All the Old Knives

All the Old Knives is a 2022 American spy thriller film directed by Janus Metz Pedersen and written by Olen Steinhauer, based on Steinhauer's 2015 novel of the same name.

All the Old Knives is a 2022 American spy thriller film directed by Janus Metz Pedersen and written by Olen Steinhauer, based on Steinhauer's 2015 novel of the same name. The film stars Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton as former CIA operatives who revisit a failed counterterrorism case and the possibility of a mole within their station. The story centres on suspicions that a CIA mole may have helped cause the deaths of more than 100 people.

Premise

The film centres on Henry Pelham and Celia Harrison, two former CIA colleagues and former lovers who reunite years after a failed Vienna-related hijacking investigation. Henry is tasked with determining whether a mole inside the station supplied information to the hijackers.

Production

All the Old Knives was directed by Danish filmmaker Janus Metz Pedersen and adapted for the screen by novelist Olen Steinhauer from his own book. The production features an ensemble cast led by Chris Pine and Thandiwe Newton.

Release

Amazon Studios released the film in limited theatres in the United States and on Prime Video on April 8, 2022. Coverage from contemporary reviews places the runtime at 102 minutes.

Reception

Reviews described the film as a contained espionage thriller focused more on dialogue, memory, and suspicion than on large-scale action. Critics highlighted the leads and the tense reunion structure while differing on the film's overall effectiveness.