“Knives Out:” A Refreshing Spin on the Murder Mystery Trope
Today in movies, television shows, and books, the “murder mystery” trope is a “been-there-done-that” genre. We all know the storyline: Someone dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving multiple suspects to throw the detective (and audience) off the trail but, in the end, it’s always the butler who did it. And that’s all, folks!
Well “Knives Out,” a recently released murder mystery comedy, is here to refresh the genre.
The film begins as you would expect it, with the death of aged millionaire, Harlan Thrombey, played by Christopher Plummer, who has made his fortune as a well-published mystery writer. (Fitting, isn’t it?) Although his death appears to have been suicidal and, therefore, a closed case, a quirky, private detective is anonymously hired to investigate.
As with any good murder mystery, there is an entire ensemble of unique suspects with specialized motives. In this case, those under question are the eccentric family members whose shared relationships are increasingly complex and hilarious the further the plot unfolds.
The audience is introduced to them one by one, learning their individual peculiarities as they are questioned by a trio of detectives. Not until the shocking reading of Thrombey’s will that the true nature of this troupe is realized and the eccentric family is set against each other, as well as the staff of the household, while attempting to find who among them is guilty of foul play.
Overall, the film is visually appealing with its elaborate mansion setting and costumes to perfectly fit each character while placing the audience inside this world of mystery. The dialogue is fun and engaging, leaving you wondering who, if anyone, is truly innocent right from the get-go.
What truly makes the film, however, is its actors. Knives Out is compiled of a talented cast headed by Daniel Craig (James Bond franchise) as the zany detective, Chris Evans (Captain America) as the spoiled grandson, Jaimie Lee Curtis (Halloween) as the sophisticatedly sharp daughter, Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) as the tentative caretaker, Micheal Shannon (The Shape of Water) as the jealous son, Toni Collete (Hereditary) as the greedy daughter-in-law and Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why) as the feminist granddaughter.
In each and every scene, the cast plays off the dialogue, as well as each other, in such a delightsome way to create a relatable, humorous connection with each character. To any Captain America fans out there, be prepared to see Chris Evans unlike you’ve seen him before (the opposite of an all-American good boy).