its Walls” can become the next worldwide box office beast for Universal when it hits theaters September 21.
Here’s the official synopsis:
In the tradition of Amblin classics where fantastical events occur in the most unexpected places, Jack Black and two-time Academy Award® winner Cate Blanchett star in The House with a Clock in Its Walls, from Amblin Entertainment. The magical adventure tells the spine-tingling tale of 10-year-old Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking heart. But his new town’s sleepy façade jolts to life with a secret world of warlocks and witches when Lewis accidentally awakens the dead. Based on the beloved children’s classic written by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey, The House with a Clock in Its Walls is directed by master frightener Eli Roth and written by Eric Kripke (creator of TV’s Supernatural). Co-starring Kyle MacLachlan, Colleen Camp, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Vanessa Anne Williams and Sunny Suljic, it is produced by Mythology Entertainment’s Brad Fischer (Shutter Island) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), as well as Kripke.