Wake Up Dead Man Review: Clever, Twist-Filled Thriller

BOTTOM LINE
Clever, Twist-Filled Thriller

PLATFORM
Netflix

RUNTIME
2 hours 24 minutes

What Is the Film About?

Master detective Benoit Blanc is called to an upstate New York church to solve the baffling murder of the charismatic, yet aggressive, domineering, toxic, and narcissistic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks.

The crime appears to be an impossible mystery to solve, as Wicks is found stabbed in a storage closet with no other entry points. Suspicion immediately falls on the newly arrived assistant priest, the earnest former boxer Father Jud Duplenticy, who often clashed with the Monsignor’s harsh theology.

As Blanc and Jud investigate the tight-knit, eccentric and mysterious congregation, including a devout church assistant, an emotionally wounded lawyer, a disabled former cellist, an aspiring but egoistic and greedy politician, a town doctor who succumbs to drinking, a hardworking groundskeeper, and an obsessive and isolated best-selling author, they uncover a dark family history, a missing fortune, and secrets rooted in the church’s past, all leading to a shocking conspiracy and a motive far deeper than simple malice.

Performances

Daniel Craig as Detective Benoit Blanc returns with a more exhaustive and world-weary physicality, but he bestows a more vulnerable, introspective, and spiritually dislocated take on the prominent character this time, with a surprisingly more restrained approach towards the character’s style and savviness. This version of Blanc definitely gives the character more depth, though it may not sit well with all viewers. Still, Craig looks confident and delivers a brilliant, commanding, and fully committed performance.

Appearing, or should we say gracing our screens, side by side with Craig is Josh O’Connor, who plays Reverend Jud Duplenticy, a boxer-turned-priest who pretty much functions like Dr Watson to Blanc’s Sherlock Holmes. He is the real star of the movie. The Crown actor keeps the narrative afloat at all times, especially when it threatens to lose momentum. He is the film’s emotional and thematic heart, guided by a fragile moral compass and emerging as a grounded yet magnetic performer.

Analysis

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (helmed by Rian Johnson) marks a significant change in terms of structure and tone from its critically acclaimed predecessors. Instead of being more vibrant, colourful, and satiric, the third Knives Out chapter leans more towards a darker, gothic, and more sombre whodunit, brimming with crucial and weighty thematic issues.

This entry is more introspective, more grounded than its predecessors, and focuses heavily on faith versus rationalism, and the manipulation and weaponisation of religion, ideology, and power. This tone works brilliantly, considering the environment and everything that has been taking place in the world today.

Johnson confidently tackles the subject of Christianity and faith in God with just enough focus and doesn’t allow these topics to overtake the reins of the overall narrative. We see Father Jud trying to expose Wicks’s toxic and manipulative ideologies, and the latter doing everything he can (no matter how his actions appear) to stop Father Jud. But we also see the man never losing sight of his goal and faith, successfully allowing him to deliver a compassionate and heartfelt view of belief.

As with Wake Up Dead Man’s structure and focus, we are afraid this section of the review may sour your viewing experience a bit. We apologise in advance!

Despite all the big positives, the one major flaw in this chapter is the delayed arrival of Benoit Blanc. Yes, he joins the investigative proceedings and plays an important role in solving the so-called “impossible” crime, but he joins the party a bit late, as the first 45–50 minutes of the movie focus more on establishing the hatred and contention between Wicks and Father Jud.

After Blanc partners with Father Jud, the duo makes the story feel more intimate and emotional, the complete opposite of the grand ensemble spectacle in Glass Onion. This new approach obviously gives more focus to Father Jud and adds more depth to Blanc’s entire character arc in the Knives Out trilogy. But it also substantially impacts the rest of the cast, as most of them remain less developed throughout the film.

There are several supporting cast members who remain severely underutilised in the threequel. One of them is, undoubtedly, Jeremy Renner. Given the tremendous amount of acting talent he treasures, it feels almost criminal to see him in such a restrained role. His character, Doctor Nate, needed more depth and, most importantly, dialogue. Renner himself must have felt disappointed after watching this one, but likely chose not to share it publicly (a fat cheque from Netflix must certainly have helped him keep his feelings to himself, sorry!)

Other talented performers, such as Mila Kunis (Friends With Benefits), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus), and Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man 3), remain underutilised. All of them do a solid job with the material given to them, but with a cast as massive as this one, some performers are inevitably left to swallow the bitter pill.

In addition, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery opts for a more straightforward whodunit approach compared to the chronological twists and turns in Glass Onion. However, the mystery itself is highly complex, featuring multiple layers of conspiracy, a shocking “Lazarus effect” twist involving a staged resurrection, and a highly satisfying final monologue that unravels a dense web of guilt and motivation.

This one definitely has a slower and more melancholic pace, but the overall runtime of 144 minutes feels well-earned, and this approach to pacing suits the movie’s chilly and gothic church setting.

But the film truly excels when Blanc and Jud share the screen, exploring faith and fiction together. Their chemistry looks effortless and engaging, and the duo bring out the best in each other. Their relationship, along with the final monologue, helps the film land its emotional payoff successfully.

That being said, many may feel that the film tends to focus a bit more on O’Connor instead of Craig. The 007 actor’s long absence in the first half doesn’t impact the storyline at all, but it does lessen his overall presence in the film to some extent.

Rian Johnson’s direction, like in the previous entries, looks skilled and confident. He demonstrates a clear understanding of the Knives Out franchise, and his creative control allows him to effectively experiment with a darker aesthetic without losing the core appeal of the whodunit structure. The humour looks more restrained this time, but still manages to tickle our ribs.

Overall, Wake Up Dead Man is a darker, gothic whodunit that also excels as a nuanced study of faith versus power, led by Josh O’Connor’s magnetic performance as Father Jud, who serves as the film’s emotional heart. While Daniel Craig is commanding as a more vulnerable Benoit Blanc, his delayed entrance leaves much of the large, talented supporting cast underutilised. The slow, deliberate pace, precise gothic cinematography, and unsettling score effectively establish its unique, complex narrative.

Performances by Others Actors

Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame) as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks looks charismatic, ferocious, and commanding, particularly in the film’s first 45–50 minutes. Between his high-voltage, powerful sermons, we also see him quietly offering his confession, an attempt to trouble and mock Father Jud, in a darkly comic and satiric manner that works well.

Glenn Close (Guardians of the Galaxy, All’s Fair) as Martha Delacroix, the devout church lady, keeps her character controlled in the beginning but brings far more intensity and commitment towards the end. Her presence adds further complexity to the film’s tone and introduces an almost terrifying element to the religious themes.

Jeremy Renner (The Avengers, Mayor of Kingstown) as Dr Nat Sharp remains severely underutilised here. How is it possible for his character to play an important role from beginning to end and still leave so little impact? Joining the club of underused actors is Andrew Scott (Fleabag, Ripley), who, despite doing a decent job, doesn’t add much to the film’s overall plot.

The rest of the cast, including Kerry Washington, Cailee Spaeny, and Daryl McCormack, also remain underserved, as the focus stays heavily on Craig and O’Connor.

Music and Other Departments?

Cinematographer Steve Yedlin (a frequent Rian Johnson collaborator) gives Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery a darker, gothic, and autumnal visual feel, moving away from the bright, warm palettes of Glass Onion. He also uses light and shadow with deliberate precision. For instance, the pulpit is often bathed in a cold blue light, highlighting the aggressive, dominating nature of Monsignor Wicks’s sermons, whereas sunlight is sometimes used to silhouette Father Jud, linking him to the film’s themes of genuine faith.

The camera movement, shots, and transitions look smooth. We often see the camera offering extreme low and high-angle shots. When Monsignor Wicks is preaching from the pulpit, the camera frequently employs extreme low-angle shots, aligning well with his domineering presence.

On the other hand, Father Jud is often framed with the camera either at eye level or occasionally using a high-angle shot that looks down on him slightly. This contrast immediately establishes him as the vulnerable, empathetic, and less powerful figure in the church.

We also see Rian Johnson using his classic quick, sharp pans across the screen to reveal crucial but easily overlooked pieces of evidence. In addition, there are some slow-motion, shadowy scenes with occasional flashes of light, serving as a nod to classic mystery crime films.
Composer Nathan Johnson (Rian Johnson’s cousin and long-time collaborator) delivers a score that matches the film’s dark, tense, and occasionally comic tone. Instead of opting for more traditional, church-like music, he offers cues that feel more sinister and unsettling. This approach keeps the overall emotional and psychological tension intact without overpowering the characters’ dialogue.

Highlights?

Intriguing, darker, gothic, and more sombre tone

Impactful exploration of critical social themes

Outstanding performance by Josh O’Connor

Improved character depth for Blanc

Complex plot filled with plenty of mysteries

Skilled Direction & Technicals

Drawbacks?

Delayed Blanc Arrival

Underutilised Ensemble Cast

Focus imbalance between Craig and O’Connor

Did I Enjoy It?

Yes, despite its uneven character focus and slower, moodier pace, the film’s thematic depth, gothic atmosphere, and the powerful dynamic between Blanc and Father Jud keep us invested. The emotional payoff and layered mystery make it a compelling watch.

Will You Recommend It?

Yes, especially to fans of darker, more mature whodunits. It’s not as playful as its predecessors, but its ambition, performances, and thematic weight make it absolutely worth watching.

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 Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Movie Review by M9