Clue Movie Review

Abigail Bonacker

The 1985 Clue movie, directed by Jonathan Lynn, is a classic whodunit mystery. Based on the board game of its namesake, the game follows six blackmail victims (Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Miss Scarlet, Mrs. White, Mrs. Peacock, and Mr. Green) who are invited to a mansion by a mysterious man. When the night takes an unexpected turn, the group, along with the butler, Wadsworth, have to find out who among them is a murderer. With stellar actors like Tim Curry, Lesley Ann Warren, Madeline Kahn, and hilarious and clever writing, this movie was always destined to be a hit. 

 

Clue the Movie is just over an hour and a half long and has an 86% audience score. But what makes this movie different from other murder mysteries is its ingenious endings. Clue, grabbing inspiration from the game, has 3 different endings and conclusions that each wrap up the story nicely. In 1985, while the movie was showing, different theaters would show different endings to the movie. Nowadays on home media like DVDs and different streaming services like Amazon prime and Paramount+, you can watch all three endings in continuation. 

 

But truly, what makes this film stand out is the individual characters, the references to the classic game, and the comedic edge of this movie that makes you laugh through this mystery. Each character is expertly crafted to make every character stand out in their own way. Everything, from their mannerisms to even down to their clothing fits them so well and it helps intrigue the audience. And then you have the numerous references to the classic board game. Multiple murder weapons like the ones in the game (The revolver, dagger, lead pipe, rope, candlestick, and wrench), as well as constant movement from room to room to solve this mystery. There are even secret passageways that add to the story. 

 

In short, Clue is a movie like no other that you should watch if you want a good mystery, or even if you just want to have a laugh. You won’t be disappointed.