A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY

The third installment of the Benoit Blanc detective films could very well be the best one yet. It leads him to a small town murder of a priest during mass on “Good Friday” that covers the cornerstone of murder mysteries. The locked room murder. An impossible murder in a confined space where a killer did not enter nor leave.  “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” by Poe “The Murder Roger Ackroyd” by Christie  and the heavily cited “The Hollow Man” by Carr.  Rian Johnson seems to have cemented his approach and formula doing these films. Along with that he has cemented the character Benoit Blanc as legitimate great film detective. He knows the beats and gives each character plenty of screen time to set the ground base. Clever editing, loaded cast, with careful exposition of back stories and motivations. Rian also thinly veils where he gets his motivations from for a  premise and this time it is cults with a dash of mysticism.   

Rian takes us to the hows and whys of cult formation and its inedible conclusion of the leader turning against their followers which leads to its utter conclusion. If you have enjoyed the previous two this one will be a treat, because he knows his audience are attempting to solve the murder before it reaches the revelation and leads them in an almost sideways approach rather than straight forward. A good murder mystery shows it all cards to the viewer with a reveal that seems logical and earned rather than coming from nowhere. And this one is well earned because as it is noted-  all mysteries are solved by people talking. Physical evidence can take only so far but interrogation is where you get it solved. This film presents it marvelously. The only weak spot is some casting choices- namely Mila Kunis, and some actors that don’t have enough screen time like Jeremy Wright. 

 “Wake Up Dead Man” is another adoring love letter to the genre of murder-mysteries. It is an enjoyable roller-coaster rider. We know where it is leading but getting there is what  it is all about.  There is no mystery though that there will be another after this.  So far these “Knives Out” films are delicacies to fans of them.  The cinematography once again is rich and sensational. Rian Johnson has found his playground to which he can stay and amass a following and fans and you can surely label me as one as well. 9/10