Knives Out Movie Review
Very rarely does a new movie hook me with its first trailer, but I was sold on Knives Out from day one. Pitched as a fresh, modernized take on the “whodunit” murder mystery genre, the film immediately received critical acclaim and was hailed by many as one of the most fun movie experiences of the past several years. I got to see the film on its opening night a few weeks ago, and I can confidently say that it lived up to all the critical praise.
Going into Knives Out, I knew relatively little about its premise outside of what I could gather from the two trailers. This worked to the film’s advantage, as much of its spectacle and entertainment value stems from the sheer element of surprise it evokes. With that in mind, however, I will try to avoid discussing specific plot points in this review as to not take away from the experience for those still waiting to see it.
Knives Out comes from the mind of talented writer/director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper, Breaking Bad) and is equal parts comedic and suspenseful. It follows the wealthy family of famed novelist Harlan Thrombey who, on the day of his 85th birthday, is suddenly found dead in his personal estate. While all signs initially point to suicide, things take a sudden turn upon the mysterious arrival of Detective Benoit Blanc, and a private murder investigation is launched with every member of the family listed as a suspect. The film wastes no time setting up its characters and conflicts, maintaining a delightfully fast and chaotic pace for its entire 2+ hour runtime. It’s an undeniably entertaining watch from start to finish, and while it never becomes particularly demanding of audiences, it still manages to touch on some relevant and impactful themes, including family dynamics, entitlement, and even illegal immigration.
Above all else, Knives Out is carried by its superb ensemble cast headlined by Daniel Craig (James Bond franchise), Chris Evans (Captain America franchise), and Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween). There truly is not a single weak spot in the cast list, but the standout performance easily came from Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) in her role as the endearing and soft-spoken Marta Cabrera. My only major gripe with the film is that a large portion of the cast, most notably LaKeith Stanfield and Christopher Plummer, are criminally underutilized, almost to the point of frustration.
Missed opportunities aside, Knives Out is an excellent take on the mystery genre that finds the perfect balance between hilarious punchlines and genuinely thrilling plot development. It’s an expertly written film that is endlessly clever and unpredictable, never afraid to stop taking itself seriously. Unlike many films of its kind, Knives Out does not just use its homages and recycled tropes to parody other murder mystery films. Instead, it transforms them to create something entirely new, and the result is a refreshing and absurdly entertaining movie that feels like a natural evolution of its inspirations.
9/10