Mystery Mansion

My review was written in June 1984 after watching the movie on Media Home Entertainment video cassette.

"Mystery Mansion" is a 1983 family adventure film evidently made for the regional theatrical market, but popping up instead on video cassettes. Mild pic, lensed in Oregon, is inoffensive and lacks excitement.

Storyk with very slight supernatural overtones, concerns Susan (Randi Brown), a young girl sent on vacation with her little brother Johnny (David Wagner) to stay with their aunt and uncle (Jane Ferguson, Greg Wynne). She is haunted by recurring nightmares and memories concerning the disappearance in 1889 of her ancestor Rachel, whose family was terrorized by bank robbers. Rachel's parents were killed, but the girl's body was never found, with the events shown in intercut flashbacks.

Susan and Johnny, together with neighbor Billy (Lindsay Bishop) and a friendly old neighbor Sam (Dallas McKennon) alternate exploring for a missing treasure (linked to Rachel's ancient disappearance) with a boating trip on the river. A pair of escaped convicts terrorize everyone, but are ultimately frightened off by Sam and his fake spook effects in the title house where Rachel once lived. Happy ending ties matters up neatly, regarding the treasure, missing Rachel's whereabouts, etc.

Cast is unimpressive and film's pacing is slow, but attractive views of Oregon locations provide some diversion for an undemanding audience.

This movie has been on TV a few times and has nothing to do with the board game ("Mystery Mansion"). The story is really nothing special, but for a kids or a family flic it is at least OK. Nothing gratuitious and yet a tad adventurous, kids should like it. However, the movie does show its age and very few people in it have been in anything else, so there are better movies out there.

I remember first seeing this movie on HBO once around 1985 and i was about 10 years old at the time. I personally loved the movie and thought it was exceptionally well done with a great plot and characters.

I just had a chance to view this film after not being able to find it to watch for well over 15 years. I didn't even know it was released on VHS video until recently when i found it for sale cheap.

With that said, i enjoyed it as much as i did when i was a kid. It reminds me a lot of "Savannah Smiles" in some ways, which is another very enjoyable family film from the 80's.

I just wish they'd play this movie on TV sometimes, or at least release it on DVD!