After the unexpected success of Knives Out in 2019, Netflix decided to have director Rian Johnson create a sequel. In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) takes on a new case. Expectations were high following the surprising first installment, but unfortunately, Johnson and Netflix fail to impress in this second part.
A group of friends each receives a box of puzzles delivered to their homes. As they solve the puzzles, an invitation to a murder mystery party on the private island of their friend and multimillionaire Miles Bron emerges. Andi Brand is also invited, the former business partner of Miles and the ex-boyfriend of the rest of the group.
Benoit Blanc also receives an invitation. The world’s greatest detective attending a murder mystery party. And perhaps, that’s a good thing. Tensions quickly rise. Will the murder mystery party indeed turn into a real murder mystery and whodunit?
Prolonged buildup
With Knives Out, Rian Johnson managed to surprise audiences. A modern Agatha Christie with his own Hercule Poirot. The dark humor, in particular, was the perfect match for the well-known whodunit genre that has been filmed countless times. It’s no wonder Netflix wanted to breathe new life into this series.
Unfortunately, Glass Onion can’t match its predecessor. This is mainly due to the first part of the film. During an excessively long buildup, all the characters are introduced. It’s informative, but a bit too extensive. We’re eagerly waiting for the murder to happen. It’s the second half that makes the film interesting again with surprising plot twists. This goes to show that writing a whodunit is a true art and can’t be easily replicated.
A Star-Studded Cast in Glass Onion
Just like in the first installment, Johnson has assembled an impressive ensemble cast. Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision), and Leslie Odom Jr. are not to be underestimated names. But the show is stolen by Daniel Craig and Janelle Monáe. Especially the latter demonstrates that she is more than just a singer. She had shown this earlier in Hidden Figures but has rarely been in front of the camera since. Hopefully, this will change in the future.
Besides the stars, credit must also be given to the production teams. The roof in the form of a ‘glass onion’ on a fantastic house on a private island, the over-the-top decor of that same house, and the kitschy and expensive clothing worn by the characters (notice Benoit Blanc’s swimsuit). Every detail has been carefully thought out. Netflix must have allocated a substantial budget to showcase all of this. Knives Out Part 3 has already been announced by the streaming service. When it will be released is still unclear. Until then, for fans of the whodunit genre, Glass Onion is a true must-see. But it’s also a film you can check off your list once you’ve seen it.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Tech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Cast: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Janelle Monáe, and others
Writer/Director: Rian Johnson
