The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema & Tv
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
      • Shows
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Support us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • RSS

CultureMovie reviews

Knives Out

Knives Out | Movie review
26 November 2019
Rosamund Kelby
Avatar
Rosamund Kelby
26 November 2019

Movie and show review

Rosamund Kelby

Knives Out

★★★★★

Release date

27th November 2019

Certificate

UPG12A1518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

During the Christmas season, when relatives are wound as tightly as tinsel on the tree and cards are diplomatically deployed as seasonal peace offerings, there could be nothing more comforting than a film about a family more dysfunctional than our own. Rian Johnson’s new murder mystery, Knives Out, is the perfect festive thriller, an offbeat whodunit full of sharp blades and even sharper quips.

The feature follows the Thrombey family through personal tragedy after their patriarch, wealthy detective fiction writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), is found dead from apparent suicide. But things may not be as they seem, and the appearance of renowned private investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) at the scene leads to a series of unsavoury discoveries.

Though the film is undoubtedly an homage to Agatha Christie, what elevates it above some of the bleaker works of this genre is its unerring sense of humour. Johnson’s screenplay is marvellously self-aware, from the maid who nearly drops the tray when she discovers the dead body to the parodied Poirot-esque relationship between Craig’s constantly pontificating Blanc and Lakeith Stanfield’s eye-rolling police officer Lieutenant Elliot. It’s a beautifully observed picture from start to finish, the timing explosive as conflicting testimonials intercut with perfect pacing. Dramatic irony is used to stunning effect, with the audience never quite sure who’s holding the cards in this cinematic Cluedo. A sculpture made from knives lurks behind our characters; this is a bloodline built on backstabbing, a dynasty founded and funded through tales of death and deceit.

Of course, what really racks up the intrigue is a truly incredible ensemble cast. While recent successful Christie adaptations such as And Then There Were None and Ordeal By Innocence have triumphed thanks to strong casting, where these shows felt alienating, Johnson’s movie has an endearing edge, a fundamental heart that keeps us close to the characters. Ana de Armas is enchanting as Harlan’s caregiver Marta Cabrera – cursed with possibly the most inconvenient and ingenious character trait in any murder mystery to date, an inability to lie without vomiting – while Craig drives the movie by finding a captivating middle ground between his piercing blue stare and his disarming Southern drawl. Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon and Don Johnson all have great fun bouncing off one other with varying degrees of quirky and creepy narcissism. Christopher Plummer’s one primary scene is memorable enough to keep him present throughout the entire film, while Chris Evans emerges spectacularly from his sincere Captain America cocoon to show true comedy flair.

Knives Out succeeds because Johnson recognises that even a story about cold-blooded killing can be crafted with heart and humour. With his latest movie, the filmmaker proves that he doesn’t need the sci-fi spectacle and special effects of Star Wars: The Last Jedi or the makeup and time travel theatrics of Looper: he is able to craft a spellbinding mystery through storytelling alone.

★★★★★

Rosamund Kelby

Knives Out is released nationwide on 27th November 2019.

Watch the trailer for Knives Out here:

 

Related Itemsfeaturedreview

More in Movie reviews

Notturno

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

The Winter Lake

★★★★★
Guy Lambert
Read More

Lucky

★★★★★
Jacob Kennedy
Read More

Justine

★★★★★
Abbie Grundy
Read More

Foster Boy

★★★★★
Jim Compton-Hall
Read More

Crazy About Her

★★★★★
Emma Kiely
Read More

Bigfoot Family

★★★★★
Mersa Auda
Read More

Judas and the Black Messiah

★★★★★
James Humphrey
Read More

Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell

★★★★★
Jake Cudsi
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Movie and show review

Rosamund Kelby

Knives Out

★★★★★

Release date

27th November 2019

Certificate

UPG12A1518 title=

Links

TwitterInstagramFacebookWebsite

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Creation Stories
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • Detroit Stories – Alice Cooper
    ★★★★★
    Album review
  • Judas and the Black Messiah
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Gatsby at Cadogan Hall: An interview with Jodie Steele and Ross William Wild
    Theatre
  • Laura Mvula – Under a Pink Moon
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • Back to the Wharf
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
  • I’m Your Man (Ich bin dein Mensch)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Language Lessons
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Moon, 66 Questions
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • We (Nous)
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Bicep at Saatchi Gallery Online
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Winter Lake
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Spotlight: Lauren Everet and Soup Kitchen London, striving for food security and social equality
    Food & Drinks
  • Da Capo
    ★★★★★
    Film festivals
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Support us
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2011-2020 FL Media

Don Johnson discusses Knives Out, Jamie Lee Curtis and the fun of playing villains
The Arrival at Bush Theatre | Theatre review