Halloween Countdown : Monster House

Let's not forget the kiddies in the build-up to Halloween - after all, they'll be out foraging sweets for you on the streets tomorrow night. Here's one for all the family.

Monster House (Gil Kenan, 2006) is a thoroughly entertaining throwback to 80s suburban-based fare such as Gremlins and The 'burbs.12-year-old DJ is obssessed with spying on his neighbour, a cranky old man who confiscates any toys landing in his garden. After he accidentally hospitalises the old man, his house starts acting strangely, leading DJ and his friends to suspect it is actually haunted. Of course, no one will believe them, so as Halloween approaches they must face its terrors themselves. It's great fun. The script is funny, featuring several laugh-out-loud jokes ('Oh, so it's a girl house'), the animation is inventive, the characters endearing and there's some nice creepy moments as well. Not just a very good animated film, but a very good horror-comedy, full stop.

A full list of films in the Halloween Countdown 2016 is here