After several weeks in theaters, Rian Johnson’s latest murder mystery Knives Out continues to attract crowds and win critical acclaim. Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal gave the film high praise, describing it as “Entertainment that’s as smart, witty, stylish and exhilarating as any movie lover could wish for.” Although the film is full of twists and turns that separate it from classic mysteries, Johnson’s risks clearly manifested in high reward; it grossed $27.2 million in its opening weekend, and to date has made $199.5 million. Fans and critics alike also received the movie well, giving it a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie was also nominated for three Golden Globe awards and now has the chance to win Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards.

The film follows the Thrombeys, a wealthy family headed by Harlan Thrombey, an 85 year old mystery writer of great renowned.  When Harlan is found dead in his study after a supposed suicide, Detective Benoit Blanc is hired to investigate the death alongside the local authorities. The deeper Detective Blanc digs, however, the more he uncovers a twisted web of lies, dysfunction and broken trust.

With a solid balance of serious moments and comic relief, the nontraditional story is full of twists and turns, closing out with a revelation that even die-hard mystery fans will find almost impossible to predict. The cast includes several well-known actors whose performances certainly live up to audience expectation. Each character has a unique, realistic, and complex personality that adds to both the humor and suspense of the plot. As part of the story is told through a series of interviews between Detective Blanc and his suspects, viewers have the opportunity to get sucked into the story and draw conclusions for themselves. Reading a synopsis of this film simply doesn’t do it justice; be sure to see it before it leaves theaters and see the film that has attracted such critical acclaim for yourself.