Knives Out (2019)
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A famed private detective must navigate a web of lies and family secrets to uncover the truth behind a wealthy author's mysterious death.
The story
When a wealthy mystery novelist, Harlan Thrombey, is found dead at his estate following a birthday celebration, the local police suspect suicide. However, a renowned private detective, Benoit Blanc, is hired to conduct a deeper investigation. Blanc soon discovers that the victim had strained relationships with his many family members, providing several individuals with plausible motives for murder. As Blanc begins to peel back the layers of the family's secrets, he must navigate a complex web of conflicting stories and hidden agendas to determine who among the gathered relatives is responsible for the crime.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Harlan Thrombey is found dead with a slit throat at his estate. While police suspect suicide, private detective Benoit Blanc is hired to investigate. It is revealed that Harlan's nurse, Marta Cabrera, believes she accidentally poisoned him with morphine and acted on Harlan's instructions to create a false alibi. Marta is later bequeathed his fortune, sparking conflict with the greedy Thrombey family. Meanwhile, Harlan's grandson, Ransom Drysdale, manipulates Marta and attempts to frame her. The plot involves a series of events including a burned medical examiner's office and a blackmail plot involving the housekeeper, Fran. In the climax, Blanc deduces that Ransom orchestrated the situation to frame Marta. He reveals that Marta's 'poisoning' was actually the correct medication, and Ransom's attempts to frame her were thwarted by her own ethical choices. Ransom is arrested for his crimes, and Marta is left as the rightful heir to the estate.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 130
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rian Johnson
- Writers
- Rian Johnson · writer
- Cast and characters
- Daniel Craig · Benoit Blanc; Christopher Plummer · Harlan Thrombey; Ana de Armas · Marta Cabrera; Chris Evans · Ransom Drysdale; Jamie Lee Curtis · Linda; Toni Collette · Joni
- Genres
- mystery; black comedy; thriller
- Themes
- class warfare; wealth inequality; immigration; race
- Tone and mood
- sardonic; whimsical
- Premise and plot tags
- whodunnit; ensemble cast; mystery
- Reception
- The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its plot, acting, and unique structure, while some critics critiqued the writing and pace.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 82 · scale: 100 · review count: 52
- Awards and nominations
- Golden Globe · multiple · nomination; British Academy Film Award · multiple · nomination; Academy Award · Best Original Screenplay · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title was inspired by a Radiohead song.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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