The Spiderwick Chronicles: DVD, Blu-ray Review (2008)

Freddie Highmore plays two characters, twins Jared and Simon. Sarah Bolger is their older sister Mallory, who conveniently knows her way around a sword. Mary-Louise Parker is their recently divorced mother, who has left New York and moved them all into one mother of a haunted house tucked away in the country.

Naturally, that house is bulging with mysteries and problems, most of which are unleashed when Jared finds an ancient-looking book written by Arthur Spiderwick (David Strathairn) and opens it in spite of warnings not to do so.

When he does, a wealth of computer-generated freaks and monsters spring forth, with one towering, fearless ogre (Nick Nolte) especially determined to cause trouble.

While the movie earns points for being genuinely scary and having good special effects, it isn’t nearly as compelling as its competition--the "Harry Potter" and "Narnia" franchises. The tale bogs down in its hectic switch from fantasy to reality, and there’s the sense that it might only be here to cash in.

Rated PG. Grade: C+

View the trailer below: