Knives Out Review: 9 Ups & 1 Down

4. It Brilliantly Subverts Expectations

Rian Johnson may have received plenty of flak for his expectation-defying approach on Star Wars: The Last Jedi, but away from the absurdity of shepherding a much-loved sci-fi franchise, his tendency for shock and awe proves much more effective.

Without spoiling anything, Johnson cleverly takes the typical format of a whodunnit and subverts it, ensuring that Knives Out probably isn't quite the movie you think it is.

The trailers, thankfully, haven't given the game away (yet), and the result is a film that serves up consistent, satisfying surprises all the way to the finish line.

The twists and turns aren't simply shocks for their own sake, though: they feel consistent within the film's overall logic, even if you'll need a sharp mind to keep track of all the plates being spun at once.