"Knives Out" and the 2019 Theme of Decency (Spoilers)

At first glance, Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” is just a well-executed, creative whodunit that keeps the audience guessing. One of the ways it does this is by tricking the audience into thinking that they know more than most of the characters. (Especially by making them smug in the fact that they know more than the sleuth does.). In this way it reminds one of literary masterpieces like the Book of Job.

But the deeper message and meaning behind the story is one that was pervasive in the art of 2019: kindness and decency trump power and self-interest.

The Thrombey family at the center of the story, despite their many differences, are all similar. They all express a superficial and artificial decency. This is seen when they all tell Marta that she, “is family,” that they wanted her to be invited to the funeral, but they had been outvoted, and that she doesn’t have to worry because they will care for her. They all claim to know and love Marta, but none of them know where her family is from. At best, they know that she is one of “the good ones,” meaning immigrants who came into the country the “right way.” They are wrong about that too, but they don’t know that. They see themselves as “self-made” successes who don’t owe their wealth to anyone but their own hard work, but that is a lie they tell themselves. They owe all their wealth and privilege to their patriarch, whom they leech constantly.

When the will is read and they discover that everything has been left to Marta, their true colors come out. They are scared, helpless, and unable to make their own way in life. Harlan Thrombey has seen this, and for their own benefit has cut them off from his wealth so that they can learn to live. But they, instead, show their true colors. They do not love Marta. They are not self-made people. They will do whatever it takes to hold on to their comfortable lives.

By contrast, Marta is shown to be a truly good person. She is a caring nurse who doesn’t just do her job. She is a friend. She can’t even lie without becoming physically ill! And, over the course of the story, she never once considers herself. She is convinced by multiple people (first Harlan, then Ransom, and finally Benoit Blanc) to play along with the deceptions set up because they will benefit others. But, when push comes to shove and someone is in danger, she gives up all chances of wealth and even freedom to save them.

At the end of the film, she wonders despite all the evil intent of the family, whether she should help them anyway.

Blanc: I want you to remember something that’s very important. You won, not by playing the game Harlan’s way, but yours. You’re a good person.
Marta: This family. I should help them, right?
Blanc: Well, I have my opinion. But I have a feeling you’ll follow your heart.