Review: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Lisette Reed declares Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion a must watch for all, lavishing praise on the cast, storytelling and direction.
Set as a stand-alone sequel to 2019’s Knives Out, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery captures audiences in its new, authentic take on the ‘whodunnit’ genre, as well as diversifying the film franchise too. The film follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returning for another mystery but this time it’s set on a Greek island, surrounded by a group of rich, yet suspicious friends.
As a sequel, this causes concern for many fans of the original, due to sequels typically not living up to the original. However, with big names such as Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn and Kate Hudson, this movie deserves a place as one of the best sequels to be made – the plot isn’t too similar to the original in that it feels boring and repetitive, but it does follow the same concept. Like Knives Out, Benoit Blanc is anonymously hired to solve a crime and meets a group of greedy, self-serving individuals. This concept is clearly something that works for screenwriter Rian Johnson and it’s incredibly successful. Moreover, Johnson’s references to modern life make the film that bit more entertaining as it’s something viewers are familiar with, whereas not everyone can relate to coming from a rich family, like Knives Out. The film takes place in May 2020, in the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore, the familiar aspects of the film, such as the masks at the beginning and even playing Among Us on video call, add depth and a form of relatability to the movie.
As well as being incredibly well-written, Glass Onion’s attention to detail in all aspects of its aesthetic is insanely intricate and put together.
As well as being incredibly well-written, Glass Onion’s attention to detail in all aspects of its aesthetic is insanely intricate and put together. The costuming of the film allows viewers to interpret the characters before even being introduced to them properly. For example, Kate Hudson’s character Birdie Jay frequently wears very flamboyant and brightly coloured outfits to reference her need for a spectacle and to maintain relevance and viewership. Additionally, Birdie wears a mesh mask, mimicking Lana Del Rey’s infamous meet and greet mask. On the other hand, Janelle Monáe’s character wears more muted and solid tones, such as the split black and white dress, indicating that their character intends on finding out the truth and nothing but that. Their slicked back hair emphasises this idea further.
Notable performances in this include Leslie Odom Jr., Madelyn Cline and Janelle Monáe, as well as of course, Daniel Craig himself. The entire concept of this film is incredibly engaging and future Knives Out spin-off films are definitely ones to look out for, as well as those who star in them. Rian Johnson’s writing paired with this amazing cast and crew enable for an entertaining and intense viewing, whilst also possessing lighter, comedic moments. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a must watch for all.
