After three years, world renowned Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finally returned to the screen with a new mystery to solve in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Academy Award nominee Rian Johnson returned to write, produce and direct his second Knives Out film. Johnson once again brought a star studded cast to the series including Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr. and more. This film, the second in the Knives Out series, is no continuation. In fact, this movie is considered to be its own standalone sequel.
Glass Onion follows the story of five lifelong friends receiving an ominous invitation to their billionaire friend, Miles Bron’s (Edward Norton), private island in Greece for a weekend getaway to solve a murder mystery that Miles created himself. When the group arrives at the boat port in Greece, they are met with a shocking surprise; world-renowned detective Benoit Blanc will be joining them on their murder mystery themed vacation. However, Blanc isn’t the only surprise guest to arrive on the boat. Andi Brand (Janelle Monaé), the group’s old friend, who recently left Miles’ company, Alpha, on less than good terms, has also accepted her surprising invitation. Once the group arrives at the island-side mansion, it slowly becomes clear to Detective Blanc that there is more than one layer to this mysterious getaway. Miles reveals to Blanc that he did not invite the detective, yet he received the same puzzle box that Miles sent to all of his friends. While he secretly begins his own investigation, Blanc discovers that each of the friends carry their own resentment towards Miles. Although his business endeavors have aided all of his friends in the past, Miles seems to use these favours to ultimately come out on the greater side.
Glass Onion first premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September, which then followed with a one-week theatrical release on November 23, 2022. While its time in the box office was short, Glass Onion managed to rack up $15 million and became Netflix’s widest theatrical release film to date. Since its full release on Netflix on December 23, 2022, Glass Onion has received a number of award nominations, including Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture.
In my opinion, Glass Onion is the type of film that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I felt that the cast had great chemistry with each other and the storyline twists seem to never end. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, another curve ball was thrown into the plot. The biggest difference I noticed between the two films were the differences in tone. While Knives Out was tense, dark and gloomy, Glass Onion definitely took a comedic and light-hearted tone this time around.
These movies are simply true mystery films and I believe that films like the Knives Out series are so well received because they are a unique find in contemporary cinema. So, if you are looking for a film with familiar faces, gorgeous ocean-side scenery and a plot so twisted you will find yourself searching for answers until the very end, Glass Onion is definitely one to put on your watch list.
You can watch Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery streaming now on Netflix.
