Synopsis

After moving into the secluded Spiderwick Estate, the Grace children discover a hidden field guide describing a magical world existing alongside their own. Their curiosity draws the attention of dangerous goblins and the shape-shifting ogre Mulgarath, who wants the guide's secrets. Jared, Simon, and Mallory must work together with several fantastical allies to protect their family and prevent the creatures from entering the human world.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film adapts material from all five books in Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi's original Spiderwick Chronicles series, combining and condensing several storylines for the feature.

• Freddie Highmore plays both Jared and Simon Grace. Scenes involving the twins were created with body doubles, split-screen photography, and motion-control camera work.

• Principal photography took place in Montreal from August through December 2006, with additional filming in Los Angeles.

• Much of the cast's interaction with the creatures involved blue-screen work. Sarah Bolger recalled acting opposite tennis balls and practical stand-ins before the computer-generated characters were added.

• The griffin sequence was filmed with the young performers on a mechanical bull inside a blue-screen set, leaving the creature and much of the surrounding environment to be created digitally.

• Industrial Light & Magic and Tippett Studio shared the visual-effects work. Tippett handled creatures including Hogsqueal, Red Cap, the goblins, the troll, and Mulgarath's final crow form.

• James Horner composed the score, which earned him an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for Top Box Office Films in 2009.

• The film received two Saturn Award nominations, including Best Fantasy Film and Best Performance by a Younger Actor for Highmore.