Knives Out (2019)

Knives Out is the rare modern whodunit that feels both comfortingly classic and wickedly alive—an elegant puzzle box that snaps shut with style, then keeps clicking open in smarter, funnier ways than you expect. Rian Johnson stages the mystery like a high-society pressure cooker, letting razor-sharp dialogue and a deliciously dysfunctional family turn every conversation into a clue and a comedy routine. Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc is a flamboyant, endlessly watchable sleuth, and the ensemble (with Ana de Armas grounding the chaos and Chris Evans gleefully stirring it) makes the whole thing crackle. If you prefer your mysteries dour and humorless, the playful tone might not be your flavor—but if you want suspense with bite, this one is a treat.

“Knives Out” is aiming to be a slick, modern Agatha Christie-style whodunit with a satirical bite, and it mostly succeeds on charm, pacing, and a strong ensemble bouncing off one another. If you want your mysteries razor-tense and twisty, though, you may find it a bit talky—lots of explanation, lots of scenes designed to make sure you’re following the puzzle. The social commentary is very much on the surface, so if you bristle at movies that feel like they’re making a point while they entertain, it can come off as preachy rather than clever. Still, Daniel Craig’s oddball detective energy and Ana de Armas’s grounded performance give it enough personality that, even when it feels familiar, it’s rarely a total slog.