GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (12A)
★★★★I
The original Knives Out was a blast, a tongue-in-cheek country house murder mystery with a starry A-list cast portraying the rogues’ gallery of shadowy suspects. Glass Onion is an ingenious, self-contained puzzle, which is both funnier and sneakier than its predecessor.
Eccentric billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton), sends puzzle boxes as invitations to a murder mystery-themed party on his private island getaway.
Recipients include Connecticut governor Claire Debella (Kathryn Hahn), Alpha scientist Lionel Toussaint (Leslie Odom Jr), Miles’ former business partner Andi Brand (Janelle Monae), social media star Duke Cody (Dave Bautista), politically incorrect fashion designer Birdie Jay (Kate
Hudson) and Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig).
Miles reveals that he will play the murder victim and hidden clues can be pieced together to deduce his killer. The first person to solve the crime wins.
When the sound of a gunshot reverberates across the island, Blanc is perfectly placed to peel back layers of deceit and expose at least one blackened heart.
Craig and co-stars are clearly having a blast. The knives are out and they cut sweetly to the funny bone.
■ In cinemas Friday and on Netflix from December 23