Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

2022 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 2 hr 19min

Comedy ~ Crime ~ Drama ~ Mystery ~ Thriller ~ Whodunnit

Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista.

Bad people. Beautiful places. Brilliant detective.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery transports the action to a luxurious private island owned by tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton), where a group of his handpicked “disruptors” gathers for a murder-mystery game that turns deadly real. Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is back, invited under mysterious circumstances, poking at the egos and secrets of this elite crew amid opulent parties and elaborate puzzles. As Blanc unravels the threads, it becomes clear that Bron’s inner circle, each with axes to grind and alibis to fake, is hiding more than just bad ideas behind their success stories.

At the story’s core is Birdie Jay (Kate Hudson), Bron’s ditzy fashionista girlfriend with a heart of fool’s gold, alongside the sharp-tongued scientist Cassandra Brand (Janelle Monáe), loyal assistant Peggy (Jessica Henwick), and others like the YouTuber Duke (Dave Bautista) and his suspicious girlfriend Whiskey (Madelyn Cline). These characters orbit Bron like planets around a black hole of charisma, their loyalty tested when a key death upends the weekend getaway. Blanc’s quiet observations cut through the flash, turning the group’s self-congratulatory vibes into a powder keg of resentment and deception.

As the investigation heats up, Blanc navigates booby-trapped sets, hidden motives, and a script-flipping pace that keeps everyone guessing, all while the island’s isolation amps the stakes. Bron’s right-hand man Lionel (Leslie Odom Jr.) and the enigmatic Helen step into pivotal roles, forcing everyone to confront how far they’d go to protect their slice of the empire. The mystery builds through wild reveals and chases, with Blanc piecing together a puzzle that’s as much about ego as evidence.

Daniel Craig doubles down on Blanc’s charm, blending that drawling Southern wit with sharper impatience for nonsense this time around, gone is some of the goofiness, replaced by a steely focus that makes him feel even more like the genre’s new king. His physical ticks, like the fidgety hands and piercing stares, evolve into a more commanding presence, shedding any lingering Bond shadow while owning the detective’s theatrical flair amid absurdly rich suspects.

Janelle Monáe commands as Cassandra/Helen, channeling raw grief and intellect into a role that flips from overlooked genius to force of nature, her every glance loaded with unspoken fury. She nails the duality, vulnerable yet unbreakable, making her the emotional anchor in a sea of caricatures, with chemistry opposite Blanc that sparks like flint on steel.

Glass Onion amps the satire, swapping family dysfunction for tech-bro hubris and influencer excess, using the whodunnit to skewer “move fast and break things” culture, fake innovation, and loyalty bought with NDAs. Rian Johnson twists the formula harder, early reveals shift suspicion to deeper lies, blending Clue’s playfulness with Ocean’s Eleven polish for a mystery that’s gleefully meta yet brutally on-point about power and privilege today.

Glass Onion is highly recommended for fans of clever twists, ensemble chaos, and Blanc’s brainpower, sharper and splashier than the original with 92% on Rotten Tomatoes!

Turn off the lights and devices,

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and

Stream This Movie!

I Know What You Did Last Summer

2025 Sony pictures

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 51min

Horror ~ Slasher

Directed by: Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Starring: Madelyn Cline, Chase Sui Wonders, Jonah Hauer-King, Tyriq Withers, Sarah Pidgeon, Billy Campbell, Gabbriette Bechtel, Austin Nichols, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Karma Is A Killer

On July 4th, Ava Brucks (Chase Sui Wonders) returns to her hometown of Southport, North Carolina, for her best friend Danica Richards’ ( Madelyn Cline) engagement party. The group, including Ava’s ex, Milo Griffin (Jonah Hauer-King), Danica’s fiancé, Teddy Spencer (Tyriq Withers), and Stevie Ward (Sarah Pidgeon), recently out of rehab, drive to watch the fireworks, but their night turns disastrous when Teddy causes a car driven by Sam Cooper to swerve off a cliff. At Teddy’s insistence, the friends agree to cover up the accident, recruiting Teddy’s politician father (Billy Campbell) to handle the fallout.

A year later, Ava returns to Southport for Danica’s bridal shower, and relationships are fraught. Danica and Teddy have broken up and Danica is now engaged to Wyatt (Joshua Orpin). Tensions resurface as the group tries to reconnect, but the past isn’t buried, during the shower, Danica receives a chilling note “I know what you did last summer.” Suspecting Teddy may be responsible, the group confronts him on his father’s boat, only to find he’s spiraling into alcoholism and denies sending the message.

That night, Wyatt is murdered by a figure dressed in a slicker and brandishing the Fisherman’s signature hook, staging a grisly tableau and scrawling “You can’t erase the past” in blood. As panic and suspicion grow, Ava and her friends are pursued by the killer. A true crime podcaster, Tyler Trevino (Gabbriette Bechtel), researching the infamous Ben Willis massacre of 1997, is also drawn into the chaos, ultimately falling victim herself when she and Ava are attacked at a crime scene connected to the original killings.

Desperate for help, the group turns to survivor Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who believes the new Fisherman killer may have a personal connection to Sam, the accident victim. But with the authorities and townsfolk eager to avoid scandal and maintain their tourist reputation, the friends realize they must face the past and the deadly consequences alone as secrets unravel and trust breaks down

For fans of the original movies I know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer and I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, this one might be a disappointment. It feels more like a nostalgic homage to the originals than another entry into the franchise. The appearance of Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt and Brandy Norwood (From I Still Know What You did Last Summer appearing in a Cameo scene after the credits) leave it fully feeling like a nostalgic romp into the past. And yet it feels like it belongs in the franchise, as a marker that that was the past and this is now the direction and the future of the franchise.

There is a scene after the credits roll where Brandy’s character Karla (From I Still Know What You Did Last Summer is watching the news and sees Jennifer Love Hewitt in the story about what just happened in the movie. Then there is a knock at the door and Jennifer is there and explains to Carla as she hands her an envelope, “There is something we have to do….” Perfectly opening the door for another movie in the franchise. It was more comedy than outright Slasher Horror, although it had it’s moments. I did jump on occasion and I laughed and chuckled a lot at some of the dialogue and antics.

Was it worth a watch you ask? Sure, give it a go! ‘Tis the season for Streaming and Screaming!

The Map That Leads To You

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 36min

Drama ~ Romance

Directed by: Lasse Hallström

Starring: Madelyn Cline, Josh Lucas, KJ Apa, Sofia Wylie and Madison Thompson.

Love is A Journey Worth Taking

THE BOOK:

The Map That Leads To You: A Novel By J. P. Monninger – August 5, 2025

Two strangers take the road less traveled…

Heather Mulgrew’s world is already mapped out: she is going to travel abroad with her friends after college, come back to a great career in September, and head into a life where not much is left to chance. But that was before an encounter on an overnight train introduces her to Jack, a passionate adventurer who changes the course of her journey and her life.

Throwing Heather’s careful itinerary to the wind, they follow Jack’s grandfather’s journal through post-World War II era Europe: Vienna, Budapest, Turkey―exotic places that serve only to heighten their feelings. As September looms, Jack urges Heather to stay with him, to keep traveling, to give in to the romance of their experience; Heather convinces him to return to the United States.
Jack has a secret that could change everything. And Heather’s world is about to be shaken to the core.

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

The Map That Leads to You follows Heather (Cline), a young woman setting off on an adventure across Europe with her best friends before settling into her perfectly planned life. When she crosses paths with Jack (Apa), a magnetic and mysterious stranger, their instant spark ignites an emotional journey neither of them expected. As their connection deepens, secrets, life choices, and hidden truths will test their bond—and change her life in ways she never imagined. From director Lasse Hallström (Dear John, Safe Haven) comes this adaptation of JP Monninger’s novel about love, destiny, and the courage to choose your own path.

From the start there’s no doubt Heather likes her ducks neatly in a row. Smart, curious and independent, she is the planner – the one who reads the guidebooks, coordinates the train schedules, makes the reservations and always prepares a cushion for anything that might go astray. Case in point: Heather organized this trip to hit all the major checkpoints and, more importantly, to conclude a requisite two weeks before moving into an apartment in New York City and starting her new job at a prestigious bank. That may be why her friends, though they tease about her meticulous nature, have long accepted it as part of Heather’s personality and what they love about her. Besides, without her on this trip they’d probably end up sleeping in the park and they know it. Amy, for one, has a tough time keeping track of her own passport.

Jack is more of a wild card, whose philosophy on the road is, “We’ll figure it out.” Confident and resourceful, he may have a goal in mind but the details of how he gets from point A to point B can remain vague until the moment they become necessary and he’s not averse to bending the rules. As Apa explains, “Jack is a traveler. He is smart, spontaneous and looking for adventure. He is always looking for the story behind the story. He cares for people and understands the fragility of life, which is why he prefers to experience life up close and in the moment, not on his phone or on social media.”

Heather and Jack’s contrast is instantly and comically apparent as they exit the train: she’s herding luggage and he’s hands-free, only a well-worn backpack on his shoulders. Despite his sunny nature and playful nature, however, Jack also strikes a subtle note of intrigue and may be harboring a secret he’s not ready – if ever – to share.

It is soon revealed that Jack is retracing an itinerary from a journal passed down to him from his great-grandfather, Russell, a veteran of the Second World War. After nearly losing his life on the battlefield, Russell set off on a post-war tour of personal discovery, visiting points of interest throughout the continent and describing them in this book. These are the places that Jack now wants to see for himself. At first, Jack’s trip appears to be a way of honoring Russell’s life, but as the young man continues to follow in his great-grandfather’s footsteps it becomes something deeper. Russell embarked on his journey after resolving not to waste another minute of his precious life. For Jack, that commitment becomes clearer and more meaningful with every step. And it’s something he strives to share with this extraordinary new woman in his life.

THE REVIEW:

I have not read the book so I can’t draw comparisons there, I will have to judge the movie on it’s own merits. In the beginning it felt a little generic, like a formula Hallmark movie. To be honest I was losing interest quick but the chemistry between the three girlfriends early on started to draw me in. They are definitely a close knit bunch of friends who share everything. As the movie meandered around Europe it still felt pretty generic to me, I wasn’t really getting drawn into the characters emotionally. I really didn’t think much of KJ Apa, again his performance didn’t feel that deep emotionally. Madelyn Cline I though did alright with her role but I feel like it was less than, kind of like a generic Hallmark movie.

I honestly liked Madison Thompson the best out of three girls on the trip. I felt like her character felt the most real to me, although I liked Sofia Wylie as well. Of the Romance movies I have seen and reviewed lately: My Oxford Year, The Life List and The Idea Of You I would have to say that this movie doesn’t compare, again it feels more like a generic Hallmark Movie that you just don’t get that heavily emotionally involved in. Maybe it has more to do with direction than the acting. I just looked back at what I wrote and I have typed “Generic Hallmark Movie” three times.

I think that really sums it up for me, not that good, it was just ok.

Would I watch it again, absolutely not. Would I recommend it, absolutely not.

There are better Romance Movies out there.