# Knives Out (spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [November 27, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096 "2019-11-27T23:41:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/81 "2020-01-08T21:09:11Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Well, if we’re going to go \*that \*route, where we’re not debating what Ransom could/should have done (if Ransom was a real person and not a fictional character) but what would have made a good entertaining movie, I stand by my earlier comment that what _I_ would have liked is more over-the-top black comedy in which _every_ family member has been trying to kill Harlan but the person who actually succeeds is Marta, purely by accident. The big twist is that Blanc figures this out but decides he’d rather keep quiet and let Marta inherit everything because she’s the only decent person in the household. You could even keep the ending with her sipping from the “My House, My Rules” mug with a hint of ambiguity that maybe it wasn’t an accident after all. We’ll have to agree to disagree with what makes a movie entertaining. One of the reasons I loved this movie is because it completely undermines the lazy, hackneyed tale you just outlined. For a while, when the film was showing that virtually everyone had a motive for wanting Harlan dead, I assumed this was where they were going, and I was so relieved to find out it wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/82 "2020-01-08T22:38:38Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > We’ll have to agree to disagree with what makes a movie entertaining. One of the reasons I loved this movie is because it completely undermines the lazy, hackneyed tale you just outlined. For a while, when the film was showing that virtually everyone had a motive for wanting Harlan dead, I assumed this was where they were going, and I was so relieved to find out it wasn’t. Ditto. That would have felt…too farcical. I really liked that Knives Out managed to be funny and lighthearted without being too “zany.” It’s also worth noting that (hundred-year-old Agatha Christie spoilers alert?) that would have been pretty damn close to the ending of Murder on the Orient Express with a dash of The Mousetrap. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/83 "2020-01-09T16:06:24Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I don’t remember Marta getting close enough to Harlan’s body to get any blood splashed on her shoe, so how did that happen? I believe they showed a dramatic spurt when Harlan slit his throat. I believe we are supposed to believe the spray reached all the way to her shoe. I think I recall some comments about how the spatter/spray ruled out homicide (or perhaps just confirmed suicide). ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/84 "2020-01-09T18:19:27Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I believe they showed a dramatic spurt when Harlan slit his throat. I believe we are supposed to believe the spray reached all the way to her shoe. I think I recall some comments about how the spatter/spray ruled out homicide (or perhaps just confirmed suicide). The splatter of the blood (according to the detective) was such that if someone had been there committing the act, it would have been inconsistent with what the blood pattern looked like. Marta looked too far away from her viewpoint at the door to get that one single tell-tale drop on her sneaker but later when she revisits the room with BB, the room looks a lot smaller than it did before, so it’s a pretty easy thing to forgive imho. Ditto the strength of the fridge magnet to erase the VHS tape so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2020, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/85 "2020-01-10T22:00:14Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > We’ll have to agree to disagree with what makes a movie entertaining. One of the reasons I loved this movie is because it completely undermines the lazy, hackneyed tale you just outlined. Yeah, I’m not sure the descriptor “lazy” should be thrown around without taking into account that the only reason the movie’s plot works is that a character is physically incapable of lying, except for temporary plot-dependent interludes. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/86 "2020-01-12T20:14:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Yeah, I’m not sure the descriptor “lazy” should be thrown around without taking into account that the only reason the movie’s plot works is that a character is physically incapable of lying, except for temporary plot-dependent interludes. ?? I’m pretty sure they were consistent with her liepuke. Sometimes she was able to suppress the gag reflex temporarily, but she always appeared to be making an effort to do so, just as people do in real life when they’re trying not to throw up. It was a ridiculous plot conceit, but I had no problem with the way it was used: instead of being a lazy workaround to plot problems, it was instead used both to drive tension and to enable plot twists. It was a MacGuffin excellently used. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/87 "2020-01-13T00:40:08Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It was a ridiculous plot conceit, but I had no problem with the way it was used: instead of being a lazy workaround to plot problems, it was instead used both to drive tension and to enable plot twists. It was a MacGuffin excellently used. And also for a payoff at the end as she got to throw up on Ransom. She did that, right? Not just in front of, but on? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/88 "2020-01-13T01:27:37Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > And also for a payoff at the end as she got to throw up on Ransom. > > She did that, right? Not just in front of, but on? Oh, she aimed true. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/89 "2020-02-29T03:08:45Z")
Watched this tonight and had a great time. All the acting and the twisty plot were right up my alley, and I’ll likely watch it again. And a sequel is coming! > **[‘Knives Out’ Sequel Officially A Go As Lionsgate Hints At Franchise](https://deadline.com/2020/02/knives-out-sequel-official-rian-johnson-1202853566/)** > > Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said Thursday during the company’s third-quarter earnings call that a sequel to Knives Out is officially a go, hinting that a production start for a follow-up to … ---
**Author:** ![wombattver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b77776/32.png) [@wombattver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wombattver)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/90 "2020-03-01T20:26:49Z")
> [@jebert](#): > > I don’t remember Marta getting close enough to Harlan’s body to get any blood splashed on her shoe, so how did that happen? THIS blood drop bothers me to no end. It makes no sense to me because she absolutely didn’t look close enough to Harlan to get any blood on her shoe. And that tiny spot is supposedly the reason Blanc knows the truth? I didn’t buy that. Without any testing, a spot so tiny could be easily explained away and could have come from anywhere, including Marta’s home. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/91 "2020-03-02T07:09:36Z")
I enjoyed this video detailing easter eggs in Knives out and you might too: [KNIVES OUT 2019 Breakdown! Hidden Easter Eggs & Visual Analysis! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5TDifgs7Wg) It made me realize that when Marta finds Fran dying, Fran can be heard to tell Marta: “You did this” but it’s actually “Hugh did this”. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/92 "2020-03-02T23:12:16Z")
Saw it last night and loved it. Can we go back to basics for a moment? Why was Harlan disinheriting Linda? What was her transgression/failing? ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/93 "2020-03-03T01:08:33Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Watched this tonight and had a great time. All the acting and the twisty plot were right up my alley, and I’ll likely watch it again. > > And a sequel is coming! > ['Knives Out' Sequel Officially A Go As Lionsgate Hints At Franchise](https://deadline.com/2020/02/knives-out-sequel-official-rian-johnson-1202853566/) Spoons out ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/94 "2020-03-03T15:30:24Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > Spoons out I think they’re probably planning ahead for the full six movie series: Pipe Down Wrench in the Works Pistol Grip Corpse Candle and the stunning conclusion in: End of the Rope ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/95 "2020-03-03T15:47:31Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Saw it last night and loved it. Can we go back to basics for a moment? Why was Harlan disinheriting Linda? What was her transgression/failing? There wasn’t one. The idea was to “let” his children get out from under his shadow and do something great on their own, rather than rely on his wealth as a crutch. Linda perhaps already had (albeit with a million dollar loan from Dad). ---
**Author:** ![Taber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ac91a4/32.png) [@Taber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taber)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/96 "2020-03-03T19:01:45Z")
> [@ebb](#): > > I think they’re probably planning ahead for the full six movie series: > > Pipe Down > Wrench in the Works > Pistol Grip > Corpse Candle > > and the stunning conclusion in: > > End of the Rope They could do the full 2 Sharp 2 Out Knives Out: Julienne cut The Knives and the Out Knives Five Knives Out 6 Out 7 The Food ate with Knives Kn9 Untitled tenth film ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/97 "2020-03-03T20:12:22Z")
> [@ASL\_v2.0](#): > > There wasn’t one. The idea was to “let” his children get out from under his shadow and do something great on their own, rather than rely on his wealth as a crutch. Linda perhaps already had (albeit with a million dollar loan from Dad). Ah. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/98 "2020-03-04T18:01:07Z")
> [@MichaelEmouse](#): > > I enjoyed this video detailing easter eggs in Knives out and you might too: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5TDifgs7Wg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5TDifgs7Wg) > > It made me realize that when Marta finds Fran dying, Fran can be heard to tell Marta: “You did this” but it’s actually “Hugh did this”. Didn’t they explain that right in the movie itself? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/99 "2020-03-04T19:00:23Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Didn’t they explain that right in the movie itself? I’ll have to rewatch it. If so, thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2020, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096/100 "2020-03-04T19:14:44Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Didn’t they explain that right in the movie itself? Yes. It was a significant plot point, in the final confrontation with Hugh/Ransom. Marta flashes back to Fran’s last words, and then says something along the lines of, “Fran didn’t say ‘_you_ did this’, she said ‘_Hugh_ did this.’ You always made the staff call you _Hugh_.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/knives-out-spoilers/844096.md?page=6)