The Spiderwick Chronicles follows the Grace family as they move into the eerie and dilapidated Spiderwick Estate, a sprawling mansion full of history and mystery. The family—composed of recently divorced mother Helen Grace (played by Mary-Louise Parker) and her three children, twins Jared and Simon (both played by Freddie Highmore) and their older sister Mallory (played by Sarah Bolger)—hopes for a fresh start in the old, secluded house.

Upon their arrival, the children quickly sense that the house is not just old, but alive with something magical and strange. Jared, the more adventurous and inquisitive of the twins, discovers a hidden room within the mansion. There, he finds an old, leather-bound book titled Arthur Spiderwick’s Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You, written by their great-great-uncle, Arthur Spiderwick (played by David Strathairn), who mysteriously disappeared decades ago.

Jared, despite warnings within the book, opens it and unwittingly uncovers a hidden world of magical creatures that live in and around the estate—creatures that are both wondrous and dangerous. The book reveals the existence of a parallel world filled with fairies, goblins, trolls, and other mythical beings, invisible to the human eye unless one knows how to see them.

As the Grace children delve deeper into the secrets of the Spiderwick estate, they come to realize that the book holds great power and is coveted by malevolent creatures, particularly the ogre Mulgarath (voiced by Nick Nolte), who seeks to use its knowledge to dominate both the magical and human worlds.

The children must band together to protect the book and themselves from the dangers that now surround them. With the help of Thimbletack (voiced by Martin Short), a mischievous but helpful brownie living within the walls, and Hogsqueal (voiced by Seth Rogen), a hobgoblin with his own grudges, the Grace children embark on a thrilling adventure. They encounter strange and magical creatures, learn the importance of family, and discover their own strengths as they face the challenges ahead.

As they race against time to stop Mulgarath and his goblin army, the Graces must also solve the mystery of their great-great-uncle’s disappearance and understand the true purpose of the Field Guide. The climax of the film brings a thrilling showdown where the children use their wit, courage, and newfound knowledge to outsmart the ogre and protect both worlds.

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