Review: Knives Out (2018).

Knives Out (2018). Written and Directed by Rian Johnson.

[Ana de Armas, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans.]

Knives out is what we’ve been waiting for since the release of clue back in '85. A classic who dunit- but think; revised, reimagined, rectified. (I love a good mystery) Daniel Craig (Dt. Benoit Blanc) has us hooked before he even opens his mouth, a classic, quirky detective, complete with a southern accent, and a secret invitation to solve this crime.

Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Don Johnson play a group of siblings and in-laws, inviting us into the world of what happens when nepotist babies make more babies. Christopher Plummer, the family’s patriarch, is the thread that brings this entire family together, and with the help of his caretaker Ana de Armas, they threaten to turn things on their head for good.

Within the introduction, we identify clear distinctions between each supporting cast member- bringing extremely sketched out versions of the wealthy 1%; both eccentric and totally believable. Each member brings their own ideals and characteristics to the forefront- giving us a good idea as to how this family interact with one another, as well as out in the real world.

The cast does an amazing job at creating a believable, and vulnerable family, one that predominately works to keep their personal qualms secret from even those closest to them. We are all so easily reminded how much we value our privacy, how easily our words and actions can be misconstrued or misperceived. Lack of communication and the things we are willing to do in order to salvage our security, be it our homes, children, spouses or even just ourselves.

The writing is witty, and current. Filled with references the viewer is familiar with, adding the perfect amount of drama and eccentricity. We get to see a modernized version of the rich, how they would dominate and struggle within a society we are already a part of. Using this tactic also allows for us to feel sympathy or disappointment on our own terms, applying our own perception the world we live in without the writers having to guide us throughout.

What I find most endearing about Knives Out, is their approach to breaking down the lead-up to the crime. We, the viewer, are invited in, forced to hold onto a secret that Detective Blanc has yet to unveil. However, they have masterfully managed to avoid loss of interest, keeping the correct details hidden from even Dt. Blanc- revealing each at the perfect moment.

To create a successful murder mystery takes a load of work- all minute details matter (more than usual), each piece of the puzzle needs to fit flawlessly- careful to avoid unravelling the story.

I rewatched Knives out a couple days later, guilting my sister Sof into it (it was definitely the Neo-Nazi son that sold her). Knowing the outcome, it was easy to follow the hidden messages, the moments leading up to the final reveal- hard to fault the timeline after both viewings. The fun starts when rewatching, knowing the killer, getting to solve curiosities from the initial watch.

Many crime-oriented movies work hard to surprise the audience- attempting to avert the obvious- to shock the viewer. Often this erases the suspense of disbelief, diluting the writing to create shock-value, rather than working to create a well thought out, engaging plot. Which would, in essence, gain a larger reception. There is no way to avoid an audience’s frustration over the big reveal- viewers will inherently find disappointment in answers they lacked solutions for.

Moral of the story, stick to good writing- don’t try to appeal to the masses. Don’t jump the shark on the murder-mystery genre!