Monster House

We all went to see Monster House yesterday. In 3D! It totally rocked! It's something I haven't really ever seen before, which is a horror movie for kids. I mean, I've seen movies for kids with ghosts in them and stuff, but this movie is definitely majoring in scary, minoring in funny. (In fact, it was too scary for one of our children, who shall remain nameless so as to protect his or her street cred. Because, you know, mad elementary school students read my blog.) It reminded me a lot of a John Bellairs book. We've read several, and they are terrifying and excellent--haven't come across a dud yet, and the very mention of The Mansion in the Mist is enough to give certain of the kids the willies. Ray Bradbury's horror books for kids are excellent too. In fact, both of those guys wrote horror books for kids that are way better than most horror books for adults. Similarly, Monster House is a horror movie for kids that is actually way better than most horror movies for adults. I mean, I enjoy a gore fest as much as, or possibly more than, the next guy, but most horror movies just don't have much in them that is actually scary, whereas this one does. Sure, there's no gratuitous nudity, but, on the positve side, there are no spring-loaded cats either. Also, no talking animals, and while some minor celebrities provide voices, it's not a celebrity voice showcase either. It's just a really good scary movie for kids. (And, as it turns out, adults!)