Goblins, trolls and griffins populate this adaptation of the bestselling book series that plays like a horror movie for kids. Young British actor Freddie Highmore takes dual roles as twin brothers Jared and Simon, who move into a creepy old mansion in New England with their sister (Sarah Bolger) and recently separated mother (Mary-Louise Parker), where they discover an ancient "field guide" that reveals a hidden world of fairies and monsters. The terrific CGI creatures are so free of cuteness that even the good characters - such as honey-eating sprite Thimbletack (voiced by Martin Short) and bird-munching hobgoblin Hogsqueal (voiced by Seth Rogen) - may give younger viewers nightmares. But children who enjoy being scared will find the film's chases, magical spells and battles utterly gripping.

Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures.