Watched this film tonight with my 10 and 13 year old boys. Took a little while to get into it but loved the children and the storyline. Had some great themes for kids with magic, bullies, family, halloween and an adorable orphan all combined to make an entertaining film. I especially liked that they had used a real black panther instead of some CGI effect (really hate how they've used a CGI cat in the new Witches film!). However, what could have been a really fantastic film was spoiled for me and the kids by the odd choice of jarring, mismatched music in places and the terrible slow mos and camera work. At one point they switched to an outside shot of the house about 5 times for no real reason (and this shot was the fakest looking thing in the whole movie!) Think this film would have really benefited from a talented director. At times, it came across very pantomimish. Nevertheless, the ending, though predictable, managed to bring a tear to my eye and, all in all, I would recommend it as an enjoyable family film.
23 Reviews
A sweet, family friendly movie
selkie-81 November 2020
My family and I just watched this and enjoyed it. If you want a gentle, young children appropriate, not-scary hallowe'en movie with a happy ending, this one may suit.
It's not supposed to be a Hollywood blockbuster. It's for a young audience that still believes that magic can be real and good things still happen.
Not without some good things, but ultimately is strictly for kids
Wizard-83 August 2016
Normally I don't bother with kid-oriented movies such as this, but I decided to watch this one because it was directed (and co-written) by William Sachs, whose previous movies have been mainly R-rated exploitation fare for adults. This sudden change in pace for Sachs may explain some of the problems in the finished product. The movie is somewhat too goofy for the most part, enough that even kids may be annoyed by the movie's low mentality. The story is pretty slow and stretched out (there are far too many plot threads), though oddly there are some moments here and there where footage seems to be missing. Also, the relatively low budget may explain why the movie often looks and feels like a television effort made for a network like Nickelodeon.
On the other hand, the end product does have some strengths. Ben Kingsley, as expected, gives a professional performance. He helps to make his character a multi-dimensional person and not a stereotype. And the scenes where he is paired up with child actor Matt Weinberg (who plays the orphan boy Max) generate some great chemistry. In fact, this part of the movie - the relationship between these two people - is without doubt the strongest part of the movie.
I think the movie would have been a lot better had it instead focused on that aforementioned part of the movie instead of adding all that padding and juvenile nonsense. As it is, the movie is best suited for young kids only. Their parents, on the other hand, should have some reading material on hand.
On the other hand, the end product does have some strengths. Ben Kingsley, as expected, gives a professional performance. He helps to make his character a multi-dimensional person and not a stereotype. And the scenes where he is paired up with child actor Matt Weinberg (who plays the orphan boy Max) generate some great chemistry. In fact, this part of the movie - the relationship between these two people - is without doubt the strongest part of the movie.
I think the movie would have been a lot better had it instead focused on that aforementioned part of the movie instead of adding all that padding and juvenile nonsense. As it is, the movie is best suited for young kids only. Their parents, on the other hand, should have some reading material on hand.
Not a good movie for the whole family
princess_kt883 December 2005
This is the worst movie that I have ever seen. The only reason I give it a 2 rather than a 1 is that my nephew thought parts of it were funny. Afterwards he gave the movie an 8, but on further questioning, movies that he liked got a 10 and movies that he didn't like got an 8. I watched this movie with my brother, sister-in-law, nephew and Mom. None of us, other than my nephew, could believe how stupid it was. Parts of it did not make any sense. The plot was predictable. The acting was less than stellar. I can't imagine why Ben Kingsley made this movie. He must have needed some extra cash. Kids movies are often unrealistic, and one just enjoys them for the fun of it, but the only fun we got out of this was laughing in disbelief at how bad this movie was. There were several "pee" jokes, and we had to spend the next few days listening to my nephew scream "I gotta pee!" over and over again. This movie might be okay for young kids, but will NOT be fun for the whole family.
Simply its a B Movie
shrayess8 November 2020
a bored child might like this movie
ronaldklein119 December 2011
I saw this movie as a member of the Adult Jury of the festival that awarded it the Best of the Festival prize. I was surprised that it won an award because it was not very clever, and had nothing of interest in the story. It is a film for children aged 3-5, it has colorful costumes and an animal. as i watched it i felt that it was condescending towards its audience. I thought of it as a box of candy on screen, nothing to interest or even challenge the minds of the kids who would be watching it, just something sweet to keep them happy for an hour or so. Considering the quality of the other feature films shown in the festival I was at a loss to understand how it came to win. And what motivated Ben Kinglsey to star in it.
Adorable children's (family) movie!
srmccarthy12 October 2017
I was skeptical about watching this movie, as although I really enjoy children's movies, this one LOOKED like it might be a bit too childish. But to my surprise, there is quite a story to it, for the young and old! Matt Weinberg is one of the most charming little actors I have ever seen! The movie, of course, consists of many magic tricks, which makes it very pleasant to watch. There is also familiar music, that is so entertaining! Give it chance, especially if you have to entertain the wee little ones :)
for little kids
SnoopyStyle2 January 2021
After a troubled performance, magician The Great Zamboni (Ben Kingsley) has retreated to his Spooky House with his pet jaguar Shadow. Mona (Katharine Isabelle) and her two idiot male minions are causing havoc and burns down his van. They steal a goat from a group of children. The kids track their goat to the Spooky House and they break into the house. Zamboni befriends Max who is scared to be sent to the orphanage.
It's a little kids movie. It does have the greatness that is Ben Kingsley and he's trying to give this light family entertainment real weight. Little kids would like watching these little kids exploring the magician's house and learning some magic tricks. This is really only for little kids and maybe not even for them. It's not fast paced enough or brightly colored enough. If it could spend more time with the little characters, it could make this more compelling. They should at least give them the chance although they don't seem to be good actors.
It's a little kids movie. It does have the greatness that is Ben Kingsley and he's trying to give this light family entertainment real weight. Little kids would like watching these little kids exploring the magician's house and learning some magic tricks. This is really only for little kids and maybe not even for them. It's not fast paced enough or brightly colored enough. If it could spend more time with the little characters, it could make this more compelling. They should at least give them the chance although they don't seem to be good actors.
Something you'd find at the bottom of a bargain bin
Blazehgehg22 February 2024
Somehow after watching Ginger Snaps I saw one of the actresses (Katherine Isabelle) was in some Halloween kids movie trash and thought, "Yeah, sure, I can probably tolerate that."
Folks, the struggle was real. Somehow they roped Ben Kingsley into this toilet water. He plays a disgraced magician named Zamboni who falls into deep depression after accidentally making his wife disappear for real.
This is one of those kids movies that feels like it was made with the idea that the viewer is probably going to be playing with toys or video games or something while it's on, because it's mostly long stretches of nothing happening punctuated by scenes where kids run around screaming.
It's also one of those factory-made movies where it feels like it was made up on the spot. Yeah, sure, our protagonist team of kids just has a goat for some reason, and the local bullies decide they just need to steal it. They tie the goat to a tree, but the goat gets loose, and it just happens to wander into a graveyard, and the graveyard just so happens to be on Zamboni's property. Whatever.
A whole movie of somebody asking "And then what happened?" and whoever was writing the script had to think it up right then and there. Practically Mad Libs. Just over 90 minutes, but it feels like it's four hours long.
I'm way too old for this movie. At least Ben Kingsley seems to be having fun.
Folks, the struggle was real. Somehow they roped Ben Kingsley into this toilet water. He plays a disgraced magician named Zamboni who falls into deep depression after accidentally making his wife disappear for real.
This is one of those kids movies that feels like it was made with the idea that the viewer is probably going to be playing with toys or video games or something while it's on, because it's mostly long stretches of nothing happening punctuated by scenes where kids run around screaming.
It's also one of those factory-made movies where it feels like it was made up on the spot. Yeah, sure, our protagonist team of kids just has a goat for some reason, and the local bullies decide they just need to steal it. They tie the goat to a tree, but the goat gets loose, and it just happens to wander into a graveyard, and the graveyard just so happens to be on Zamboni's property. Whatever.
A whole movie of somebody asking "And then what happened?" and whoever was writing the script had to think it up right then and there. Practically Mad Libs. Just over 90 minutes, but it feels like it's four hours long.
I'm way too old for this movie. At least Ben Kingsley seems to be having fun.
yes, it's worth a look
suecooper6928 November 2000
A cracking film for all ages, but in particular for the youngsters, I think they'll love it. Lots of terrific magic tricks, a little bit of (mild) horror and a great Spooky House setting too. Ben Kingsley is excellent playing the part of the Great Zamboni, as is little Matt Weinberg as orphan Max. It's not just illusions and hocus pocus horror though, there's a nice heart warming story along with it. Definitely worth a look.
This movie Changed me as a human being.
jackmcmacktheth8 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
One calm and not so dark night i was lookin through ol' reliable TUBI for some Great watches like i usually do. Which I Always find the greats Like Big freakin' snake, a great movie. And Clowntergeist and murdlecycle, all great movies i reccomend. As i was saying, I then came across a movie so fantastical, that went by the name of, "Spooky house." I thought to myself, This movie cant be THAT scary, But boy oh boy i had underestamated this movie like Moist critikal did the Men in black animated TV show. I then said, "Its game On then." in a whispering tone like the main character from cowboys VS dinosuars did when he said, "cup of coffee." I WAS READY. Or so i thought i was. I clicked play and i suddenly began having chest pulpatations, which usually means im in for a decent scare, but Spooky house is not some usual scare. This movie left a mark on me that i can never remove like the time when I crashed on my bike as a child. So if you "tough guys" are looking at this review wondering if im being serious, Well you clench them cheecks and buckle up because im not even MENTIONED the part where WILLIAM AFTON from the five nights at candys comes out and threaten you ON STAGE like a middle school band concert. I didnt this movie would be HALF AS SCARY as the ENDING FROM SPOOKY BUDDIES where butterball launches a missle into the halloween hounds face while making the most disturbing sound i've ever heard on a kids movie. But I WAS WRONG. 15 minutes in and i was already sweating like R kelly in a disney ad. Then it happened, I was jumpscared 25 times in the course of 4 seconds, which is no big deal for me but some l*berals snowflakes might find it disturbing. But then, I literally threw my generic popcorn that was inside my red and white disneymovie bag that said "popcorn" in large bubble letters IN the air when Springtrap AKA freddy fazberington from freddy fazbear ultimate custom night said "Its time to spring the trap" which might have been a little too much for me. But what the flip would you do in a situation like that! I walked into this movie as a frial skinny little boy and walked out a strong man. I couldnt sleep for a MONTH and am just now recovering. I debated even writing this review because it would remind me of the horrors I saw watching this movie.
Great for kids, Groans for Grown-ups
steve_shubert6 August 2004
OK, my wife rented this off-the-shelf, thinking it would be a cute "family" movie, so we were forced to buy pizza and sit through it with our kids (9 & 5). In a nutshell, the kids loved it, although my 5 year old thought parts of it were a bit "scary", and didn't want to sit through it. For my wife and I, however, it was definitely a tremendous groaner...The biggest plus was the fact that it was SOOOO bad that we actually laughed at how bad it was! This was one of those "I'm too drunk to go to sleep...what's on TV?" B-movies from the old USA Network "Up All Night" series (if you remember those).
There were parts of it that actually reminded us of the old "Little Rascals" shows, where the kids---and their so-obviously-memorized scripts---were almost like puppets. The super-fast-motion scenes to speed things up were good for a chuckle.
Rent this for your kids to enjoy, but don't dare watch it yourself unless you want to bang your head afterwards for wasting this much time.
There were parts of it that actually reminded us of the old "Little Rascals" shows, where the kids---and their so-obviously-memorized scripts---were almost like puppets. The super-fast-motion scenes to speed things up were good for a chuckle.
Rent this for your kids to enjoy, but don't dare watch it yourself unless you want to bang your head afterwards for wasting this much time.
Sir Ben, how could you?
Helismoke11 November 2023
Fans of anything " Spooky" will be sadly disappointed. Not even Sir Ben Kingsley could resurrect this Zombie of a movie! It moves around in stilted acting, a contrived plot, and a story line that's improbable. The only real star is the house itself, as there isn't a young boy anywhere who wouldn't want to live there. A character named " Yuri" speaks in American Russian immigrant stilted speech, and a mechanical black Jaguar gives the same mechanical performance as most of the performers here. If you loved the haunted houses of the Bowery Boys, Abbott and Costello, Adams Family, the Munsters, etc, this ain't it! And Mercedes Ruehl must have needed to pay a tax bill, otherwise why would she be in this unfunny movie? And the " Young Punks" went to the " Three Stooges School of Acting". Sir Ben did come across as a sad, unloved recluse, and the kid " Max" was charming in his role.
Fun way to spend an afternoon!
lindaog14 November 2004
Just watched Spooky House on Sky Movies, and my daughter and I both enjoyed it. The magic element was good to watch, with sufficient mild horror to keep an 8-year old happy (and jumping), and the wonderful Ben Kingsley for her mum!
I actually found the dummies in the magician's house quite scary, having always been a little afraid of ventriloquists' dummies since I was a child.
Spooky House was actually more fun to watch than Disney's Haunted Mansion, as it didn't have all the inane plotting of that film. This was simple movie hokum that just leaves you feeling glad you watched it.
I actually found the dummies in the magician's house quite scary, having always been a little afraid of ventriloquists' dummies since I was a child.
Spooky House was actually more fun to watch than Disney's Haunted Mansion, as it didn't have all the inane plotting of that film. This was simple movie hokum that just leaves you feeling glad you watched it.
Definitely one for the whole family to enjoy.
pawsxld-18 October 2003
This movie has a lot of heart. The magic aspect is great fun and the characters are people you really care about. Ben Kingsley's character, The Great Zamboni has much depth and many secrets. I really like the relationships between the kids, and especially the relationship between Max and Zamboni. The movie is just good fun and the ending is beautiful. We need more movies like this.
Wonderful Movie!
msgwenn24 May 2001
Spooky House is one of the best children's movies I have seen in a long time. The actors are wonderful! The special effects are fantastic. Max and The Great Zamboni have a special relationship that tugs at the heart strings. A must for every family to see.
One of the best children's film I've seen!
daytrader6429 April 2001
This movie will warm your heart and tickle your funny bone all at the same time! Ben Kingsley is superb in his character as the Great Zamboni. Younger children and preteen will have the most fun with this and they will be heading to the music store to buy the soundtrack also! The special effects will set you back 2 feet! Kudos to Bill Sachs to a job WELL DONE! Can't wait till it hits the BIG screen so we can see it again and again!
Excellent film!
christosyr9 November 2020
Movie for Kids and Parents
holter498 August 2001
I just want to say that I am glad to have had the opportunity to view this film prior to its' release. This is going to do a lot of good for society as a whole when viewed. It is so refreshing to see such a work of art. Very good message driven film.
It's a kid's movie, get over it
Teeny158911 April 2021
So many reviews on here are talking about the predictable plot and the goofiness and the silliness of it, blah blah blah. I had the video of this movie as a kid and LOVED it. Because I loved it so much as a kid I continue to speak highly of it.
I saw one person on here saying it's not a good family film because they watched it with their parents and they didn't like it...yet they were old enough to be writing an IMDB review?
Watch it with your KIDS. It is a great film for KIDS. Adults who watch this film as KIDS really enjoy it.
I personally give it an 8 because there is some poor acting courtesy of the child actors, but you don't notice these things when you're a KID yourself.
I saw one person on here saying it's not a good family film because they watched it with their parents and they didn't like it...yet they were old enough to be writing an IMDB review?
Watch it with your KIDS. It is a great film for KIDS. Adults who watch this film as KIDS really enjoy it.
I personally give it an 8 because there is some poor acting courtesy of the child actors, but you don't notice these things when you're a KID yourself.
Funny sweet and wholesome.
kiwicoolnick26 March 2022
For the 'film critics' on here I will just say yes it's amazing that you noticed the bad direction. But who cares? It's a kids movie and it is highly entertaining and good hearted. I loved that it was free of characters with an attitude, no streetculture, no constant wise cracks. We loved it. Better times.
Touching and enjoyable family film
Woodyanders13 September 2013
Warning: Spoilers
Mysterious reclusive magician the Great Zamboni (an excellent performance by Ben Kingsley) and his pet jaguar Shadow reside by themselves in the Spooky House, an old mansion that's rigged with magic tricks and hidden chambers. Young orphan Max (an appealing portrayal by Max Weinberg) attempts to befriend the gruff and unsociable Zamboni. When a trio of bullies who work for eccentric local crime queen Boss (robustly essayed with lip-smacking hammy relish by Mercedes Ruehl) chase Max and his friends into the Spooky House on Halloween, a night of hilarious magic and amazing illusions ensues. Director William Sachs, who also co-wrote the pleasant script with his wife Margaret, relates the entertaining at a brisk pace, maintains a winning good-natured tone throughout, offers plenty of amusingly goofy and inoffensive humor, and neatly evokes a playful ooga-booga Halloween atmosphere. However, it's the relationship that develops between Max and Zamboni that gives this film a tremendous amount of heart and warmth, thereby making it quite special and moving (the upbeat ending in particular is simply lovely). Jason Fuchs, Ronald Joshua Scott, Simon Baker, and Chaz Monet do solid and engaging work as Max's loyal friends. A pre-"Ginger Snaps" Katharine Isabelle has a ball as mean head bully Mona. The groovy soundtrack, Thomas Burstyn's sharp cinematography, and Gary Schyman's lively score are all up to par. A nice little movie.
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