“You’re not much of a detective, are you?” —Marta Cabrera
Today’s quick review: Knives Out. When crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) dies under suspicious circumstances, world-famous detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is hired to determine whether his death was a suicide or the result of foul play. As Benoit investigates Thrombey’s family, he finds plenty of motives but no definitive clues—at least until he talks to the person who was closest to Thrombey: his nurse Marta (Ana de Armas).
Knives Out is a crime comedy and murder mystery written and directed by Rian Johnson. The movie opens with a classic whodunit setup: a canny detective, a death that doesn’t add up, an ornate mansion, a bevy of suspects, and a $60 million inheritance. From there it sets out in its own direction, playing on the conventions of the genre to tell its own story. Knives Out has the skilled cast, consistent humor, and satisfying mystery it needs to succeed.
Knives Out puts a couple of clever twists on the whodunit genre. Chief among these is shifting the focus from the detective to one of the suspects. The shift serves several purposes. For one, it lets the mystery unfold in a new direction, not bound by the usual formula. For another, Marta makes for a great perspective character, a kind young woman caught in a precarious situation. Finally, the shift frees up Blanc to be more of a comedic figure.
For all that it tinkers with the formula, Knives Out doesn’t sacrifice the essentials. Knives Out is still a whodunit at heart. Even if there are a few detours along the way, it’s an engaging mystery with unusual puzzle pieces. The clues feed into the comedy quite nicely; both the main plot and the incidental jokes reward the audience for paying attention and making connections. The result is a film that’s light, enjoyable, and inventive.
Knives Out is worth a watch for anyone in the mood for a witty comedy. Not everyone will like what it has to offer, in particular its drive-by takes on modern culture, its specific sense of humor, or its changes to the whodunit formula. But these are relatively minor issues in a movie that, on the whole, executes its vision quite well.
For an even sillier whodunit parody, try Murder by Death or Clue. For a straight take on the whodunit genre, try Murder on the Orient Express. For a dry comedy about a rich, dysfunctional family, try The Royal Tenenbaums. For a con man comedy from the same director, try The Brothers Bloom.
8.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for a clever script and solid execution.