A spoiler-free review of one of the most popular films on Netflix.

Ever since I first watched Knives Out with my family, it has become a classic in our household. The comedy, story, script and performances never seem to lose their luster, and have created a gold standard for film whodunits. With that being said, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the latest installment in director Rian Johnson’s Knives Out universe, is a worthy follow-up to the 2019 film.

I am not a fan of spoilers in the slightest, so I will start by saying that I have done my best to make this a spoiler-free review, meaning it will also be on the shorter side in terms of length. I do, however, briefly discuss a bit of the world-building of the film, so, proceed with caution.

The film maintains the comedic and clever traditions of its predecessor while telling a brand new story with new characters (Benoit Blanc is the only one to return) and fresh and fun locations. The film takes place during the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning that some of the jokes and references will only be fully understood by those who are aware of what pop culture was like during the pandemic’s early days, but regardless, it still remains humorous to those that aren’t. The film overall is exceedingly funny and smart, and just a ton of fun to watch. 

I found that the film takes a while to get going, but once it does, it has you fully invested. It gradually gains suspense and intrigue, weaving twists, turns, and a decent dose of social commentary into the story. A great script and solid direction from Rian Johnson ensures that there is a pay-off for every detail of the film. The big reveal of the film doesn’t feel quite as satisfying as the first film’s, but still provides a good amount of catharsis from the tension built throughout.

As for the performances, this film is the textbook definition of an ensemble piece. Truly great performances all-around, and some delightful surprise cameos that add further depth to this stellar cast. The true standout performance of the film for me, was Janelle Monáe. A really, really awesome supporting effort from them, they deliver an emotionally vulnerable and ferocious performance with nuance and an expert balance of mystery and tenderness. I’m very happy they are getting some much-deserved award recognition for their performance. Other notable performances are Kathryn Hahn, Kate Hudson, and Daniel Craig, who returns with another witty, intelligent and emotional performance as Blanc.

Glass Onion picks up right where Knives Out left off in regards to the technical elements of the film. The cinematography and production design are both awesome and succeed in giving the film its signature character and style, a great example of which can be found in a certain scene involving an ill-timed power outage. The score by Nathan Johnson is fantastic, using the same combination of strings, harpsichords and other orchestral instruments to create a synthesis of recognizable mystery music with new themes that are as effective in this film as they were in the first.

All together, Glass Onion is a fun and clever whodunit that earns its place in the Knives Out universe. Although I still slightly favour Knives Out over this one, I highly recommend checking it out on Netflix. It’s a shame this film only played in theaters for a week, because it’s exactly the kind of movie that benefits from being seen in a large audience. It’s a really enjoyable movie that seems to play well for everyone, so hopefully that means you’ll have just as much fun watching it as I did!

Rating: 8.5/10