History Film / TheHouseWithAClockInItsWalls

* TheFifties: While the original story was set from August 1948 to April 1949, the film gives a timestamp of 1955.

* BrokenBird: Mrs. Zimmerman can no longer use magic after the trauma of losing her husband and daughter in the war. [[spoiler: She gets better after accepting Lewis and Jonathan as her new family.]]

* FreezeFrameBonus: Just after Mrs. Zimmerman gives a somewhat vague statement about how some past trauma left her unable to use magic anymore, her arm moves in a way that reveals [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identification_in_Nazi_concentration_camps a small numeric tattoo]].

** In the book, Lewis found the plans and notes Isaac made about the clock and the doomsday cloud patterns hidden inside an old organ. Here, Jonathan is the one to find them, but can't read them because they are written in code--the same sort as used in the Captain Midnight serials, of which [[ContrivedCoincidence both Lewis and Isaac were fans]].

** In the book, Lewis found the plans and notes Isaac made about the clock and the doomsday cloud patterns hidden inside an old organ. Here, Jonathan had them all along, but couldn't read them because they were in a code--the same sort as used in the Captain Midnight serials, of which [[ContrivedCoincidence both Lewis and Isaac were fans]].

** Also, Mrs Zimmerman in the book is in her 60's and is a fairly prototypical nice old lady next door type (who also happens to be a powerful witch), whereas in the film she's played by the very beautiful and YoungerThanSheLooks 49-year old, Creator/CateBlanchett. No effort is made to make Blanchett look older or homelier, she simply looks like Cate Blanchett with grey hair, also making this a clear case of AgeLift.

** Also, Mrs Zimmerman in the book is in her 60's and is a fairly prototypical nice old lady next door type (who also happens to be a powerful witch), whereas in the film she's played by the very beautiful and YoungerThanSheLooks 49-year old, Creator/CateBlanchett. No effort is made to make Blanchett look older, she simply looks like Cate Blanchett with grey hair, also making this a clear case of AgeLift.

* AdaptationalAttractiveness: In the book, Lewis was a rather pudgy boy, which is an important plot point for why he gets picked on and tries to be friends with an athlete like Tarby (and why he tries to use the coin amulet in the sequel). Here he's small and thin, with the same plot being accomplished by giving him a typically nerdy appearance and interests.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[FalseFriend Tarby, who was only nice to Lewis to get votes for class president]]. He shows his true colors after winning once he loses his patience with Lewis, while the other bully turns out to be his dragon.

* TheBully: Tarby, and another bully who's initially played as the sole example of this until he's revealed to be Tarby's second-in-command.

* HateSink: [[TheBully Tarby and his crony]] are likely designated to be the most despicable characters to make the others (including [[spoiler:[[ShellShockedVeteran Isaac]] the BigBad]]) look sympathetic in comparison.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Tarby and his henchboy are extremely xenophobic of weirdos. This is prevalent considering the time setting TheFifties where social class issues were occurring that resulted in such events like [[RedScare McCarthyism]] and the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement (even though African American students are shown attending Lewis and Tarby's school with no apparent hard feelings from others and racial issues were never brought up) and being set at a time before geek culture and social deviance became acceptable and tolerable today.

* {{Slimeball}}: Tarby is a BrattyHalfPint type, a two-faced, slimy, shortsighted, xenophobic and selfish diaper stain of a FlatEarthAtheist ManipulativeBastard DirtyCoward who [[BaitTheDog Baited the Dog]] towards Lewis into thinking he is befriending him, when in reality he is just using him as an UnwittingPawn to make himself publicly look good to become class president. He even has TheDragon to act outwardly bratty at school to deviate negative attention from himself, when in reality he is as much of a school bully as his partner. By having a cast on his left hand at the beginning, he pulls a WoundedGazelleGambit to earn sympathy from others to make them think he's just another victim who needs love.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Tarby and his lackey, the two school bullies with nothing but contempt for Lewis.

* MythologyGag: Because in this version it is Isaac who is raised from the dead [[spoiler:and Selena is young rather than old]], it is his spectacles Lewis sees in Mrs. Hanchett's window rather than Selena's. And although the moment at the tomb is changed because it's a sarcophagus rather than a mausoleum, and the ChaseScene with the headlights was cut, Isaac's glasses still have [[ScaryShinyGlasses the telltale pale gleaming light]] his wife's had in the book. [[spoiler:The glasses are also prominently shown getting crushed in the clock's gears after the Izards fall, paralleling Selenna's smashed spectacles on her skull after the clock was destroyed in the book.]]

* MythologyGag: Because in this version it is Isaac who is raised from the dead [[spoiler:and Selena is young rather than old]], it is his spectacles Lewis sees in Mrs. Hanchett's window rather than Selena's. And although the moment at the tomb is changed because it's a sarcophagus rather than a mausoleum, and the ChaseScene with the headlights was cut, Isaac's glasses still have [[ScaryShinyGlasses the telltale pale gleaming light]] his wife's had in the book.

* MythologyGag: Because in this version it is Isaac who is raised from the dead [[spoiler:and Selena is young rather than old]], it is his spectacles Lewis sees in Mrs. Hanchett's window rather than Selena's. Although the moment at the tomb is changed because it's a sarcophagus rather than a mausoleum, and the ChaseScene with the headlights was cut, Isaac's glasses still have [[ScaryShinyGlasses the telltale pale gleaming light]] his wife's had in the book.

* MythologyGag: Because in this version it is Isaac who is raised from the dead [[spoiler:and Selena is young rather than old]], it is his spectacles Lewis sees in Mrs. Hanchett's window rather than Selena's. Although the moment at the tomb is changed because it's a sarcophagus rather than a mausoleum, and the ChaseScene with the headlights was cut, Isaac's glasses still have [[ScaryShinySpectacles the telltale pale gleaming light]] his wife's had in the book.

* IKnowYoureStillInThereSomewhereFight: Jonathan tries to appeal to this trope with Isaac, calling on not only [[WeUsedToBeFriends their former friendship]] but the goodness he knows must still be in there which would not want to carry out such an evil plan. It fails.

* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Aside from what is mentioned below about Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman's families, this version of Isaac Izard was once a good man and a friend to Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman, and was even part of a magic show with Jonathan for years, before [[spoiler:falling into despair and misanthropy thanks to his experiences in World War II and]] becoming the crazed, world-destroying warlock we know from the book. Additionally it is shown that Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman actually tried to talk Isaac out of his plans, and tried to break into the house to end his spell/save his life, rather than simply being left in the dark as to his activities before his sudden demise. And finally, not only was a reason for Isaac's misanthropy never given in detail in the book, but here it was [[spoiler:the demon Azazel]] who gave him the plans for the clock, rather than it being something he invented and designed himself.

* CreativeClosingCredits: The chair chases the griffin topiary with a chainsaw (after which the standard disclaimer appears as "no furniture or griffin topiaries were harmed in the making of this film"); then little animations of various characters and items appear, all drawn in a style reminiscent of Edward Gorey (who illustrated the book).

* AdaptationalBackstoryChange: Aside from what is mentioned below about Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman's families, this version of Isaac Izard was once a good man and a friend to Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman, and was even part of a magic show with Jonathan for years, before falling into despair and misanthropy thanks to his experiences in World War II and becoming the crazed, world-destroying warlock we know from the book. Additionally it is shown that Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman actually tried to talk Isaac out of his plans, and tried to break into the house to end his spell/save his life, rather than simply being left in the dark as to his activities before his sudden demise. And finally, not only was a reason for Isaac's misanthropy never given in detail in the book, but here it was [[spoiler:the demon Azazel]] who gave him the plans for the clock, rather than it being something he invented and designed himself.

** In the book it was Selenna who was brought BackFromTheDead by Lewis to impress Tarby (with a judicious bit of manipulation by planting her name in his mind to write in the magic circle). Here, it's Isaac himself (who in the book only appeared as the clock was striking and summoning him back, and dissipated when it was destroyed). As a result, while Selena does still do various manipulative things in the background (most notably appearing as Lewis's mother in his dreams to get him to find the book and key), she is reduced to Isaac's Dragon here (or at best, a {{CoDragon|s}}), rather than the main BigBad as she was in the book.

** In the book it was Selenna who was brought BackFromTheDead by Lewis to impress Tarby (with a judicious bit of manipulation by planting her name in his mind to write in the magic circle). Here, it's Isaac himself (who in the book only appeared as the clock was striking and summoning him back, and dissipated when it was destroyed). As a result, while Selena does still do various manipulative things in the background (most notably appearing as Lewis's mother in his dreams to get him to find the book and key), she is reduced to Isaac's Dragon here (or at best, a {{Co Dragon}}|s), rather than the main BigBad as she was in the book.

** In the book it was Selenna who was brought BackFromTheDead by Lewis to impress Tarby (with a judicious bit of manipulation by planting her name in his mind to write in the magic circle). Here, it's Isaac himself (who in the book only appeared as the clock was striking and summoning him back, and dissipated when it was destroyed). As a result, while Selena does still do various manipulative things in the background (most notably appearing as Lewis's mother in his dreams to get him to find the book and key), she is reduced to Isaac's Dragon here (or at best, a CoDragon|s), rather than the main BigBad as she was in the book.

** In the book it was Selenna who was brought BackFromTheDead by Lewis to impress Tarby (with a judicious bit of manipulation by planting her name in his mind to write in the magic circle). Here, it's Isaac himself (who in the book only appeared as the clock was striking and summoning him back, and dissipated when it was destroyed). As a result, while Selena does still do various manipulative things in the background (most notably appearing as Lewis's mother in his dreams to get him to find the book and key), she is reduced to Isaac's Dragon here (or at best, a CoDragon), rather than the main BigBad as she was in the book.

* BerserkButton: Saying anything that regards if Tarby is scared really insults him.

* BitchInSheepsClothing: [[FalseFriend Tarby, who was only nice to Lewis to get votes for class president]]. He shows his true colors after winning once he loses his patience with Lewis while the other bully turns out to be his dragon.

* EarlyBirdCameo: Rose Rita appears in person in the film, as opposed to the book, where she was merely mentioned as his new friend in the last chapter and first appearing properly in the second book.

* EnfantTerrible: Tarby is revealed to be one, when he threatens Lewis to break his arms if word gets out he's a DirtyCoward and then sock him when Lewis tries to fight back.

* FlatEarthAtheist: Tarby absolutely refuses to believe in magic and even after witnessing [[spoiler:Isaac Izard returning to life]], he is in vehement denial of the whole thing.

* HairTriggerTemper: Following getting his cast off and winning the class presidential election, Tarby increasingly loses patience with Lewis, from Lewis initially refusing to use dark magic to prove to him magic's existence to Tarby finally had it with Lewis when the latter tried to go to him for help only to get punched in the stomach by the fed up former.

* KillAndReplace: [[spoiler: Izard's wife, Selena, did this with their neighbor Ms. Hanchit]].

* NeverMyFault: Tarby is the one who caused the events of [[spoiler:the BigBad coming back to life to cause havoc]], and even bolts when he witnessed [[spoiler:him coming back to life]], but he is in vehement denial of it and is a WeirdnessCensor FlatEarthAtheist StrawVulcan DirtyCoward.

* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Tarby and his henchboy are extremely xenophobic of weirdos. This is prevalent considering the time setting TheFifties where social class issues were occurring that resulted in such events like [[RedScare McCarthyism]] and the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement (even though African American students are shown attending the Lewis' and Tarby's school with no apparent hard feelings from others and racial issues were never brought up) and being set at a time before geek culture and social deviance became acceptable and tolerable today.
* RaceLift: [[spoiler: Selena Izard was white in the novel; she's African-American in the film]].

* {{Shapeshifting}}: Selena Izard is shown to have this ability, which she uses to disguise herself as [[spoiler:Ms. Hanchit and Lewis's Mother.]]

* {{Slimeball}}: Tarby is a BrattyHalfPint type, a two-faced, slimy, shortsighted, xenophobic and selfish diaper stain of a FlatEarthAtheist ManipulativeBastard DirtyCoward who BaitTheDog towards Lewis into thinking he is befriending him when in reality he is just using him as an UnwittingPawn to make himself publicly look good to become class president. He even has TheDragon to act outwardly bratty at school to deviate negative attention from himself when in reality he is much of a school bully as his partner. By having a cast on his left hand at the beginning, he pulls a WoundedGazelleGambit to earn sympathy from others to make them think he's just another victim who needs love.
* SlobsVersusSnobs: A variation, the "slob" happens to be the Lewis, the kid demeaned for being weird, while the "snob" is the popular, athletic, but selfish, shortsighted and xenophobic Tarby.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Tarby and his lackey, the two school bullies with nothing, but contempt for Lewis.
* TickTockTerror: The first trailer heavily emphasizes the oppressive, rythmic clock chimes to create a mysterious, foreboding and, well, clock-themed atmosphere. Throughout the film itself, a deep tick-tock can be heard in the background almost constantly.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: A non-fatal example. After winning the class presidential election, Tarby ditches Lewis after the latter have served his purpose to help him win.

* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: In the books, Florence Zimmermann was widowed long ago, and never had any children; she's relatively happy though. In the film, she's still mourning the loss of her husband and daughter in the war, and has lost access to her powers as a result.

* TheBully: Tarby and another bully who's initially to be solely to be this until it's revealed to be Tarby's second-in-command.

* {{Shapeshifting}}: Selena Izard is shown to have this ability, which she uses to disguise herself as [[spoiler:Ms. Hanchit and Jonathan's Mother.]]