Wake Up Dead Man, the newest film in Rain Johnston’s famous Knives Out franchise, arrives with high expectations. This third Benoit Blanc mystery is told through a thematically complex and thoughtful story line that lives up to the original film. In my opinion, this movie is exceedingly better than the second movie, Glass Onion.
In this movie, we see a young priest, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), sent to assist charismatic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Jud quietly watches the corruption, hatred, and fear being stirred up by Wicks. Once a sudden and seemingly impossible murder stuns the town, the lack of obvious suspects prompts the possible killer to be Jud. The local police and detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) try to unravel this unexpected murder.

This stacked cast makes this film come to life. Daniel Craig continues to give a charismatic, funny, and entertaining performance. Glenn Close and Josh Brolin both command every scene they are in to give a genuine performance that you can feel through the screen. Josh O’Connor really steals the show, bringing a witty, soft, and emotionally layered character to life. O’Connor’s performance really grounds this film, bringing his complex and compelling character to life.

This film is by far the most visually stunning in the series. The aesthetic and set design of the church is very striking and symbolic. The use of lighting is also very present– being soft at most times, and harsh and bright when the truth comes to the surface. Johnson really tells a story throughout this film, and every detail is very intentional.

The biggest topic that is seen in this film is belief, faith, and trust. Within a movie filled with secrets, twists, and turns, Johnson chooses to dive into questions of religion. Johnson uses Blanc’s relationship with Father Jud to reflect his own relationship with the Church. He explores religion in a respectful manner and presents genuine portrayals of faith. One of the most notable scenes was when the film really takes a pause as Jud takes time to listen to a struggling woman. Father Jud embodies what religious leaders around the globe should strive to have–compassion, humility, and genuine care.

This movie is a near-perfect ‘whodunnit’– it’s intelligent, emotionally resonant, and extremely unique with how the story unfolds. It honors what the first film had while pushing the series into a deep, meaningful area. If you’re a fan of mysteries, this movie is absolutely worth your time. I’d rate it a 4.5/5.

You can watch Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix!