Monster House: The Horror Film That Taught Kids A Lesson

WORDS: Hanan Osman

What was the first horror film you watched? I answered ‘Sinister’ but wanted to be more  technical. My earliest memory of a film that instilled genuine fear in me was watching  ‘Monster House’ at eight years old. Initial reviews were quick to criticise it’s PG-rating and  overall viewers were surprised it was marketed as a film for young people. Although  frightening, I found myself at the end of the film at peace with lingering worries and it  made me think if this was intentional.  

‘Monster House’ came out in 2006, directed by Gil Kenan and the screenplay written by  Dan Harmon, Pamela Pettler and Rob Schrab. It follows pre-teen DJ Walters, convinced  that his neighbour’s house is alive and haunted. He get’s his friends Chowder and Jenny  to help investigate. His neighbour, Nebbercracker, comes across short-tempered and  hates anyone near his home. Its revealed that Nebbercracker’s wife, Constance, was  accidentally killed years ago and her spirit controls the house. The kids devise a plan to  enter the ‘heart of the house’ and set her spirit free. The story concludes with the  neighbourhood becoming safe again, the kids are awarded for their bravery and  Nebbercracker found peace. 

INITIAL REVIEWS AND FILM’S THEMES

From 2000-2006, the most popular animated children films were Shrek, Monsters Inc., The  Incredibles and Ice Age. Once Monster House premiered, it was clear it disrupted an  established pattern: the light-hearted norm for children movies. Initial reviews didn’t shy  away from bringing this to light.  

“Its too dark for the kiddies, but doesn't have enough adult flavour for an older audience.”  - Dennis Schwartz, Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews (12.8.008).  

“Acceptable as a kids film only as a punishment tool.”  

- Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star (20.7.2006).  

“The movie is a creepfest. And I don't mean that kindly.”  

- Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post (21.7.2006).  

The director, Gil Kenan, intentions for the film demonstrate the traditional perspective  on children films must be nuanced. Jackie K Cooper interviewed him and he mentioned  he didn’t make the movie to separate adults and children. “I tried to make a movie that  interests me now and as a kid.” He added that kids are smart and can watch a movie that  has themes that stick with them. “I didn’t make a movie for kids nor parents, just trying to  make a movie that had depth to it.”  

Not all reviews critiqued the film’s rating, many understood Kenan’s intentions and  interpreted beyond the ‘surface-level scare factor’. Matt Brunson from Creative Loafing  stated the film was about “love, retribution and acceptance.” Similarly, Terry Lawson from 

Detroit Free Press highlighted the movie respecting kid’s intelligence and “…their ability to  separate fantasy from reality.” Majority of children movies’ plot stay in a comfort zone  that’s distant from reality, implying that directors and creators believe children want to  watch something that ponders on their imagination and simultaneously is digestible.

However, this isn’t always the case. Hollywood Archives interviewed the teens that  voiced the three main protagonists. Their opinions highlight many young people’s take  on the movie, therefore adults reaction undermines their emotional maturity to grasp  the film’s inspiring lessons. Spencer Locke, who voices Jenny, says:  

“I know that when I was little I always wanted to see a scary movie but I couldn’t. This movie is  funny and exciting…and still a “scary” movie”.  

WHAT LESSONS DID I LEARN?  

DJ and Nebbercracker are no different from one another, in terms of psychological  challenges they face. This highlighted the two main lessons I learned from the film as a kid. 

1. Understanding others before judging them  

DJ was judged by his friends, family, police officers and babysitters for believing that the  house across the street was alive. Similar to the kids judging Nebbercracker for his anger  towards anyone near his home. Others disregarded DJ and Nebbercracker, failing to  notice it’s a reflection of certain anxieties within. The film proved all those that judged  them wrong: DJ proved his friends wrong and ended up helping him free Constance’s  spirit, and Nebbercracker proved the kids wrong once they realised his angry was hurt  about his late wife. The lesson taught here is, what’s shown on the surface doesn’t reveal  what’s within. The kids facing their fear of the house led them to learn about  Nebbercracker’s heartbreak: a parallel to life of the daunting experience of helping those  that don’t want to be helped, yet you face that fear because you care. 

2. Letting go of grief and anxiety. 

Death is symbolised throughout the film. Constance’s accidental death, the house itself  consuming people and objects, but a forgotten one is DJ believing Nebbercracker was  dead from a heart attack but returns alive: symbolising children’s anxieties around death.  To DJ, watching Nebbercracker is a flash forward into his future, of what is final years  could look like. However, at the end of the story, the kids free Constance’s spirit,  representing DJ freeing his dread about death. The same can be applied for  Nebbercracker, as he has found peace in grief. The film presents death as less frightening 

at the end and more as a source of memory. Closure is found in all the characters  through the bravery of letting go, being at peace with the past and letting the dead rest. 

Arguably, it’s important children films have a balance between fantasy and reality. If you  look at films today, it’s taken a similar approach as Monster House e.g., Soul, Coco, Inside  Out. Therefore, the main take away from this is, PG-rated movies mustn’t shy away from  tough-to-swallow life lessons.