Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (dir. Rian Johnson) is a murder-mystery film that follows famed detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), in his career after the events of Knives Out (2019). Though none of the other characters are the same, the centrality of Blanc’s character breeds cohesivity between the films.
Glass Onion opens with puzzle boxes sent out to each of the characters involved in the film’s conspiracy. However, as they’re all in different locations, the characters must consult with one another over the contents and mysteries of the puzzle boxes. Through connection over the phone, the viewer is introduced to each of the main players in Glass Onion: Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), a ditzy and problematic fashion designer, along with her assistant Peg (Jessica Hanwick); Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), a streamer outspoken about men’s rights, along with his girlfriend Whiskey (Madeline Cline); Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), an important developer within Miles’s company; and Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), governor of Connecticut. The true purposes of the boxes are then revealed: to invite each of them to the private island of their rich mutual friend, Miles Bron (Edward Norton), to solve his murder.
As the characters come together for the fun retreat and planned mystery, it quickly becomes clear that something is different. Not only has Andi Brand (Janelle Monáe), co-founder of Miles Bron’s company, who was maliciously ousted from her position, come to play the game, but so has Benoit Blanc, who has arrived without any connection to Miles or his friends, and seemingly without Miles’ invitation. And as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly clearer that not everything is as it seems. Benoit Blanc has once again been summoned into the story by an unknown force, and in a story where the murder and its solving are supposed to only be a farce, part of a game designed by a billionaire, it raises the question: what’s really going on here?
Glass Onion is full of twists and turns, in a true Agatha Christie-esque mystery. The “mystery” that viewers believe will be the center of the story is blown out of the water when the island loses power, and a true murder is committed. Though not fully shocking, as viewers know what they’re in for with a murder mystery film, this twist is good in the way that until it happens, no viewers are truly sure who’s going to die, and are even less sure, between the cast of self-serving characters, who would be so driven to do such a thing.
One thing that Johnson does very well in Glass Onion is the portrayal of these characters; as aforementioned, all of the characters, barring Benoit Blanc, are very self-serving and seek to push their own agendas. This is used superbly within the film to show that truly any one of these characters could be the murderer, similar to the situation seen in Knives Out. Each person is capable and driven enough to do something as drastic as killing one of their friends to ensure the continued success of their career. It is even shown that each person invited to the island, once again barring Blanc and Andi Brand, has been able to get to the success in their career through the intervention and influence of Miles Bron, making it stand to truth that they could also do something drastic, or keep quiet about a crime, in loyalty to him. The loyalties of all of the major players being to only themselves or their beneficiary, Miles, makes the viewer question everything that the characters say on screen and is very effective in keeping the future reveals and the ending of Glass Onion perpetually in question. This is quite perfectly the feeling everyone wants when watching a mystery film, because guessing the ending halfway into anything is always undesirable. Johnson’s directing style keeps viewers on their toes, and while they won’t be quite ready for the plot twists thrown at them throughout, it is never unexpected that everything can change in the space of a moment.
From the get-go, Glass Onion also does well portraying the world as it was during the pandemic. With the isolated people in the beginning figuring out their puzzle boxes together via phone call, to the masks we see them wearing until they arrive to the private island, and even when they get to the private island itself, as it operates as its own isolation measure from the outside world. This use of the private island as a measure of isolation also works well with the murder mystery plot of the movie, as it operates to keep all of the characters incapable of escaping and thus subject to the inquiry and investigation of Benoit Blanc. It is the perfect bottled environment that adds to the viewer’s feeling of being trapped there with them. The size of the island even works well in favor with the story, because it is large enough to give viewers a sense of dread, never knowing who is where or what they could be doing, but also in the sense that because there is no escape, the island seems smaller and smaller over time as they realize a murderer is among them and will go to any measure to keep themself and their reputation safe.
The cinematography and color scheme of Glass Onion are also both beautiful, as well. With the colorfully warm aesthetics and island setting, it seems more like a movie that should have been released in July, not December, though it functions as a nice respite from the cold, grey weather outside. Glass Onion is an enjoyable, fun romp that leaves no questions unasked, no stone unturned, and no character’s motivations unselfish. It is a good follow-up to Knives Out, and anyone looking to enjoy a mystery that will keep them on the edge of their seat should invest their time in Glass Onion, as well as any future Benoit Blanc adventures.
4/5 Stars