Performance & Direction: Mystery House Review
Last updated: January 31, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Mystery House (1938) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a FLOP with a verified audience rating of 4.4/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Adventure.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Adventure is often anchored by its ensemble, and Mystery House features a noteworthy lineup led by Dick Purcell . Supported by the likes of Ann Sheridan and Anne Nagel , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Mystery House
Quick Plot Summary: Mystery House is a Adventure, Crime, Mystery film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Mystery House
Ending Breakdown: Mystery House attempts to tie together its various plot elements. The finale presents its approach to adventure resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the adventure themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Mystery House reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Mystery House Real vs. Reel: Is it Based on a True Story?
Mystery House incorporates elements from real criminal cases. As a adventure, crime, mystery film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
Historical Context
The film takes creative liberties to enhance dramatic impact. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
Creative interpretation shapes the final narrative, focusing on emotional truth over strict chronology.
Accuracy Assessment: Mystery House adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Who Should Watch Mystery House?
Consider Watching If:
- You're a completist for Adventure films
- You're curious despite mixed reviews
- You have low expectations and want casual entertainment
Top Cast: Mystery House
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Mystery House Parents Guide & Age Rating
1938 AdvisoryWondering about Mystery House age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Mystery House is 56 minutes (56m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 4.4/10, and global performance metrics, Mystery House is classified as a FLOP. It remains an essential part of the 1938 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mystery House worth watching?
Mystery House is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Adventure movies. It has a verified rating of 4.4/10 and stands as a FLOP in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Mystery House parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Mystery House identifies it as NR. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Mystery House?
The total duration of Mystery House is 56 minutes, which is approximately 0h 56m long.
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How Mystery House Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Mystery House
After dropping a bit of a bombshell at a family dinner, old man "Kingery" (Eric Stanley) retires to his study where he is promptly shot. The door is locked. The windows are locked. Suicide seems the only answer for the coroner but not for his daughter "Gwen" (Anna Nagel) who is convinced of foul play. She summons ace private investigator "O'Leary" (Dick Purcell) and together with his wily sidekick "Sarah" (Ann Sheridan) they have to piece together just what happened and who did what to whom? As he becomes more embroiled, he realises that there are motives a-plenty amongst this man's family and friends so his task won't be easy... This is all a bit too stage-bound to really get exciting, but it does move along quite quickly and the denouement allows Elspeth Dudgeon ("Aunt Lucy") to have some fun with a vase amidst a furniture fight. Forgettable B-list afternoon fodder but I quite enjoyed it for an hour.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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