REVIEW: Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery.

“The strongest Knives Out film so far.” “Rian Johnson sharpens the mystery and deepens the stakes.”

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiered at TIFF50 to strong reactions.
Rian Johnson returns once again as writer and director. Daniel Craig returns as the
beloved, Benoit Blanc. Netflix will release the film later this year.

The Knives Out series was a hit and okay for me. Wake Up Dead Man felt solid, though,
and the final act carried most of the film’s weight. Wake Up Dead Man continues that
upward climb. This third film stands as the most complete entry so far. Festival
programming at TIFF included many strong titles. Wake Up Dead Man topped my list.

This film shifts tone clearly. This time, Johnson moves away from bright satire, turning
toward darker material. The story engages religion, belief, guilt, politics, and power. In
mysterious places like a church, faith and logic are put into direct conflict. This choice
shapes every scene. Humour still exists in this chapter. The laughter lands a little
harder due to restraint. Fewer jokes create a sharper impact when presented to the
audience.

The Wake Up Dead Man setting plays a significant role. The story unfolds in a small
upstate New York town, its church, and among its members. The story’s dark, sombre
locations support the mood and theme. Gothic elements dominate the visual language.
Candles, shadows, creepiness, and silence do heavy work.

Josh O’Connor plays Rev. Jud Duplenticy. The character arrives as a disgraced boxer
turned priest. Church leadership assigns Jud to serve under Msgr. Jefferson Wicks. Josh
Brolin plays Wicks with severity and control over his church’s members. The clash
between characters begins early in the film.

Glenn Close is brilliant as Martha Delacroix, brilliantly as the church assistant. Close
commands attention in every scene. Her on-screen presence alone carries weight.
Thomas Haden Church plays the simple-minded groundskeeper, Samson Holt. Jeremy
Renner appears as the town’s local physician, Nat Sharp. Kerry Washington plays high-
powered lawyer Vera Draven. The cast also included Daryl McCormack, the politician Cy
Draven. Andrew Scott appears as Lee Ross, a former science fiction writer. Cailee
Spaeny plays musician Simone Vivane.

Each character has their own damage and shows loyalty to Wicks, and each has a
different reason. Suspicion follows Jud. The group dynamics mattered. Dialogue reveals
a hierarchy and resentment between the characters. Johnson structures scenes so that
power shifts through conversation rather than through action.
A murder happens, and everything changes in this small town and the members of the
local church. Police Chief Geraldine Scott calls in Benoit Blanc to help catch a killer. Mila
Kunis plays Scott with authority.  Blanc enters the story later than expected. Once Blanc
arrives, the mystery accelerates.

Daniel Craig delivers his strongest performance as Benoit Blanc. Craig’s enjoyment and
comfort in the role really show in every scene. The humour in the film feels intentional.
Observation drives every interaction. Craig balances curiosity and humour with
restraint.

The mystery structure grows more complex than in prior films. Locked secret rooms,
mechanics return. Multiple options, timelines intersect. The faith-versus-reason
underpins every reveal. The stakes rise quickly, as the body count increases.
Josh O’Connor stands out. Emotional range drives the film. Conflict plays internally as
much as externally. Glenn Close and Josh Brolin, both actors, received substantial
material and proved they were the right choice.

Some cast members receive less focus. Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, and Kerry
Washington, who appears less frequently. Each makes strong use of their limited
scenes. The size of the cast limits development for several characters.

Johnson directs Wake Up Dead Man with confidence. The visual choices support the
tone, and the pacing stays tight despite the complexity. Several sequences earned
applause during TIFF screenings. Audience response remained consistent across
multiple showings.

What works.
Here are a few things that worked well: This chapter shows a substantial tonal shift
toward darker themes. Clear focus on faith versus logic. Standout performances
from both Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig, who played off each other. Effective gothic atmosphere.
Confident direction and structure. Humour lands with precision. Satisfying final act.

What does not work?
Now, here are some areas that missed the mark. Viewers may be confused about some
of the plot density. With such a large cast, there are limits on the depth for several
characters. The strong supporting actors are underused in some areas. Complexity
demands the audience’s full attention.

Wake Up Dead Man revitalizes the franchise and creates a sequel that may outshine the
original. Johnson trusts audience intelligence. Risks pay off. Emotional beats land
perfectly. The humour sharpens through contrast.

This film marks a high point for the series.

Viewers who enjoyed previous Knives Out movies should enjoy this release. Newcomers
may feel overwhelmed due to the layered structure. Focus and attention can improve
the experience of this film.
Rian Johnson has a keen understanding of the Knives Out franchise and its identity.
This new venture proves that evolution can replace repetition. Wake Up Dead Man
proves growth remains possible within a familiar framework.

This film earns attention. “Darker themes push Benoit Blanc into new territory.”