When I first watched Knives Out, it seemed to follow all the classic mystery tropes: a grand country house, a suspicious death, a quirky family fighting over an inheritance, and a famous detective arriving. It’s the perfect setup for a traditional mystery.
But director Rian Johnson goes beyond simply following these traditions. The characters themselves make jokes about their situation. For example, the police call the crime scene “a stage for a bad mystery,” and Detective Blanc jokes that the will-reading is “an amateur play about tax returns about to begin.”
This kind of self-aware humor is a big part of Rian Johnson’s style. In his earlier film, The Brothers Bloom, the story begins with the line, “We’re tired of hearing about con artists.” In Looper, the film says, “Time travel is complicated, so we won’t explain it.” Even in The Last Jedi, Kylo Ren breaks his mask to move away from Star Wars traditions.
In other words, characters in Johnson’s films are often stuck in genre rules, but they try to break free from them. Knives Out uses this same idea.
A Meticulously Crafted Human Drama Woven by a Star-Studded Cast
A big part of Knives Out’s appeal comes from its talented cast. Both experienced actors and newcomers challenged each other to do their best and fully get into their roles. Their dedication brings real energy and tension to the film.
Daniel Craig’s Masterful Performance Shines as the Detective
When Daniel Craig shows up as the Southern-accented detective Benoit Blanc, it’s hard to believe he’s the same actor who played James Bond. Many English reviewers were surprised by his strong Southern accent, often asking, “Is that really Daniel Craig?” This role is very different from anything he’s done before.
Craig said he practiced the Southern accent every day during filming, but forgot it entirely once shooting ended. He laughed, saying everyone teased him about it, and during the interview, he couldn’t remember how to do the accent or any of his lines.
His performance also seemed purposely over-the-top, almost as if he was letting the audience in on the joke about mystery stories. Still, he was clearly dedicated to the role. In one scene, he smokes a cigar in the dark, with only the tip glowing red, which highlights Detective Blanc’s mysterious presence.
Daniel Craig’s acting strikes an outstanding balance—he’s both funny and dignified, relaxed but sharp. His performance really drives the whole film.
The Core of the Story Embodied by Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas also stands out as Nurse Marta. She carefully shows the complex feelings of someone in the position of an immigrant. Marta also has a unique trait: she throws up whenever she lies.
This trait adds both humor and suspense to the film. For Detective Blanc, Marta acts like an “automatic human lie detector,” becoming a partner similar to Watson for Holmes.
Ana de Armas gives a subtle performance, showing Marta’s changing emotions. She’s been in other movies like Blade Runner 2049, but Knives Out gave her a significant role to really show her talent. She also appeared with Daniel Craig in No Time to Die.
One of the most interesting parts is when the main character shifts from Detective Blanc to Marta halfway through the story. She desperately tries to hide a “medical error” while also being threatened by someone unknown. It is when the film changes from a mystery to a suspenseful story.
A Feast of Powerhouse Performances: The Sloane Family
Another highlight of Knives Out is the excellent cast playing the Sloane family. These experienced actors really leaned into their unique characters, making them interesting enough to lead a comedy on their own.
Jamie Lee Curtis plays Linda, the harsh and unlikable rich daughter. Toni Collette is Joni, a spiritual influencer who seems ready to say, “I can see your aura.” Chris Evans leaves behind his Captain America image to play Ransom, a troubled character who curses a lot.
Chris Evans has a memorable scene where he pretends to dislike dogs. Since he’s known as a dog lover, this might have been his most brutal scene—just kidding, but his acting was great.
Each actor gives their character a few quirks, and their performances make the whole film lively and fun.
A structure that transcends genres and a sharp eye on society
What really makes Knives Out special is its bold structure and deeper themes that go beyond a typical mystery movie.
A three-stage story structure that defies expectations
The structure of Knives Out is full of surprises. Typically, a mystery film keeps the culprit hidden until the very end. The audience follows the story while wondering, “Who is the culprit?” However, Knives Out breaks this convention. Part of the truth is revealed midway through, leaving the audience bewildered about what happens next, even with over an hour remaining.
After that, the film shifts from a mystery to a suspenseful story, focusing on Marta as she tries to hide evidence and avoid her blackmailer. Then, in the final part, it becomes a mystery again.
The Intellectual Play Born from a Meta Perspective
One of the best things about Rian Johnson’s films is their self-aware style, and Knives Out is no different.
The characters act as if they know they’re in a mystery movie. The police call the situation “a poorly staged mystery,” and Detective Blanc sarcastically calls the will reading “an amateur play.”
This self-aware approach makes the film more fun for viewers who know the usual mystery story tricks. The movie and the audience both understand these conventions, which creates a special connection.
What’s even more interesting is that this self-aware style isn’t just for laughs—it ties into the film’s central theme. The characters are stuck in the usual mystery story formula, but they try to break out of it. This choice is what leads to the film’s happy ending.
The Visualization of Class Structure Symbolized by Stairs
The film Knives Out is not merely a mystery movie. Hidden beneath lies a sharp critique of modern American society. This critique is embodied in the motif of “stairs.” Harlan’s mansion possesses a surprising number of staircases. This staircase structure clearly indicates a strict hierarchy. Harlan’s room is on the top floor of the mansion, while the maids’ quarters are on the lowest level. Even the grand hall where the family gathers is far below Harlan’s room.
All these stairs are similar to what’s seen in Robert Altman’s Gosford Park. Rian Johnson reportedly even had a Gosford Park poster in his editing room. That film also used stairs to show the British class system.
Knives Out does something similar. The stairs in the mansion reveal the class divide between the wealthy family and Marta, an immigrant. The Thrombey family looks down on her, and none of them even know where she’s really from—one says Paraguay, another says Uruguay. It shows their prejudice clearly.
This idea is strongest in the final scene. Marta, the immigrant, inherits the estate through her choices and kindness and rises to the top. Holding a mug that says “My House, My Rules,” she looks down at the Thrombey family from the balcony.
Marta, who was once an outsider, now stands at the top of the mansion, while the Thrombey family can only look up at her. This visual change cleverly shows ideas about class in today’s society and feels exciting. While this is similar to themes in Parasite, Knives Out gives its own unique twist.
Ryan Johnson’s Challenges and Artistic Achievement as a Filmmaker
Throughout the production of Knives Out, director Ryan Johnson’s passion and ambition as a filmmaker are evident at every turn. His consistent vision permeates the work, from scriptwriting through filming and editing.
Visual Beauty and Rhythm Refined on Set
On set, director Rian Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin worked to create beautiful visuals. They’ve worked together since Brick and have built a creative partnership.
The editing of the testimony and flashback scenes is especially impressive. When Detective Blanc listens to the family, the film smoothly cuts between dialogue and flashbacks, keeping the pace quick. In the editing room, Johnson kept reviewing scenes to find the best rhythm.
The way the film shows the mansion’s layout is also impressive. The opening scenes let viewers see all the staircases and how they relate to the story’s themes. The production design team ensured the stairs visually helped tell the story.
The film’s color choices are also well thought out. Warm colors make the comedy feel inviting, while darker scenes, like the one with the glowing cigar, keep the mystery tense.
In an interview, Johnson said that planning big group scenes was a significant learning experience. He used storyboards to plan his shots and focused on careful camera work instead of filming everything. He also shared a story about Ana de Armas laughing so much during filming that it took eight takes to get the scene right.
Homage to Agatha Christie and Innovation
Knives Out is clearly a tribute to Agatha Christie. The country house, the rich victim, the family fighting over an inheritance, and the clever detective all follow Christie’s classic formula.
Director Johnson read Christie’s novels several times while writing the script, carefully studying how classic mysteries work. The idea that “everyone is a suspect” is especially like Christie’s And Then There Were None. In Knives Out, every Sloane family member has a reason to want Harlan dead.
But Rian Johnson doesn’t just copy Christie. He brings her style into the modern era and adds his own twist to the mystery genre. Revealing part of the truth early in the film is something Christie never did.
This mix of honoring the classics and breaking away from them is what makes Knives Out special. Rian Johnson respects the old style but isn’t afraid to do something new.
Act Three and Its Challenges
However, Knives Out does have a notable concern: its third act.
The first two parts of the film are full of fresh twists that break the usual rules. But in the third act, the story feels a bit rushed and more predictable. Sometimes, Johnson’s hints make the ending a little too easy to guess.
It’s also a shame that some characters don’t get much development. For example, one young family member is portrayed as a typical “modern youth” glued to their phone, with little depth. Since the rest of the film is so well done, these flat characters stand out.
Also, the scenes outside the mansion don’t have the same tension as those inside, which takes away from the closed-room mystery feel.
Summary: Intellectual Pleasure Transcending Genre
Knives Out may look like a classic mystery, but it’s actually an ambitious film that takes the genre apart and puts it back together in new ways. Daniel Craig’s bold performance, Ana de Armas’s subtle acting, and the strong cast all work together at a high level.
Director Rian Johnson demonstrated new possibilities for the mystery genre. By revealing the truth early on and shifting the narrative from mystery to suspense and back again, the structure repeatedly subverts audience expectations.
Simultaneously, by weaving in contemporary themes such as immigration and classism, it achieves depth beyond mere entertainment, becoming a socially conscious work.
Even though the third act feels a bit unfinished, the film has plenty of charm to make up for it. Fans of classic mysteries, Rian Johnson’s work, or anyone looking for a good movie will enjoy it.
“My House, My Rules.” In the final scene, Marta looks down at the family from the balcony, perfectly showing the film’s central theme. It’s about breaking free from the story, reversing class roles, and having the courage to shape your own future.
Knives Out is a standout film that sets a new standard for mysteries. Now that it’s easy to watch online, why not see for yourself what makes it so enjoyable?
