Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

After getting to screen Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery at the Austin Film Festival a few weeks back, I was chomping at the bit to share my in-depth analysis of why this film is such a great follow-up to Knives Out. Now that the film is enjoying a limited theatrical release, more people are getting to experience the murder mystery mastery of Rian Johnson and I could not be more thrilled. However, the twists and turns that this franchise is known for are so juicy that I am willing to hold off on my full review and give everyone a little more time to see the film before really unpacking the plot. Thus, I have taken on the nearly impossible task of providing a spoiler-free review. Enjoy!

When Knives Out was released back in 2019, a lot of people underestimated just how great it was going to be. These ensemble pieces are often disregarded, as though the stellar cast somehow tarnishes the quality of the film. I do think film-goers anticipated the humorous moments, as these were evident in every television spot and advertisement - particularly those that featured Chris Evans’ character, Ransom. What they weren’t prepared for was how complex of a whodunit the narrative would turn out to be. They didn’t yet appreciate how much of a murder mystery aficionado Rian Johnson truly is. And his ode to Agatha Christie in the first installment of the franchise (yes, franchise) was quite an impressive homage.

After the film was lauded by critics and audiences alike - even garnering a nomination at the Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay for Rian Johnson - people wanted more.

But when you have a film that gains traction after being underestimated in the way Knives Out was, the pressure for the sequel to measure up is even greater.

The short answer is: Yes - when you're Rian Johnson and you have your thumb on the pulse of society and match that with another gratifying and captivating web of mystery like he has done here in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.