Knives Out Movie Review

Knives Out was my surprise movie love of the year! It had all of the necessary elements to tank and fall flat on its face. And yet…it worked. Writer and director Rian Johnson was able to successfully pull off a kitschy, old-timey, murder mystery. Johnson was helped immensely by his stellar cast, but he provided an excellent screenplay in and of itself.

In this whodunit movie, wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead in his study. The police are called in to investigate, led by Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and Lieutenant Elliott (LaKeith Stanfield). They interview Harlan’s family one by one and slowly discover secrets that each member of the family has been hiding. Blanc trusts no one and begins to piece together a fabric of the family dynamic.

It is truly a star studded cast with performances by Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, and Katherine Langford. The buzz surrounding Ana de Armas’ performance should not be overlooked. She was sensational as Harlans’ caretaker. I also thoroughly enjoyed Daniel Craig playing a more light-hearted role. I must admit, when I saw the Knives Out preview, I was instantly turned off by Daniel Craig’s hokey accent. However, in the movie it fit perfectly. Craig was totally able to pull it off.

I don’t want to reveal too many details about the movie. I think it’s best to go into it blind, not knowing anything so you can discover the fun for yourself. There are plenty of twists and turns for people who like suspense but it’s jaunty enough for those who prefer lighter fare. It reminded me of a modern day Clue, but with a dash more seriousness. You’ll have to just trust me on this one. Go all in on Knives Out. 

Film or Movie: Movie
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like murder mysteries
2. You like suspense with humor sprinkled in
3. You’re a fan of old time whodunits