Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Knives Out’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

There was a time in cinema, where the detective ruled the day. Where audiences would flock en masse to a matinee showing of a mystery, just to see how a particular sleuth would solve a fascinating case. Simply because there was something quite magical about seeing a special kind of plainclothes police officer, or private investigator, show off their mental prowess and see what no one else could see and bring a clever criminal to justice. But while detective themed mystery films and shows are still popular in their own right in this day and age, these stories have outright evolved on both the silver and small screen in the most fascinating ways imaginable.
​
After all, audiences expect different things from their detective themed stories these days. They want a little more action and adventure present within the framework of that story, and they definitely want to see a little more humanity from their gumshoes, plus they want to see modern technology be used to solve the crime in question. Which then begs the question, is there still room for the old school gumshoe in cinematic storytelling? Because that aforementioned criteria would make those old hard-boiled detectives look silly in the modern era, and potentially bore audiences with a story that seems outdated. But believe it or not, the answer to that question is a resounding yes and for proof, well then look no further than Rian Johnson’s latest film, Knives Out.

Now in this particular motion picture we are plunged into a tough moment for the Thrombey family. For the father of this clan, Harlan, recently passed away due to an apparent suicide, and while he has been laid to rest there are some important matters that his family has to deal with. Because Walter was one of the biggest mystery writers on the planet, and his estate needs to be settled and oddly enough, the true cause of his death needs to be handled as well. For Benoit Blanc, a renowned private investigator has been hired by an anonymous and concerned party to dive deep into Harlan’s passing, and it just so happens that this supposed suicide is indeed surrounded by mystery and intrigue and it will take Blanc’s keen mind and the help of the only person that Harlan ever trusted to uncover the true cause of his death. 

---

So, you’ll probably notice that everything about that plot summary sounds like an old school murder mystery released ages ago, and you’d be right in thinking that. For the setting, the look and the feel of this particular tale indeed harken back to that golden era of films that feature smart sleuths that can solve any case put before them. But rather than rehash old formulas and offer homages at every turn, this motion picture injects new life into the genre by offering up a different kind of detective tale. Because this movie offers up some incredible surprises early on in the story, plus it also does a phenomenal job of throwing you off guard with stunning changes to the overall structure of the traditional mystery and these modifications and twists and turns outright suck you in because you’ve never seen anything like this before.
​
But that’s really all we need to discuss when it comes to the plot and structure of the film, because if we go any deeper, spoilers will appear in this review and I’d really like to avoid that for you today. Because this really is a delightful mystery, one that you need to experience in organic fashion, so it is best we just pivot to other elements that make this movie such a treat; such as the cast. For this flick boasts some huge names and every last one of them use their vast skill set to bring some supremely unique and dynamic characters to life, the kind that are fleshed out the instant you meet them on screen, and their quirks and potential ties to Harlan’s death only add to the mystery in question and the wonder of the story doesn’t end there.

Because this is also a supremely fun film, one that knows how to make you laugh and laugh hard at just the right moment and really all of the elements we’ve just discussed make this motion picture a must see in my book. In large part due to the fun factor, but also because, its modern-day spin on the mystery genre is just a breath of fresh air. And the changes present to the genre here are so unique and so special that it leaves you hopeful that perhaps Hollywood will try and revitalize this genre, perhaps with a new series revolving around Benoit Blanc, if we’re lucky. But I digress, because what matters more is that this movie is just a rare treat, one that features a great story, wonderful performances and a mystery that will keep you guessing and it is just wonderful to know that this age old genre still has a little life left in it and that there are filmmakers out there, who are ready to tap into the best parts of what it has to offer.

---