The Night Clerk (2016)

I think we are supposed to be relieved when the 'Norman Bates' secret of a hotel night clerk with Asbergers is out and turns out to be not quite what we suspected because this thriller seems to think that that is the end of the matter and moves breezily on, apparently unaware of a whole lot of concerns and questions and 'but-hold-on-a-minutes' the viewer has about this witness to a hotel room murder who becomes embroiled in an investigation; it's an initially intriguing but ultimately ŕather sad little thriller.

★★☆☆☆

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Knives Out (2019)

Not as effective a homage to the Agatha Christie murder mystery as it is a homage to the parlour game thriller stage plays of the likes of Ira Levin and Anthony Shaffer, director Rian Johnson nods to Sleuth with his mystery novellist's mansion setting crammed full of unusual murder mystery objects (including a prominent Jolly Jack Tar figure) and Deathtrap is brought to mind watching this movie's twisting, changing thriller-, not mystery-, plot and, really, this mostly fun, mostly well-plotted movie is in fact at it worst in its messy third act and attempts at a detective dénouement - Agatha Christie was never so longwinded. 

★★★☆☆

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