Writing Tips from Knives Out

After seeing Knives Out last year, I can easily say it's one of my favorite mystery movies. It has all the elements of a classic, plus humor and heart and Chris Evans. Oh, and a cool mansion. Which shows that Rian Johnson can make a movie, so what happened with The Last Jedi? Another debate for another day. Today we're going to look at how to write something like it. (If you haven't heard the soundtrack to this, listen to that too. Super good.)

Spoilers ahead!

1. Combine genres

Knives Out is a great combination of both a mystery and a crime movie, as explained by this video from Just Write. It starts off as a mystery, but then movies to a crime story in the second act, only to return to a mystery format in the end. I think this is one of the reasons the story is so engaging and fresh in the tried-and-true mystery movie genre.

Don't be afraid to try new combinations of classic plots. Give your readers enough of the classic to know what to expect, but then subtly subvert their expectations. Some of the best stories have come out of switching things up in ways never done before.

2. Detectives don't have to be geniuses

Benoit Blanc is no Sherlock Holmes. He's southern (slightly weird sounding coming out of Daniel Craig's mouth) and honestly rather sweet. He's not the brightest, but in the end, he figures out the mystery. I hold the belief that he's smarter than he lets on.

The point of a detective is not to be the most intelligent person in the room, but to figure out the case. They don't all have to have a really high IQ and the ability to outthink everyone else. Sure, I love Sherlock too, but there is more than one detective type. Look at Miss Marple, for example.

3. Hide information

This movie has so many twists and turns. The biggest part is that they don't tell you everything up front. We believe what they tell and show us, so when more information comes to light later on, it's a shock. Did Marta really kill Harlan? I guess you'll have to watch and find out.

Withholding important information from your readers is an excellent tool, especially in the case of a mystery or unreliable narrator. We believe what the character tells us, even if we know they might not be trustworthy. It's when you begin to show that maybe we don't know everything that people get really intrigued.

4. Give us someone to root for

The Thrombey's are jerks. You learn that in like the first ten minutes of the film. That's why making Marta, an immigrant nurse, the main character is so perfect. In a lot of mystery movies, all the characters are terrible in one way or another. However, by the time we learn that Marta is partial responsible for Harlan's murder, we're already on her side from what we've seen previously.

We need to have someone to root for, or what's the point of reading your story? At least one character needs some redeemable quality, something that makes us like them a little. People need someone to cheer for, no matter the story.

5. Setting is important

I always end up talking about setting in these posts, but it's such an important but overlooked aspect of story. Most of this film takes place inside the Thrombey estate, a strange house full of knick-knacks, hidden passages, and the iconic knife display. All of these aspects come into play throughout the story, and the look of the house is memorable enough to stick in our minds.

How can you use your setting to your advantage? How can you make it as memorable as Thornfield, Pemberly, or the Shire? A well developed setting can fully immerse you into a story, while white room syndrome can drag you out of it.

Bonus tip: Cast Chris Evans. He makes movies a million times better.

Have you watched Knives Out? Which of the characters do you find most despicable? Tell me in the comments!

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