Blu-Ray Review
Constantine: House of Mystery
Two years ago, the movie "Justice League Dark: Apokolips War" was thought to be the conclusion to six years worth of continuity that started with the ending of "Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox" and continued under the supervision of producer James Tucker. Despite defeating Darkseid once and for all, the surviving heroes were too late to stop the damage done to Earth and too late to mount an escape off-planet. In a surprising act of nobility, Constantine magically guided the Flash to recreate the Flashpoint and reset the world so that Darkseid never found it. Done deal. Not so fast. Constantine still had many sins left to pay for. "Constantine: House of Mystery" innocently starts out as a standalone story for the uninitiated in movie lore but a gem for comic book fans of the supernatural curmudgeon from across the pond. Seemingly trapped in a Groundhog Day scenario, Constantine finds himself in the House of Mystery, a mystic home that can exist between dimensions, surrounded by his friends on his 50th birthday. But it always ends with his friends turning into demons and violently killing him. Unable to leave the property, Constantine casts a spell to glean the truth. The previous version of Constantine was sentenced by the nigh omnipotent being known as the Spectre to spend an eternity in the House of Mystery surrounded by his loved ones with with Spectre's trademark touch of vengeance. Constantine discovers the ties his plight has to the greater multiverse and that his friend's violent transformations are a result of his inability to accept a happy ending on the subconscious level. However, the truth comes at a cost. Constantine learns first hand that the universe demands payback for the pain inflicted on it for meddling with existence and it won't be pretty.
While on one hand, "Constantine: House of Mystery" is an entertainingly subversive standalone story akin to a DC version of Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" episode "Judgment Day" or later in the series, Richard Matheson's "Death Ship" in which the protagonist, Constantine, realizes the truth he is doomed to die over and over for eternity for the sins he committed in the past and doesn't have a happy ending where he triumphs and escapes scot free. Instead, he suffers a punishment far, far worse that being stuck in the same day and even then, the rest of known existence will suffer as well. All because he couldn't accept a bit of simulated happiness. For Hellblazer fans, House of Mystery features the animated debut of several Constantine comrades – Gary Lester, Zed, and Cheryl Masters. Plus, you can't have a Constantine story without him thinking of an amusing way of outwitting a bunch of demons. All this alone would have made for a well done animated short. But much like "Justice Society: World War II" which added a multiversal element over three continuities and genres, "Constantine: House of Mystery" falters in extending itself from a one in done into a middle of the road vignette that draws upon continuity that the viewer may or may not be familiar with and then taunting them with an ending that isn't really one but teases a bigger entry to come adapting a controversial but lauded storyline from the comics that animation fans didn't know they needed to happen, a Crisis on Infinite Earths. One DC fans have just seen adapted in live action with the CW's slate of programs and similar but more narrowly focused versions in recent animation like "Teen Titans Go! Vs Teen Titans" or the recently completed "Justice League Infinity" comic book series that revived the long ended "Justice League Unlimited" animated series. That's not to mention the current comic book fad in entertainment with multiverses that is quickly wearing out its welcome with too many projects utilizing it all at the same time.
I am not exactly a die hard fan of animation studio Digital eMation but the character design style and animation in House of Mystery felt subpar and at times flat. For a home release, the quality felt something more akin to a TV episode and lacked that cinematic oomph. House of Mystery potentially serving as Matt Ryan's swan song as John Constantine leaves a lot to be desired as well. But on the flip side, it was gift to have one more half hour with Matt Ryan as well as Ray Chase's take on Jason Blood/Etrigan, Camilla Luddington's Zatanna and Damian O'Hare's Chas. Lou Diamond Philips's surprise role as DC powerhouse, the Sceptre was a delight in itself. I admit Lou Diamond doesn't jump to mind when I think of who to fancast as Sceptre but he was a brilliant casting and I hope he'll continue to reprise the role in future projects. Another great revisit was the music being done by Robert J. Kral, who previously worked on the "Justice League Dark" animated movie that co-starred Constantine. Kral is unequivocally in his element with the supernatural.
Constantine: House of Mystery releases on May 3, 2022 on Blu-ray for $24.98 and Digital for $19.99. For undisclosed reasons, there is no 4K version for sale at the time of release nor a Target exclusive Steelbook and Best Boy exclusive figure. Much like the Batman: Death in the Family collection from 2020, Constantine: House of Mystery collects the Showcase shorts The Losers, Kamandi, and Blue Beetle. The special features were bare bones as expected. The lone featurette 16 minute "One Story at a Time" examines the history of DC Showcase shorts line. While it was disappointing the shorts did not have commentary tracks with the creatives who worked on them, "One Story at a Time" balances the scales a sort. And given DC Showcase being paired with the DC Universe line of direct-to-video movies, it was odd this compilation didn't "return the favor" so to speak and include a sneak peek at the next DC Universe title to be released, "Green Lantern: Beware My Power," out this summer. Overall, the special features left me wanting more.
"Constantine: House of Mystery" is a recommended purchase. House of Mystery adds an unexpected epilogue to what was believed a concluded movie continuity but the repercussions are only beginning. An excellent Twilight Zone-esque story on the surface, Matt Peters and Ernie Altbacker have assembled a bridge from the past towards a future movie release that looks to be an impending crisis for infinite earths.
Rating
Main Feature: 3 out of 5
Special Features: 3 out of 5
Average Rating: 3 out of 5