I hadn’t seen a good animated movie in a long time until I went to the cinema to see Monster House. The film sees D.J. left with babysitter Zee when his parents go away on a trip. The house directly opposite is inhabited by old Mr. Nebbercracker, a miserable man who steals kids’ toys if they dare to go near his house.
When D.J. and his friend Chowder lose control of Chowder’s new basketball while playing outside, D.J. attempts to reclaim it, resulting in a scuffle which sees Mr. Nebbercracker suffer a suspected heart attack.
D.J. feels guilty but begins to fear for his safety when the unoccupied house calls his phone late at night. D.J. and Chowder soon suspect that the house is haunted and is out for revenge. The duo save a young schoolgirl named Jenny from the house, and the trio set about uncovering the truth about the Monster House.
This film was amazing. I really felt as though I was six years old again. The animation is absolutely top-notch and the entire film is a joy to watch on an aesthetic level alone. The story was good and the characters were fun and were well played by their vocal counterparts. Like all the best “kids” movies, there are some adult jokes to be found – one of which had me chuckling for ages, and the tone was pretty dark in some places too.
OVERALL SUMMARY
Monster House may be a little bit creepy for very young kids so beware, but it is without a doubt the best animated movie to come along in years. This generation has missed out on seeing movies on the big screen such as Gremlins, The Goonies and even the original cut of E.T. but they now have their own cult classic to contend with.
