By Creative Media Times

“Things are quite different here,” says Jack Black’s character in the new gothic fantasy horror film from director Eli Roth, “The House with a Clock in its Walls.”

The film tells the story of a 10-year-old orphan Lewis Barnavelt (Owen Vaccaro) who moves to live with his warlock uncle Jonathan (Jack Black). The trailer shows him being welcomed by his next-door neighbor Mrs. Zimmermann (Cate Blanchett) who turns out to be witch.

Based on the 1973 novel of the same name by John Bellairs and illustrated by Edward Gorey, the film was adapted by Eric Kripke (Supernatura, Revolution, Timeless).

Though included by many as part of the “splat pack,” a collection of filmmakers known for extreme violence and gore in their horror films, the film is in fact produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment which of course is responsible for plenty of family-oriented films. The source novel itself was intended by Bellairs for children.

Writer Kripke recently tweeted along with the trailer’s release: “When I was 10, I fell in love with this book. The only fan letter I ever wrote was to its author. It’s one of the main inspirations for #spn. Now we got to make it into a movie. Dreams do come true. If you like #spn, see where it all began.”

Also starring Kyle MacLachlan *Twin Peaks), Colleen Camp (Clue) and Renée Elise Goldsberry among others. “The House with a Clock in Its Walls” is set to premiere on Sept. 21.