Don’t you hate it when a trailer gets you excited for a movie by completely misleading you? Based on trailers, I’ve gone into my share of films thinking I was about to see a comedy before getting dragged down by a serious family drama that featured a joke here and there. Fortunately, you won’t have that problem with Knives Out.
Knives Out trailer:
Having watched the film at TIFF, I can promise you that Rian Johnson’s latest feature is exactly the over-the-top, star-studded, and playful whodunnit that you think it is. It’s jam-packed with great actors who have a blast chewing the scenery and delivering sly one-liners. And Johnson’s witty screenplay features all the twists and turns you expect from a murder mystery.
But there is a cherry on top of this delicious cinematic sundae. Knives Out is also subversively political. On the surface, it’s an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery, sure. But Johnson is more interested in exploring themes of wealth, status, and entitlement. Thematically, Knives Out is closer to Snowpiercer than Clue. Chew on that for a minute.
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.