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Monster House

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Monster House (2006)

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Reviews Counted:155

Fresh:114

Rotten:41

Average Rating:6.8/10

Consensus: Monster House welcoms kids and adults alike into a household full of smart, monstrous fun.

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Genre: Childrens

US Box Office: $73,661,010

Synopsis: MONSTER HOUSE is a feat of blockbusting filmmaking--a visually stunning, witty tale that is sure to stimulate children and their parents. The film focuses on an anthropomorphic mansion, a haunted... MONSTER HOUSE is a feat of blockbusting filmmaking--a visually stunning, witty tale that is sure to stimulate children and their parents. The film focuses on an anthropomorphic mansion, a haunted house with human characteristics that actively frightens neighborhood folks as it attempts to reign over its inhabitants. One day, a trio of intrepid youngsters, sick of being terrorized, decide to fight back. They are cutely pubescent DJ (Mitchel Musso); his fumbling, chubby friend Chowder (Sam Lerner); and smart-as-a-whip tomboy Jenny (Spencer Locke), who immediately enchants the awkward boys. The local police are no help, so DJ, Chowder, and Jenny are left to their own clever devices, which result in a series of rollicking, hilarious, and sometimes scary adventures. A cast of colorful personalities surrounds the central characters, and they are voiced by luminaries who include Catherine O'Hara, Kevin James, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Kathleen Turner, Steve Buscemi, and the brilliant Fred Willard. And teen hipsters will delight in hearing the droll voice of Jon Heder (the title character of cult hit NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) as a deadbeat pizza maker nicknamed "Skull." First-time director Gil Kenan proves spirited and highly adept at mastering such a high-tech production, and followers of animation will want to pay attention to the use of new digital techniques that stray away from straightforward computer drawing. MONSTER HOUSE is executive produced by Robert Zemeckis, who helmed the innovative and sophisticated animated feature WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? in 1988. He once again proves that family fare need not be alienating to older viewers, but can appeal to on every level from childhood and upward. [More]

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nick Cannon, Jon Heder

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Nick Cannon, Jon Heder, Kevin James, Jason Lee, Catherine O'Hara, Kathleen Turner, Fred Willard

Director: Gil Kenan

Director: Gil Kenan
Screenwriter: Pamela Pettler, Rob Schrab, Dan Harmon
Producer: Robert Zemeckis, Steven Spielberg, Jason Clark, Steve Starkey, Jack Rapke
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

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Reviews for Monster House

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
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A rich, layered and often funny script, with some decent scares, as well as some knowing, hip scenes that satisfy with their edgy moments and lines.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
09/02/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Set on Halloween, the script is original and nicely creepy, even when the boys are joined by a redhead named Jenny.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
09/23/06
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The last act ends up marring what up to that point has been an above-average kiddie adventure.

Full Review Source: NYC Film Critic | comment Comment
08/19/06
Ethan Alter
Ethan Alter
NYC Film Critic

With a sensibility that falls somewhere between the Stephen King and Tim Burton, this is a horror movie for kids with bite, heart and a poignant happy ending that is entirely earned and completely rewarding.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
07/20/06
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

In a lovely neighbourhood there is a very old and dilapidated house that eats anything that lands on its property.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
08/02/06
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

Creepy in more ways than one: The 'performance capture' technology still results in animated human characters who look more disturbing than natural.

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
07/28/06
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Newfangled technology providing old-fashioned frights. Maybe these folks are on to something.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
08/14/06
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

It's part story and part spectacle, with the two halves being nicely balanced to offer something for just about everyone.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
07/21/06
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

Monster House, a frankly horrific and full-tilt hilarious family yarn about a man-snacking mansion. It's engineered to scare your pants off, split your sides and squeeze your tear ducts into submission.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/06
Amy Biancolli
Amy Biancolli
Houston Chronicle

The movie treats children with respect. Monster's pre-teens are sarcastic, think they're smarter than their parents and are going crazy over the opposite sex.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
07/21/06
Scott Bowles
Scott Bowles
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Monster House is crammed to the rafters with the kind of satisfying horror-lite scares that make it a perfect midsummer diversion.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
07/27/06
Sara Brady
Sara Brady
Premiere Magazine

What initially appears to be a straightforward haunted house tale morphs into a haunting tale about love, retribution and acceptance.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
07/26/06
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

Even at 87 minutes, Monster House overstays its welcome. The finale is an overbearingly loud chaos of splintered boards and sentiment.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
07/21/06
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

Seems less a joyous return to innocence and more like the nightmares we have while contemplating the real-estate market.

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment 1 Comment
07/20/06
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

A comedy at heart but potentially a kid's first horror movie, Monster House is a fine introduction to the young cinephile's realization that you can have a lark in the dark.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
07/21/06
Matt Caracappa
Matt Caracappa
Boxoffice Magazine

strikes the perfect mix for children and adults

Full Review Source: 7M Pictures | comment Comment
07/21/06
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
7M Pictures

The camera angles are dynamic, the dialogue wry, the story crackerjack, and the direction keeps everything moving along at just the right pace

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
07/14/06
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

Monster House may look like the sort of movie that is more or less safe for little kids, but the humour gets a little crude in places.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment 1 Comment
08/31/06
Peter T. Chattaway
Peter T. Chattaway
Christianity Today

When all's said and done, you wish the film had been about Nebbercracker and his girl.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
07/20/06
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

Monster House doesn't give specifics about when it takes place, but I swear it must be the '80's.

Full Review Source: Window to the Movies | comment Comment
12/03/06
Jeffrey Chen
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Monster House

September 18, 2008: Kenan and Zemeckis Reunite for Airman Opens in new window
Director Gil Kenan and producer Robert Zemeckis, the duo that brought you "Monster House," have announced plans to film an adaptation of "Artemis Fowl" author Eoin Colfer's book... More...

July 31, 2007: Sony Planning Three More Motion Capture Flicks
You know that fancy "motion capture animation" technique that's been employed in The Polar Express, Monster House, and the upcoming Beowulf? Looks like Sony Imageworks is... More...

July 26, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Mmmmmmmmmmm Box Office Feast!
Bart, Lisa, and the whole gang from Springfield will charge into multiplexes across North America and much of the world this weekend in the highly anticipated animated comedy... More...

February 09, 2007: Zemeckis & Lasseter to Deliver CG "John Carter of Mars"?
OK, a whole bunch of bloggers are falling all over each other to report this "speculation," but if they're on to something, it's a pretty big story. Well, a big story... More...

See All

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