Knives Out slays at the box office

As Frozen II dazzles audiences and the latest Star Wars sequel looms in the distance, the originality of Rian Johnson’s whodunit comedy Knives Out brings a fresh perspective to the box office.

The film makes excellent use of its cast of A-list stars, including fan favorites like Daniel Craig, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Chris Evans. Everyone looks to be having fun with the production as they play up the unique idiosyncrasies of their characters. Craig, in particular, shines as he embraces the ridiculousness of his character, Detective Benoit Blanc, drawling on in a thick southern accent about the inevitability of truth.

Ana de Armas also gives a standout performance, which is no small feat in this sea of household names. Her earnest portrayal of the main character Marta Cabrera makes it nearly impossible not to root for her, and her comedic presence plays well off of Craig’s in the scenes they share. Johnson employs a wealth of classic whodunit tropes, most to prime comedic effect. In fact, the premise of the movie banks on the fact that patriarch Harlan Thrombey (played by a Christopher Plumber in rare form) made his fortune on best-selling murder mystery novels. He even lives in an old Victorian-style mansion, complete with a trick window and creaky stairs. The location builds a tangible atmosphere of suspense as the camera pans over foggy grounds and the characters traipse through shadowed woods.

A sense of irony and impending doom is inspired in the viewer as these scenes play out to the haunting violins of Nathan Johnson’s score, juxtaposed against the bright splashes of color chosen for the casts’ wardrobe.

However, the use of these tropes also makes the movie somewhat predictable at times. Johnson decides to reveal exactly how Harlan Thrombey died within the first act of the movie, a clever move that leaves the audience guessing, but one can still predict what the next big twist will be, simply by the way the movie employs certain tropes and frames the characters.

And when that twist is at last revealed in the end, the audience must endure a long-winded breakdown of what actually happened from Detective Blanc, a classic trope of the murder mystery story. Luckily, Craig carries the scene with easy charisma, his explanation of the murder playing as one of the funniest moments of the film.

These small nitpicks by no way ruin the fun and thrill of the story. Some actors may have been underused, Plumber being one such example, but with a cast this large it was impossible to give everyone their due. No matter their screentime or line count, every star gave 110% to their respective roles.

The film is meant to be an exciting ride from start to finish, and there it exceeds expectations. If you’re looking for a laugh, a brain teaser or Chris Evans in a soft, white sweater, Knives Out is the perfect movie for you.