When “Knives Out” first released in 2019, the whodunit genre had been running stale. Sure, Kenneth Branagh’s new “Murder on the Orient Express” from 2017 was a decent modern adaptation, but no new, enthralling mysteries truly graced the big screen until Rian Johnson’s surprising take on a murder mystery.

“Knives Out” completely subverted all expectations — the “mystery” had been revealed to the audience from the get-go. In a twist no one saw coming, the otherwise standard murder mystery tropes had all been subverted and viewers were left in awe as the unique, before-untold story finally reached a satisfying conclusion.

Ana de Armas’s portrayal of caretaker Marta Cabrera in “Knives Out” was a standout performance many were eager to see more of. But with the spinoff-sequel, director Rian Johnson opted to move on to grander mysteries with Daniel Craig’s southern detective Benoit Blanc. “Glass Onion” does exactly what it set out to do: a new, unique mystery unfolds in front of our familiar detective, while still attempting to somehow subvert the expectations of an audience who expects to be surprised.

“Glass Onion” follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he navigates the year 2020, struggling with the drought of mysteries brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. He tries playing detective games with friends, but nothing can scratch the itch for him like a true mystery. When a mysterious box arrives at Blanc’s door inviting him to a murder-mystery-themed birthday party hosted by millionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) on his private island, he quickly realizes something is afoot. In peeling back the mystery of the Glass Onion, Blanc must find what lies at the center of it all to unearth a secret greater than himself.

Going in, despite my extreme levels of hype, I was skeptical of Rian Johnson’s ability to build off of the uniqueness of “Knives Out.” I couldn’t imagine he could possibly rekindle the same feeling the previous film evoked without bringing back the cast — instead striving for a new style independent of its predecessor — yet he does. What all the changes in cast, setting and overall plot make for is a completely different mystery from anything done before.

Rian Johnson utilizes ideas that have definitely been seen before, but marries them in completely unexpected ways that makes for a one-of-a-kind package. Although not as unexpected and unique as “Knives Out” was, the film capitalizes on ideas the audience wouldn’t expect and makes the most of what it can without retreading old ground from the first film. It ends up coming off as a wholly unique movie, and for the most part, doesn’t try to outdo “Knives Out’s” triumphs.

In the very real drought of whodunits that currently plagues Hollywood, it was refreshing to sit in a packed theater with my peers, all mouths agape as we stared in awe at the numerous “a-ha” moments and plot twists. Regardless of plot holes or inconsistencies, the joy of beholding such a spectacle in an actual theater was enough to make me love “Glass Onion.” It’s a shame it had such a short run in the theaters, since I felt it was perfect for watching with a crowd, but for new Netflix viewers, I’m positive the experience will still be undeniably fun and rewarding.

Some of the greatest moments in “Glass Onion” are when surprise cameos or unexpected one-liners light up the whole theater with roaring laughter. Rian Johnson sprinkles in many easter eggs, or allusions, to both his own work and the works he takes inspiration from. Some of my most giddy moments in the theater were the clear allusions to “Breaking Bad” and even the “Uncharted” video game. Rian Johnson’s love for movies really shows through “Glass Onion.”

“Glass Onion,” no matter how genius its mystery in concept, has some glaring issues that sour the otherwise superb execution. The biggest problem I have is that, in trying to be a step ahead of the audience, many of the revelations and twists in the movie feel underwhelming and contrived at times, almost like Johnson felt the need to capitalize on shock value alone in sacrifice of narrative and presentation. Where the twists in “Knives Out” feel like a natural progression of story, those in “Glass Onion” are forced progressions of plot that come out of nowhere and make the story suffer.

Another drawback is the characters in “Glass Onion” unfortunately serving no purpose other than to embody satirical stereotypes. Despite some fun character moments sprinkled throughout the movie, I probably couldn’t tell you a single interesting thing about any of the supporting characters’ personalities even after two hours spent with them — something the original had no issue with. Although Edward Norton’s performance was hilarious, for instance, his characterization ended up amounting to very little in the end — a disappointing reality coming from the interesting, yet funny, characters of “Knives Out.”

Overall, in spite of its glaring issues, “Glass Onion” still captures much of the charm of “Knives Out” and feels like a worthwhile, near-perfect spinoff. As I pondered the potential of this franchise on the car ride home, I couldn’t help but grin at the possibility of another witty whodunit set in Rian Johnson’s compelling universe.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” is now available to stream on Netflix.

“Glass Onion:” ★★★★★