Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

In this second instalment of Knives Out we see Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc gate-crash a party on a private island. As you do. Edward Norton’s billionaire playboy is hosting a murder mystery and guess what? Someone is actually murdered.  Mysteriously.

Assembled are the ‘disruptors’ - a group of old school friends - all with varying degrees of a public persona and not wanting that world to be shattered by, say, any skeletons falling from closets. It’s Agatha Christie with crypto currency.

Inevitably you compare a sequel to the original. And while it’s technically not a sequel (think White Lotus) it doesn’t hit the same mark. With his track record of shaking up a franchise (looking at you Star Wars) Rian Johnson is back as writer/director, and his budget is bigger. Sexier? Tick. Camp? Tick. Glamorous? Tick. Stylistically it’s all there. But I think I was enchanted with the simple wintry familial setting of the first volume.

Sure, our eyes all deserve a tropical setting at this time of year. But give me Chris Evans’ winter wools anytime. Give me a cold, sharp-tongued matriarch in Jamie Lee Curtis any day.

That being said, it’s a great tonic to this grey rainy Christmas we’re having. There are some delicious cameos and fabulous performances from Janelle Monáe and Dave Bautista. Could’ve had plenty more of Kate Hudson and Kathryn Hahn. Plus we learn a lot more in this chapter about our neckerchief-sporting sleuth and it’s wonderful to see Daniel Craig have so much fun as Blanche Devereaux’s spirit brother. I’m already looking forward to the next.

7 Alluring Thumbs Up!