By George Haerle

For Grays Harbor News Group

If “Looper” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” weren’t enough proof, “Knives Out” solidifies director Rian Johnson as a highly skilled filmmaker who should have a very bright future. This is a sharp mystery/comedy with incredibly fun performances by a stacked cast.

The story follows nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas) in the wake of the grisly death of her client, famous writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), who has supposedly committed suicide. Private sleuth Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig, who is an absolute delight to watch here) suspects foul play and is conducting an investigation.

The cast is rounded out by Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Evans, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Jaeden Martell (young Bill in the “It” films) and Katherine Langford as the family at the center of the investigation — and many of them have some motive for murder.

Evans shines in particular as a character very, very much unlike Captain America, excellently playing a hilarious and infamous jerk within the squabbling family. Toni Collette is also a hoot as a trendy New Age products peddler and social media influencer.

The Thrombey family may all be unlikable as individuals, but they are darned entertaining to watch as they interact with one another, whether it be thrown accusations, over-the-top arguments or snarky behind-the-back comments. And each of their individual stories and police statements ends up expanding upon the film significantly as everything unfolds.

Each one of the cast members adds and fills in the need for a Clue-esque sort of mystery and plays their character archetypes quite well, most of them delivering very entertaining and quite funny performances as the audience discovers each of their personalities and possible reasons for committing murder. In addition to Evans and Collette, Shannon is a particularly notable screen-stealer.

As the movie progresses, Harlan’s death becomes not the only mystery, and layers of deception and betrayal are revealed. As fields of questions are answered, brand-new ones open up; and this not only sends the characters spiraling into an out-of-control multi-threaded mystery, but sucks the audience into it as well. “Knives Out” is entertaining from start to finish, and is well worth the price of admission.

There’s not much else that can be said about this film — but only because to tell any more of the plot or details would infringe on the integrity of the mystery at its center. The basic premise is as much as you need.

The only warning I would give is that you should wear warm layers of clothes if you see this film at the Riverside Cinemas. I was constantly trying to warm my hands and nose as I started to wonder if the air conditioner was on there.

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“Knives Out” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.

George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.

Nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), left, with Martin Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) in a scene from “Knives Out.”

Photos courtesy Lionsgate Daniel Craig plays private sleuth Benoit Blanc in “Knives Out.”