GLASS ONION : A Review

🚨 Potential Spoilers Ahead ��

Glass Onion, the sequel to Knives Out from the genius of Rian Johnson, hit theaters just before Thanksgiving, Nov. 23. The film shows the return of Daniel Craig as renowned Detective Benoit Blanc with a whole new set of characters around him. Starring alongside him is Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, and Dave Bautista.

Before the film was released in theaters, I got the chance to see its premiere at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Sitting in the theater the film kept me enthralled the entire time, as the audience follows this group of friends who are joined by the likes of Blanc. They call themselves the ‘Disruptors’ and are called together by the likes of Miles, played by Edward Norton via a puzzle box. Miles gathers them to solve his own game of “whodunnit”. Yet in this game, there’s a deeper, darker story that is hidden within this seemingly close knit group.

This deeper darkness comes in the form of Janelle Monáe’s character, Andi. A group where she used to be apart of but somehow is now an outsider. And for some reason that makes the group uncomfortable with her. As Miles double crossed Andi when it came to her company and their friends helped him do it because she wouldn’t support his latest idea.

Now one would think that this would be the only twist that Johnson would have up his sleeve. But no the movie continues with showing how this group became so gun-ho on Miles. Because Miles basically funds all of their lifestyles and has something on all of them. Their relationship with Miles is more about surviving and out of fear then true friendship which in turn enables him to keep his power and money over them.

It’s revealed midway that Blanc was hired by a woman. A woman that looks just like Andi but with a more country accent, Helen. Helen as it turns out wants to find out why her sister Andi was killed and who did it. In her sister’s apartment she finds this box with the invitation to the Glass Onion. She took it to Blanc and they then plan to infiltrate the group. They worked together to work both angles of the group.

As the turns and twists are revealed, I just couldn’t stop thinking about how Johnson is able to work out intertwining a group of characters so throughly without feeling like I know what’s going to happen next. Like when Miles’ games is easily revealed by Blanc, I was confused like ‘oh, this is it? What else could be happening next?’. And then having Duke’s ( Dave Bautista ) death set off the next, or better said, the real “whodunnit” as the characters set to turn on themselves even more as they run around this big mansion.

To all that’s been said, the storyline once again shows Johnson’s ability to weave all a set of characters together so tightly as he takes you on this journey. Truly the film lives up to its name, as the layers keeps peeling themselves back.