Film Techniques
What technique is used when the camera shows something the audience should notice that a character is looking at?
eyeline match
Who is the detective investigating Harlan's death? (FIRST AND LAST NAME)
Benoit Blanc
What is a red herring?
A red herring is something that deliberately distracts the audience from the truth.
What is the name of the wealthy man who dies?
Harlan Thrombey
What does the film suggest about family and money?
The film portrays the family as becoming increasingly divided and selfish when money and inheritance are involved.
How does the dark, Gothic appearance of the house create atmosphere?
The Gothic mansion, dark interiors and unusual décor create a mysterious, ominous atmosphere associated with traditional murder mysteries.
Who is Harlan's nurse and close friend? (FIRST AND LAST NAME)
Marta Cabrera
What is a false clue designed to mislead the audience called?
A Red Herring
Where does most of the film take place?
Harlan's Mansion
How is greed presented throughout the film?
Greed motivates many characters to manipulate, lie and turn against one another because they are concerned about Harlan's wealth.
How does the use of close-ups help build suspense?
Close-ups direct our attention to characters' facial expressions, objects and clues, helping create suspicion and suspense.
Which family member is a famous mystery writer?
Harlan Thrombey
Why does a detective story often hide important information from the audience?
To create suspense and allow the audience to form theories and investigate alongside the characters.
What does Marta believe she has accidentally given Harlan?
Marta believes she has accidentally injected Harlan with the wrong medication, causing a fatal overdose.
How does Marta's character challenge the behaviour of the Thrombey family?
Marta is compassionate and loyal, contrasting with family members who often treat Harlan and each other according to what they can gain.
How does the camera help establish suspicion around different characters?
Camera framing and close-ups draw attention to particular characters and objects, encouraging the audience to suspect certain people.
Who is Harlan's grandson and a controversial writer?
Jacob Thrombey
What is foreshadowing, and give one example from the film.
Foreshadowing gives the audience subtle hints about something that will become important later. MULTIPLE EXAMPLES For example, the film repeatedly draws attention to the medications and medical bag.
Marta vomits whenever she tells a direct lie.
How does the film explore appearance vs reality?
People may appear respectable, successful or caring while secretly lying, manipulating others or acting selfishly.
How does Rian Johnson manipulate the audience's perspective to create mystery?
Rian Johnson controls what information the audience receives and when. The film gives us partial information, changes our understanding of events and uses flashbacks/misdirection to keep us questioning what really happened.
Which character is revealed to have manipulated the medical information?
Ransom Drysdale
How does Knives Out follow and subvert traditional murder-mystery conventions?
Knives Out uses familiar murder-mystery conventions but subverts them by revealing much of what happened to Marta relatively early, then making the audience question whether she actually caused Harlan's death.
What is revealed about Harlan's death at the end?
Harlan's death was ultimately revealed to have been part of a plan involving Ransom. Ransom switched Harlan's medication and tried to frame Marta.
What does the ending suggest about who deserves Harlan's inheritance?
The ending suggests that Harlan's decision to leave his fortune to Marta is connected to his recognition of her character and the family's behaviour.