The Blu-ray packaging for Knives Out accidentally spoils the identity of the killer. Released in November 2019, Knives Out was written and directed by Rian Johnson. The film was a modern take on the classic murder mystery genre, with the character of Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) hired to investigate the death of a wealthy crime novelist named Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer). The success of Knives Out surpassed most expectations, and Johnson achieved critical acclaim for his screenplay and direction. At the box office, the whodunnit grossed more than $300 million against a budget of $40 million. A sequel is already in the works, and a franchise centering around Benoit Blanc is said to be in consideration.
Part of the enjoyment in watching Knives Out, and another area in which the film received plenty of acclaim, comes down to the performances of the cast. From Chris Evans, and his sweater, to Toni Collette and Jamie Lee Curtis, to Ana de Armas turning heads as the protagonist, the movie makes a compelling case that just about all of the characters had a motive for killing Harlan. Remaining faithful to the type of story he’s updating, Johnson packs in plenty of twists and turns. The full picture of what happened to Harlan, and how that relates to the family he left behind, doesn’t fully emerge until just before the credits start rolling. The packaging for the Blu-ray edition of Knives Out accidentally spoils that effort.
According to Movie Details, the Blu-ray packaging reveals the identity of Harlan’s killer. Specifically, it’s the slipcover which spoils the plot. Flip it around and it points very directly to one character in particular. Given how intricate Knives Out is, and how closely the film pays attention to detail, it’s possible the result is an intentional wink to the many moviegoers that have already seen Knives Out. Check out the tweet below and decide for yourself.
It’s worth noting that, outside of a few scenes in the second half of the film, Knives Out does very little to dissuade viewers of the fact that Evans’ character, Ransom, is likely responsible for what happens to Harlan. At the outset, he’s portrayed as a loathsome individual and his lack of authenticity is readily acknowledged. Like the best mysteries, the real fun is in uncovering how it all comes together. In that respect, Knives Out is untainted by its advertising.
The box office receipts for Knives Out serve as proof of its winning formula. Some of those tickets surely have to be going to repeat viewings, purchased by fans eager to sit down for the ride all over again. With a second installment now confirmed, it hopefully won’t be too long before Benoit Blanc gets to solve another case.
More: Knives Out: 5 Things We Want In The Sequel (& 5 We Don’t)
Source: Movie Details
