I will say I’ve watched this movie at least a dozen times in my life and it never fails to get a laugh out of me. Despite it being an older movie, released in 2006, its animation and talented voice actors made this movie a memorably long-lasting and enjoyable experience.

For a quick summary, “Monster House” is about three teenagers who get themselves involved in a paranormal escapade involving a haunted house. Unfortunately for them there isn’t something inside the house that is paranormal, but the house itself.

The most enjoyable parts in this movie had to be the sly, humorous quips, even when the characters themselves were in peril. Although it is difficult to take horror seriously when humor is introduced, this movie added in just enough of both mixes. Even with both humor and horror bubbling in the pot I was pleasantly surprised to find that grief had made its way into the plot.

Nearing the end of the movie, a backstory was revealed that described a wholesome love story of a war veteran and a circus contestant, better known in the 1900s as a ‘circus freak.’ The war veteran, Mr. Nebbercracker, was quick to rescue this woman in peril and they soon prepared themselves to start a new life. Unfortunately, this woman would succumb to a fatal construction accident including a group of children. This was all while her and Nebbercracker’s home was just being constructed. This all led to the woman’s soul soon haunting and taking control of the home later.

The end of the movie held a bittersweet conclusion where Nebbercracker’s home was destroyed, and his wife’s soul was finally laid to rest. The three teenagers who assisted in destroying Nebbercracker’s house later had a peaceful Halloween and the people who had been kidnapped by the house itself re-emerged from its basement where the house once stood, all most likely stumbling home in obscene confusion.

For my review I would confidently give this movie a 4.5/5 pumpkins. The talented actors, the themes, the tossed mixture of horror and humor, and the bittersweet conclusion all contributed to my pleasant reaction. I would recommend this movie for anyone who doesn’t like classical horror but wants a nice Halloween movie for the whole family to watch!