Is Midnight Mystery Worth Watching?
Answer: Maybe not, Midnight Mystery is likely a skip if you enjoy Mystery movies.
It features a runtime of 69 minutes and offers a standard storyline that appeals to mature audiences.
Midnight Mystery Review
Last updated: January 10, 2026
The Premise
Released in 1930, Midnight Mystery enters the Mystery genre with a narrative focused on A fog-shrouded house provides the setting for a weekend party prank gone wrong and the resulting murder being blamed on an innocent man. Under the direction of George B. Seitz, the film attempts to weave detailed character arcs with visual storytelling.
Cast & Performance
The film is anchored by performances from Betty Compson, Hugh Trevor, Lowell Sherman. While the cast delivers competent performances, the script occasionally limits their range.
Technical Aspects & Direction
From a technical standpoint, Midnight Mystery offers a competent presentation. The cinematography aligns well with the tone, keeping the narrative moving at a brisk pace.
Where to Watch
As of January 2026, Midnight Mystery is available in theaters worldwide. For streaming audiences in the US and UK, look for availability on major platforms roughly 45 days after the theatrical release. Check your local listings for specific showtimes.
Final Thoughts
With an audience rating of 4.2/10, the reception has been negative. For fans of Mystery, Crime, Drama, it serves as a skippable entry unless you go in with lowered expectations.
Cast of Midnight Mystery
- Betty Compson – Sally Wayne
- Hugh Trevor – Gregory Sloane
- Lowell Sherman – Tom Austen
- Rita La Roy – Madeline Austen
- Ivan Lebedeff – Mischa Kawelin
Top Highlights
Betty CompsonSally Wayne
Hugh TrevorGregory Sloane
Lowell ShermanTom Austen
Rita La RoyMadeline Austen
Ivan LebedeffMischa Kawelin
Raymond HattonPaul Cooper
Marcelle CordayHarriet Cooper
June ClydeLouise Hollister
Sidney D'AlbrookBarker
William P. BurtRogers
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 4.2/10, and global collection metrics, Midnight Mystery stands as a challenging project for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1930 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midnight Mystery movie hit or flop?
Midnight Mystery is considered a flop based on audience ratings of 4.2/10 and lower collections.
Is Midnight Mystery worth watching?
Based on the low rating of 4.2/10, Midnight Mystery may not be worth watching unless you are a die-hard fan.
What genre is Midnight Mystery?
Midnight Mystery is a Mystery, Crime, Drama movie that A fog-shrouded house provides the setting for a weekend party prank gone wrong and the resulting murder being blamed on an innocent man....
You Might Also Like
Explore More Verdicts
More with Betty Compson
View full filmography
Critic Reviews
The plot sees trashy crime novelist "Sally" (Betty Compson) and fiancée "Gregory" (Hugh Trevor) hosting a soirée during which they have a bit of a set-to and break off their engagement. Tensions are now running pretty high, enhanced further by the untimely death of "Mischa" (Ivan Lebedeff) who's been up to naughty business with "Madeline" (Rita La Roy) whose husband "Tom" (Lowell Sherman) is none too pleased. Wait! What's occurred? Is he really dead? Well the suspense is but momentary as the jolly jape turns decidedly nasty and a real corpse leaves them with a real murder that needs solving. Lebedeff is dreadful, I always struggle to see why Hollywood gave him screen time at all; but Sherman, Trevor and Compson hold this together efficiently, with plenty of squabbling and a fair degree of suspicious characters for us to, well, suspect! It's not a great film, indeed it's actually - even for 1930 - quite derivative, but the look of the film and the decently paced direction make for an acceptable cinematic game of "Cluedo".