This second Knives Outing for Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) plays like an updated Agatha Christie, but with Craig as a more demonstrative Poirot. The exotic isolated location nods at Evil Under the Sun, as do an assortment of eccentric characters, old friends brought together by the egotistical Miles Bron (Edward Norton). Supposedly for a fun murder mystery weekender, that quickly unravels into a real murder mystery.
Don’t worry if you haven’t seen Knives Out, I haven’t, you’re watching a stand alone episode that may be part of something long running. Rian Johnson is good at these kinds of films, he knows how to plant the seeds of misdirection, tease and turn things. So when the flashback start a-coming things thicken faster than Craig’s somewhat distracting accent. Watch out for Norton as a look-a-like Frank Mackey, Tom Cruise’s character in Magnolia (1999), all black leather waistcoat, maroon shirt, and distinctive ponytail.
It can all get very meta, but fun if you like playing those kinds of games.
Darrin // Nightingale 