“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” follows detective Benoit Blanc, who teams up with a young priest to investigate a baffling death at a small-town church with dark history.
This is the third installment in the “Knives Out” film series.
Much like the first two movies, “Wake Up Dead Man” immediately proves to be witty and charming. Large portions of the early runtime are dedicated to backstory – which can oftentimes feel mundane or monotonous in other films.
Not here.
It utilizes eccentric characters and uncomfortably hilarious dialogue to its advantage. The film provides the audience with all the necessary information to get invested in the story while remaining relentlessly entertaining at the same time.
A Familiar Mystery with a Darker Tone
Also similar to “Knives Out” and “Glass Onion,” “Wake Up Dead Man” is largely successful because of its cast.
Josh O’Connor (Jud Duplenticy) carries the film in unexpected ways. It’s evident that O’Connor is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years. His narration, mixed with a strong performance, makes the character feel whole. He brings shaky delivery and a certain clumsiness to Jud, solidifying him as an outcast within the community while also making him relatable to the audience.
While many of the characters are glossed over, Father Jud is multilayered. Balancing personal tragedy with his innate desire for good, his calling to be a priest creates many sentimental moments amidst the “game.”
Josh Brolin (Monsignor Jefferson Wick) also brings an intense edge. Hard-nosed, tough and surprisingly funny, Brolin nails the role.
Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc) isn’t the central focus of the first fourth of the film. Despite this, O’Connor and Brolin’s mixed energies still allow “Wake Up Dead Man” to thrive.
Once Craig enters the mix, he is as charming as ever, with that familiar Southern drawl still satisfying. After all the cases he has solved, Blanc has a more gritty, withered persona here. Craig is able to take on this new direction while still maintaining the integrity of the character.
When Blanc Takes a Backseat
This doesn’t change one fact, however – Craig’s presence remains somewhat minimal. For a series centered on this detective’s cases, “Wake Up Dead Man” feels very Blanc-less for large stretches of its 144-minute runtime. He doesn’t chew up the scenery like before, with the ensemble instead taking center stage.
While Blanc does have his time in the limelight by the time the film reaches its conclusion, the journey to get there feels… forced. His skills seem underutilized, and the detective angle as a whole is subdued until the “big reveal.”
Also included in the expansive cast are Mila Kunis (Geraldine Scott), Jeremy Renner (Dr. Nat Sharp), Thomas Haden Church (Samson Holt), Kerry Washington (Vera Draven), Glenn Close (Martha Delacroix), Cailee Spaeny (Simone Vivane), Andrew Scott (Lee Ross), Daryl McCormack (Cy Draven), Jeffrey Wright (Langstrom) and more.
“Wake Up Dead Man” adds an extra layer of intrigue by integrating faith into its mystery. While religious settings can oftentimes feel forced, this one isn’t.
It forces believers within the film to question faith versus truth, adding a deeper psychological layer in the process. Whether religious or not, the movie effectively showcases the power faith can have in dark moments – for better or worse. This juxtaposition creates tension in scenes that otherwise might not have had it.
Big Ideas, Smaller Payoff
Cinematographer Steve Yedlin brings a gothic tone to the screen. In a secluded environment, he captures the beauty of stained glass windows and wide cathedrals. Writer-director Rian Johnson’s vision complements this, painting a complete picture through a sharp script.
“Wake Up Dead Man” isn’t afraid of opinions. It openly makes statements on topics like Christianity, extremism and misogyny. While these ideas remain largely surface-level, the film still calls out hypocrisy and corruption within those systems.
Amidst all of its themes and big swings, the film sometimes gets lost. While the runtime largely flies by, it’s undoubtedly too long – especially for the conclusion it reaches.
“A perfectly impossible crime.” Unfortunately, it’s not.
Rather than going for spectacle, the ending maintains its focus on character. While it offers an interesting analysis of skeptic versus believer, the film ultimately gets tangled in its own web. The conclusion doesn’t feel as intricately pieced together as the previous entries. It crafts its own identity, but is slightly less memorable because of it.
“Wake Up Dead Man” is another satisfying entry in the “Knives Out” series. Blanc takes more of a backseat, but the film still delivers an entertaining, twisty and atmospheric whodunnit.
Rating: 4 out of 5
