The trailer for Knives Out, the latest film from director Rian Johnson (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Looper, Brick) finally dropped this week. And it’s looking like the biggest “Whodunit” film to come out of Hollywood in quite some time.
Like all the best whodunits, Knives Out features a knockout cast. I’m talking about one for the ages. Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford, Jaeden Martell and Christopher Plummer, to name a few. The plot centres on a murder mystery involving an eccentric family, which presumably takes place in one location (a mansion).
Thankfully, the editing gurus at Lionsgate crafted an incredibly exciting trailer that doesn’t give too much away. We get a bit of plot, a look at the cast and some witty dialogue.
Going in, I expected the film to have a serious tone, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Check it out below.
Knives Out Trailer:
Being the Last Jedi and Looper Stan that I am, I couldn’t be more excited about this picture. First off, it’s neat watching Johnson tap into his indie roots. He knocked out a series of low-key gems before levelling-up to a massive film like Star Wars. I love that he seems to be following the “one for them, one for me” mantra, too. After Knives Out wraps, Johnson is going back into the writing room for his *own* Star Wars trilogy.
I can’t say enough about the movie’s striking cinematography. The film looks crisp, and the colour contrast between the production design and costumes really pops. There’s also that magnificent looking 1.85:1 aspect ratio which makes me want to see this on the biggest screen in the loudest theatre possible. Which may be possible.
Johnson has a track record (excluding The Last Jedi) of bringing his films to TIFF (Looper, The Brothers Bloom). Not only that, but he also pitched and sold this very film at last year’s festival. It makes sense for him to bring such a flashy film to TIFF 2019. Given the immense star power and hype for this film, I can see it being a Gala, perhaps even the opening-night film.
Needless to say, I’m hyped for Knives Out.
Knives Out Synopsis:
Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, The Last Jedi) pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in KNIVES OUT, a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. With an all-star ensemble cast including Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell, KNIVES OUT is a witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.
Knives Out arrives in theatres on November 27, 2019.