“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” Reactions: Rian Johnson Delivers Another Delicious Whodunnit to Unpeel
Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery made its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this past weekend, which means that reactions and reviews have already flooded online. Johnson has asked that those who saw the film (and those who reviewed it) to please, please, please keep its many secrets hidden until audiences far and wide get a chance to see it on December 23 on Netflix (it’s getting a theatrical release in select theaters, too, making it eligible for Oscar consideration). While this request has been met (so far, fingers crossed!), we can happily report that the folks who caught Johnson’s sequel to his 2019 smash hit Knives Out say that Glass Onion isn’t just a worthy sequel, for quite a few critics, it surpasses the original.
Daniel Craig returns, of course, as Benoit Blanc, the dapper gentleman detective who so nimbly and effectively juggled the jagged pieces in Knives Out and solved the mystery. In Glass Onion, Blanc has to bring his best summer suits—the action takes place in Greece—as he sets out to solve a mystery involving another wacky cast of characters. That cast is phenomenal and includes Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista. This list doesn’t include the cameos, but those folks, like the film’s many twists and turns, are part of the secrets Johnson and the rest of us want to stay hidden.
So, without further ado, here’s a brief tour of the reactions, all spoiler-free, of course:
Yes, #GlassOnion is as good as #KnivesOut, if not better – another very funny, supremely well written murder-mystery w/ twists & turns galore. I could watch Daniel Craig play Benoit Blanc forever. Also BIG shout out to Janelle Monáe, the film’s all-star without a doubt pic.twitter.com/MXWX7DGdEJ
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 11, 2022
Mystery solved! #GlassOnion outdoes its predecessor in almost every way. Fun, style and a Mona Lisa level performance from Janelle Monae and Edward Norton showcase Rian Johnson’s knack for telling killer stories. Production and costumes forever! #TIFF22 pic.twitter.com/JS5S52tXQZ
— Clayton Davis – Stand with 🇺🇦 (@ByClaytonDavis) September 11, 2022
#GlassOnion is STELLAR. Another masterful murder mystery from Rian Johnson. More Steve Yedlin brilliance. Another A+ ensemble. Cannot wait to watch this over and over and soak in the WILD amount of precision and passion that went into this movie … just like the first film.
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) September 11, 2022
If #KnivesOut is a case study of the dry rot of old money/classism, #GlassOnion is an examination of the moral decay of new money/influencer culture. A hilarious new Benoit Blanc mystery, Rian Johnson does it again! Also, can confirm, Daniel Craig’s eyes ARE that blue. #TIFF22
— Sarah Marrs (@Cinesnark) September 11, 2022
#GlassOnion is yet another hysterical and razor-sharp benoit blanc mystery from rian johnson. miles funnier than the original, the ensemble cast is beautifully controlled chaos- kate hudson is a scene stealer and janelle monâe is the beating heart. johnson’s done it again! pic.twitter.com/549J0iZ1p9
— lauren 🎬 @ TIFF (@laurenjcoates) September 11, 2022
Leave it to Rian Johnson to make my favorite Netflix movie to date. #GlassOnion is a perfect mystery.
— Nigel Smith (@nigelmfs) September 11, 2022
#GlassOnion is the best time you can have with your clothes on. Just fun #TIFF22 pic.twitter.com/5iRQA15rM7
— Kathia Woods 🇧🇷 (@kathia_woods) September 11, 2022
So @rianjohnson’s #glassonion is LOADED with surprises that no one knows, is way different than the first film but just as awesome, and very funny. Going to be a *huge* hit for @netflix. pic.twitter.com/uo2uZHKkux
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) September 11, 2022
A recap of #TIFF22’s big Saturday night double bill: Steven Spielberg’s THE FABELMANS and Rian Johnson’s GLASS ONION, two dazzling magic tricks from two filmmakers who don’t want cinema to disappear. https://t.co/y1AOj1nlol
— Justin Chang (@JustinCChang) September 12, 2022
Is #GlassOnionAKnivesOutMystery a better movie than the first “Knives Out”? Not necessarily. But it’s a bigger, showier, even more elaborately multi-faceted shell-game mystery. And #DanielCraig, once again, rules. My review from Toronto. https://t.co/O3rgGOqTlb
— Owen Gleiberman (@OwenGleiberman) September 11, 2022
Did he do it again? Yeah, he did it again. Rian Johnson’s #GlassOnion A #KnivesOut Mystery is terrific. #TIFF22 https://t.co/tqWZLjXP6k pic.twitter.com/rAW3bijR8a
— The Playlist (@ThePlaylistNews) September 11, 2022
For more on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, check out these stories:
Benoit Blanc is Back in First “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story” Trailer
“Knives Out 2” Sequel “Glass Onion” Reveals Photos, Release Date
Rian Johnson Reveals “Knives Out 2” Wraps Filming
Featured image: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022). Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.