Knives Out Movie Review

The following is an article “Knives Out” by Marc Primo.

Release date: 27 November 2019 (USA)

Director: Rian Johnson

Language: English

Production Companies: Media Right Capital, T-Street

Producers: Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson

As a modern day whoddunnit, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out shines as a unique murder mystery movie that’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. With its intense trust issues and hidden motives among its characters, Johnson invites audiences to guess and conjure theories in their heads.

Banking on the tried and tested 'every character is a suspect' formula, Knives Out sharpens its own edges to pull back the current generation’s interest in the detective genre.

The story starts simply enough as in most other thriller— with a murder. The renowned author Harlan Thrombrey (Christopher Plummer) was found dead inside his plush upper floor mansion after celebrating his 85th birthday setting off a crazy investigation that implicates a cast of shady characters. This, despite the authorities’ initial assessment of a suicide. Among the usual suspects are the rich proud daughter Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis), her trophy husband Richard (Don Johnson), and their brat of a son Hugh Ransom (Chris Evans). Then there’s also the weird son Walt (Michael Shannon) and his right-wing activist son Jacob (Jaeden Martell), plus Harlan’s daughter-in-law and lifestyle guru Joni (Toni Colette), and her art school daughter Meg (Katherine Langford). Then there's Marta (Ana de Armas), Harlan’s close for comfort personal nurse who complete the line up of close family members who all reek of foul play.

Daniel Craig plays private investigator Benoit Blanc while Lakeith Stanfield takes on the role of Detective Lieutenant Elliot, both bringing their respective wacky yet charismatic bearings to the film as they try to solve the case while giving us two of the most entertaining detectives in thriller history.

Watching the film reflects how Johnson truly enjoyed taking a break from his usual sci-fi assignments like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Looper, then delving right into a murder special that will play tricks on audiences. Effectively injecting inconsistencies that break the balance of thought in what seems to be a typical mystery route, Knives Out is much like the Parker Brothers board game Cluedo that will engage audiences to join the exciting blame game altogether.

On a more profound level, the film tackles upper class politics presenting the stereotypical rich, dirty, and rotten scoundrel of a family to establish the lack of values required for such an insufferable incident. In a way we can relate to how the film tries to portray these uber rich characters as outcasts of society themselves-- all selfish, untrustworthy, and snobbish. However, the intelligent repartee (also courtesy of Johnson), works in a way that we come to a social realization without really being too judgmental of the rich.

Knives Out gives us a funny, smart, and playful take on a somewhat long forgotten film genre, made closer to perfection by Johnson’s creative genius. With a lot of good reviews out there, there’s no question Knives Out will earn numerous nods in this year’s Academy Awards, but the real win here is how the film’s intricate sequences weaved an incredible tale that's filled with exciting twists and turns. And you’ll definitely know you got your money’s worth if you find yourself getting some fun out of thinking about who the culprit really is throughout the entire film.

If you want to read the latest movie reviews and find out more about Marc Primo click here.