Benoit Blanc is back for a new case in Greece in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) breaks out of his COVD-19 pandemic boredom when he receives an invitation to join governor Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), tech executive Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr.), fashion designer Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) and her assistant Peg (Jessica Henwick), men’s rights YouTuber Duke Cody (Dave Bautista) and his girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline), and enigmatic outcast Cassandra Brand (Janelle Monáe) on the private Greek island of Athena Industries head Miles Bron (Edward Norton). Bron plans on using the weekend to host a murder mystery party, but when an actual murder occurs, Blanc goes on the case to find the killer.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is the latest film by writer/director Rian Johnson, the first of two sequels to his hit 2019 murder mystery Knives Out. Daniel Craig returns as the southern detective Benoit Blanc, who finds himself in the middle of a new murder mystery, this time occurring on the private island of tech disrupter Miles Bron, who is preparing to launch a new type of hydrogen fuel, which happens to be powering his compound named the “Glass Onion.” Miles is initially confused by the presence of Blanc, who wasn’t one of the people invited. However, Benoit Blanc’s company becomes necessary when guests drop dead, making this murder mystery party very real.
Despite the subtitle for branding purposes, Glass Onion is quite a different film than Knives Out. This includes the Greek Island location, which, to allude to Daniel Craig’s other famous role, has the appearance of a James Bond villain’s lair. The different format of the film admittedly takes a bit of getting used to, especially since the actual murder mystery of Glass Onion doesn’t kick into high gear until the second half.
When it finally truly gets going, Glass Onion is a film with many fun twists and turns, even if it doesn’t reach the same highs as Knives Out. Glass Onion also features many fun cameos, which I do not want to spoil. However, the film does feature Rian Johnson regular Noah Segan as Daryl, another man staying on Miles Brong’s island, who pops up at random times. The performances among the main cast of Glass Onion that stands out include Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, and Janelle Monáe. Dave Bautista is also having fun playing a gun-toting right-wing men’s rights vlogger.
Altogether, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is an entertaining follow-up to Knives Out, and I look forward to Rian Johnson’s next Benoit Blanc adventure.