[Movie] Knives Out (2019) - A Dazzling Whodunit

Are you a fan of thrillers? Do you fancy the feeling of getting lost in the world of mysteries?

If your answer is in the affirmative, then you should enjoy the movie “Knives Out.” Well, that's if you haven't watched it yet. If that's you, allow me to dazzle you with a murder mystery. My friend applauded the movie several times as one of his best. That certainly piqued my interest so I had to give it a watch. Being a trilogy, this is the first part and perhaps my best of the three.

What would you actually think, when a multi-millionaire crime novelist was found dead in his office in the morning, in what looked like a suicide after celebrating his 85th birthday with his extended family the previous night? As a millionaire and crime novelist, I guess that adds a layer to the case. It was something you would expect from his novels. That was the case of Harlan Thrombey, a man whose fortune has been a great benefit to the entire family, and yes, a cause for some riffs.

This mystery-thriller movie was centred around solving his death. Being survived by 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 2 daughters-in-law, and a son-in-law, someone has to answer what transpired that night. Not forgetting Marta, a nurse and his personal help who became more like a friend and a member of the family. In comes Benoit Blanc, brilliantly played by Daniel Craig, a famous private investigator and detective specialised and experienced in solving such difficult cases. His performance was the real deal in this movie.

If what you're looking for is a storyline involving twists and suspense that gets you entangled and fixated on the screen, this is it. The writers did a great job with the storytelling. As with some wealthy people, the Harlans' mansion was situated away from town, in a quiet location which is typical of such personalities. In his investigation, Benoit Blanc could tell something was wrong. More so because he was secretly hired to solve the case that was presumed a suicide. His great attention to little details and interrogation skills were worthwhile.

The movie revealed that sometimes, there's more than meets the eye. It's a reflection of how things can be manipulated to tell a different story. What looked like a clear case of suicide had hidden details that the skills of a seasoned and well-experienced detective were needed to unravel. It was funny how the family all tried to play cool and that nothing was wrong until the intelligent questions made them start revealing things. Small details that helped in the investigation.

The settings and plot were wonderful. A murder mystery movie is mostly on a vacation or cruise on a yacht, but this brought a different perspective. Even in one's house and amidst his very own loved ones, things can go so wrong in this way. One interesting part was when the will was read and to the shock of everyone; the family members, Benoit Blanc and even me, everything was willed to Marta, Harlan’s help and friend. It was proof that something was wrong with the family and that his death might just not be a suicide.

As you might expect, that caused instant anger and hatred towards Marta, who seemed to be the most shocked. Would she relinquish the possession to the family? Would she hold on to this fortunate fortune of hers? The twist doesn't end there. The case was still in hand. Perhaps, the will thing was necessary to have happened as it led to more findings of what transpired that night. It introduced a silent character, Ransom who was more than just silent that night.

Well, the beautiful twist continues. Benoit Blanc is still unfolding the mystery, a truth hidden and someone to be brought to the light. Or was it suicide indeed? The thrill, constant suspense, several twists, and the expectations of unravelling something new that solves the mystery or leads to some answers made the movie a very good one. Not to forget the beautiful storyline as mentioned. The cinematography was okay for the setting and kind of movie. The sounds that relayed the intensity of some scenes were well put.

After watching the movie, I understood why my friend made all that hype about it. It was definitely worth it. “Knives Out” remains one of the best thrillers I've watched. For a murder mystery kind of movie, it definitely played out well and was worth the watch. Do check it out if you haven't. You should find it interesting.

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Thank you for reading!