'Knives Out', a Modern Murder Mystery

Rating: 9/10 (22 January 2020)

If you are someone who is a fan of predictability and simplicity, then Knives Out, directed by Rian Johnson (who also directed the very controversial Star Wars: The Last Jedi), is not the film for you. Most of the film is set at an old mansion, the Thrombey estate, which is almost a character itself. The opening establishing shot shows the mansion, enveloped in fog, giving it and the film an ominous and mysterious feeling right off the bat. After Harlan Thrombey, a successful mystery writer and the patriarch of the Thrombey family, celebrated his 85th birthday, it appeared as if he had killed himself in his study late one night. While suicide is the most likely cause of death, the anonymously hired detective Benoit Blanc suspects that there had been foul play. Detective Blanc interviews family members, uncovering each of their lies, and using his deductive skills to find the guilty party.
The movie is an exciting ride with a surplus of twists and turns that keep the viewers on their toes and excited for the next detail to be uncovered. The way the movie plays out makes you feel as if you are inside one of Harlan's mystery novels. Detective Blanc solves his crimes, notices clues, and carries himself in a similar way to the character of Sherlock Holmes, except Knives Out is much more realistic and plausible. With a number of A list actors like Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc and Chris Evans playing Ransom Drysdale, not only is the cast quite impressive, but their roles matched perfectly. Daniel Craig had the opportunity to let loose and be less serious than in other films of his like James Bond, embodying a goofy, charismatic, and genius detective that notices the smallest details and always seems to find the answer. Chris Evans plays the role of a snobby grandson that had everything handed to him on a silver platter, and he fits the role like it was a match made in Heaven. The costumes of each character are on the spot as well, they seem to tell part of the story about the characters. For example with Ransom, he is often dressed in expensive clothing and clearly doesn't care for his expensive things, it reflects how he is entitled because of his family's money and really hasn't done anything by himself. The setting of the film, the Thrombey estate, is masterfully done as well. It's easy to notice all of the knick knacks related to Harlan Thrombeys novels, and these objects along with the ornate decorations in the home add to the idea of mystery and the theme of wealth. Things like the chair with knives around it played an important part of the film as well, as different members of the family were being questioned, they were almost framed by the knives surrounding them, it also seems to relate to the doughnut that detective Blanc always talks about (you'll understand if you see the film). With a well thought out setting along with costumes, I'd expect nothing less than a fitting score that adds to the drama and mystery of the movie, and that's exactly what we got. With classical style music played by an orchestra and the occasional piano solo, it does a great job keeping you on the edge of your seat during an exciting scene and makes you really feel the drama and mystery of the moment. Over all, the setting, cast, costumes, and music were spot on.
The cinematography and editing was outstanding as well, capturing the mansion in an interesting way, emphasizing all of its details and decorations. Rian Johnson also relied on flashbacks to clarify who did what and when they did it. These flashbacks are used at the end of the film to helpfully wrap up the mystery and explain it to anyone who may not understand or hadn't guessed the outcome. Some say the plot was the same as every other murder mystery, they are not wrong and that's because it's a very specific genre, the name murder mystery explains the basis of each film, there is some sort of murder and then some sort of mystery. If you come into the film expecting anything more than a whodunnit style, you'll be disappointed, it's stays true to the murder mystery structure. Knives Out has a certain degree of predictability but also has many twists and turns that will take you by surprise. The mystery isn't as much as who killed who, but how the supposed murder was carried out.
In the end, Knives Out is an outstanding whodunnit film that is not only mysterious, but also comical and emotional at times, and it is definitely worth the watch.