Monster House DVD Review

"Monster House" reviews

DVD

Monster House

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2006-12-07 16:00:30

Provider

DVD Review

Spooky stuff. The classic story of the house all the local kids are scared of gets quality animation with a twist.

DJ is a 12 year old boy who lives opposite the old Nebbercracker house. He's seen it move and eat kids toys that land on it's lawn. Add to that, cranky old Mr Nebbercracker is not a neighbour to go trick or treating with! After saving brainy schoolgirl Jenny from it's grasp, along with the help of his best pal Chowder, DJ knows for sure the house is alive. It's Halloween, so there's little time to save the neighbourhood from being eaten by this brick and mortar Monster.

As DJ's babysitter is too concerned with her boyfriend, and the cops think they're pranksters, it's up to the three youngsters to take the house on alone. But they've got to get inside it to discover it's secret and beat it.

Monster House was originally to be made as live action and then as a fully animated film. Eventually, as with the Robert Zemeckis' (he a producer here) The Polar Express, motion capture was employed and the result is a dirtier rougher and consequently a much much better film than the Express Christmas fayre - coming on more like a Tim Burton-lite production. All the characters get slightly exaggerated - though not to the degree that they're unbelievable - and the casting - including Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Kathleen Turner as the house(!) - is spot-on. Occasional gags for older viewers are dropped in as the action and plot scuttle along with plenty of tension to keep everyone enthralled.

Fascinating extras include art and creative galleries plus loads of short informative episodes that take you behind the scenes to meet the talent, explain the technology, as well as show you the art and creativity at it's heart. All without destroying the mystery, but portraying the obvious enthusiasm of everyone involved.

It all adds up to make this an, at times, genuinely scary movie for younger viewers, whilst still fantastic fun for everyone.