Knives Out is a fantastic whodunnit0-style movie, and because of that, there is an obvious element of mystery that comes with the film and its characters. The plot itself is one that has audiences guessing, trying to work out different elements, but not everything about the movie takes a top detective to see coming, with some moments being very predictable.
Of course, while some parts of the film are easy to work out from early on, others aren't quite so simple. Some of them take a lot of focus and concentration, and it can be tough to parse out some of the red herrings and stay one-step ahead of Cluedo curve.
Surprising Moment: Taking Medication
It is revealed that Ransom is the character who causes the main problem and swaps the medicine that Harlan uses, which leads to Marta thinking that she has poisoned him. He takes away the antidote that can save him, and that really is a big surprise within the film.
The big swap is something that people don't see coming, as it is so heavily detailed and thought-through that people just don't expect it. However, it does become a fun surprise and it makes for a unique twist.
Predictable Moment: More Than Meets The Eye
Because the film showcases Harlan committing suicide quite early on, it is very obvious that there is going to be more than meets the eye with the overall plot. In the end, the film is mainly about Marta and her life than it is about Harlan, and, while the swapping of the medicine and the blackmail are harder to predict, it is obvious something will be happening with her.
There was no way the entire movie was going to be focusing on Harlan, mainly because his death is explained to the audience so early on, which meant that the movie needed something else to keep people hooked.
Surprising Moment: Showing Harlan's Death
One of the big reasons people love a whodunnit movie is because audiences enjoy trying to put the clues together to determine the murderer. However, in Knives Out, Harlan is shown killing himself fairly early on, which is quite a surprising moment.
Most people don't expect to find that out until much later, and, even though it's a suicide and not a murder, it still is a shock to be shown it early. Obviously, because of what the film is really pushing with the switched medication, the death has to be shown, but it does come as a surprise.
Predictable Moment: Harlan's Will
Throughout the build-up to the will reading it is pretty clear that Harlan is cutting off of his family. Each individual is using him for his money for their own various reasons, and he is obviously planning for all of that to come to an end.
He has individual conversations about each character's circumstances, and then, when the will reading happens, he leaves everything to Marta. It doesn't really come as a shock to the audience, simply because it's fairly obvious that he is going to cut them out anyway.
Surprising Moment: Harlan's Secret Code
During the movie, it is revealed that Harlan is well aware of the fact that Richard Drysdale is cheating on Linda Drysdale, but, due to his death, he doesn't get the chance to tell her. However, just at the end of the film, the secret is revealed in quite a surprising moment.
With Linda using a light underneath the letter that is left to her, the secret communication that she has with Harlan is revealed, as is Richard's secret. With everything going on in the film, this secret is brushed aside about until it finally happens which is why it's a great surprise.
Predictable Moment: Great Nana Reveals All
While Great Nana is silent throughout the vast majority of the film, it is revealed that she sees both Ransom and Marta climbing up to Harlan's office the night he dies. Because audiences see her have that moment with Marta, it is obvious that she knows something.
It's clear that, at some point, she is going to have a role to play, otherwise, she wouldn't have been showcased as much. Therefore, when Detective Benoit Blanc gets the information out of her, it isn't a shock.
Surprising Moment: Fran Is Murdered
One moment that really did take audiences by surprise was the fact that Fran, who was the housemaid for the Thrombey house, ends up being murdered. With Ransom taking the decision to try and frame Marta, he kills Fran as a way of doing that.
Because Fran is only a ing role, and everyone thinks Harlan's death will be the only one, it does come as a big shock when she is found pumped full of drugs, which leads to her death.
Predictable Moment: The Fake Knife
Right at the end of the movie, Ransom looks to make a desperate bid to get revenge on Marta to take her out of the will by killing her. She gets knocked to the floor as Ransom grabs a knife from the chair that is shown throughout the film and stabs her with it.
However, it ends up being a fake knife, and his drastic measures were foiled. While it is similar to a classic horror film with one last spook, this is one that is predictable. Harlan talks about fake knives earlier in the movie, and, for those that paid attention, this is a moment they know is coming.
Surprising Moment: Marta Is Responsible
Even though it becomes clear that Marta actually didn't have anything to do with Harlan's death, as she used the right medication, it is her thinking she had done it wrong that leads to him killing himself. This is certainly a surprise and something people don't expect, as she is the only person who seems to care for him.
Everyone is instantly thinking that it is a member of the family that kills Harlan, as they all have clear motives for wanting to do that. However, that doesn't end up being the case, and that is something that comes as a big surprise.
Predictable Moment: Ransom Is The Villain
When it becomes clear that someone else tampered with Marta's medication, it is instantly clear that Ransom would be the man behind it. The film does a good job of making him a hated character, as he is so over the top and incredibly arrogant. Sadly, there aren't enough other red herrings throughout the film to make people think that it could be anybody else. Therefore, it is no surprise that Ransom is the man behind everything in the end.
