Knives Out is one movie you really shouldn't spoil

Spoiler culture is out of control. But this hilarious whodunit is one justifiable exception.

Daniel Craig.
(Image credit: Claire Folger)

When I saw Knives Out at an early screening several weeks ago, there was a taped statement from its director, Rian Johnson, before it began. Please, Johnson implored the audience, whatever you do, don't spoil the "who" in my movie's whodunit.

I was unmoved by his appeal; more than that, I was peeved. Everywhere you turn these days, there are wheedling statements and social media campaigns warning critics and blabbermouths not to "spoil" the sanctity of a movie with even the most opaque of plot summaries. Directors weighing in have only added blood to this frothing, brainless, "NO SPOILERS" feeding frenzy. It is one thing for critics to have the decency not to publish a trollish headline like "[Redacted] kills Christopher Plummer's character in Knives Out," but it is a whole other thing to lecture critics about spoilers before the movie even begins.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.