I really like Neven Mrgan’s discussion of mystery movies here. Although it’s something that I really have never thought of before, I think this makes perfect sense:
I think mysteries have a design flaw, basically: those factors that make them captivating also make them difficult to resolve.
I like to think that if a movie is entertaining I’ve never been one to bash it for a sub-par ending. This quote sums up my thinking on the subject quite clearly:
Some take a zen-like approach where the ending doesn’t really matter; it’s the journey that counts. And there’s a logic to that: if 95% of the story keeps you engrossed, who cares that the final 5% has you rolling your eyes?
Of course, whenever possible a great ending is always preferable.