A company worth billions of dollars, a (not so) loyal group of friends, a stellar reputation, and an easy life, taken away by a single object. Not a gun, not a will, not a blood-ruby necklace.

A napkin.

This is one of the many surprising plot points of Glass Onion, the new movie in the Knives Out universe. The Knives Out movies are mysteries connected only by the detective that solves them: the renowned Benoit Blanc.

Blanc is a classic gentleman detective but with an endearingly awkward side. Although this trait did not make an appearance in the first Knives Out movie, in which Blanc’s only role was a detective solving the case of a supposed-suicide-turned-murder, it shines in Glass Onion, in which Blanc is thrust into social situations.

Both Knives Out movies were stories that seemed predictable at the start but transformed into something totally unexpected—and unexpectedly wonderful. In Knives Out, this was the immediate revelation to the viewers of the murderer, but in Glass Onion, it was the victim’s identity.

Read about the first Knives Out movie

Knives Out sets a new standard for the mystery genre

Glass Onion opens with four friends receiving and opening puzzle boxes that contain invitations from a fifth friend for a private island retreat. Benoit Blanc also receives an invitation. The host of the retreat is a billionaire with a huge vacation home—the “Glass Onion”—and based on the standards set by many such murder mysteries, including the first Knives Out, I believed he would be murdered.

This was not the case. But that was not the only surprising element of the movie. Plot twists were abundant, and every single one was unexpected yet completely plausible.

Aside from the plot, the acting was phenomenal. Glass Onion featured a stellar line-up of actors, from Leslie Odom Junior, of the musical Hamilton, to Kate Hudson, of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Daniel Craig, playing Benoit Blanc, delivered a completely relatable performance, expanding on his genius detective character. 

Madelyn Cline, who played Whiskey, the girlfriend of a man in the core group, also portrayed her character with depth and was able to convincingly play both a shallow party girl and an informed, strong woman.

The most stunning performance, though, was delivered by Janelle Monae. Although this wasn’t a surprise as Monae is a seasoned actress, it was impressive nonetheless. Without any spoilers, suffice to say that while many of the actors in Glass Onion portrayed characters with hidden depths and contrast, she actually played two entirely different characters and easily made the switch and distinction between the two.

The costuming and set designs in Glass Onion were also impeccable. Fashion model Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson) can be seen in many stunning outfits, most notably a multicolor iridescent ensemble.

Miles Braun’s vacation home was incredibly intricate, topped with a room shaped like an ornate glass onion. His elaborate gardens, pool, and indoor-outdoor dining room add to both the vacation feel and the lavish spending that Miles himself exudes.

Finally, the social commentary in Glass Onion was tremendous. This was a common theme among both Knives Out movies. Glass Onion featured discussions on everything from race and class to plagiarism and loyalty among friends. It also contained a lengthy discussion on social disruption and the question of how far is too far, regarding such disruption.

Even the title, Glass Onion, plays a major part in the storyline, not only as a part of the plot but also as a huge symbol, a warning to not look too far into things. Like the Beatles’ song by the same name, Glass Onion demonstrates that some things that may seem complicated and layered are actually very simple.

Perfect for lovers of murder and rich-people drama, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is definitely a necessary watch, but remember one thing: the walrus was Paul.