Detective Benoit Blanc and his accent return in director Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man. In this mystery, Blanc helps a framed young priest as he tries to unravel the seemingly impossible murder of his church leader. Will he be able to crack the case or will this be the first mystery to break the world’s greatest detective?
Taking inspiration from the earliest murder mystery novels by Edgar Allan Poe, Johnson has crafted a gothic tale that teeters on the supernatural. Wake Up Dead Man is set to be the darkest film of the trilogy, compared to the thrilling Knives Out and the bombastic Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. Set in a fictional town of Chimney Rock, the film will unravel a conspiracy of a fiery pastor and his congregation of wicked wolves.
Daniel Craig plays a longer haired, more burdened Detective Blanc as he faces a case that conflicts with his troubled past. Johnson has also assembled yet another stellar ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Josh O’Connor, and Andrew Scott. With a spooky premise and a great cast can Wake Up Dead Man, bring new life to the whodunnit series or will this film be the series’ first dead case? Read on to find out!
Director: Rian Johnson
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, and Mila Kunis
Release Date: 12 December 2025
One of the interesting choices made by Johnson is that we don’t really meet Blanc in the first act of the film. Instead, we follow Josh O’Connor, who steps into the role of Father Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned priest. This could be a big risk as a lot of narration and exposition is explained by his character. Luckily, O’Connor is a charming screen presence as an empathetic man just trying to do the right thing. The English actor plays the role as Father Jud describes “Young, dumb, and full of Christ,” as his naivety and kindness move you to side with him.
The rest of the cast also entertain in this film as the loveably unlikeable congregation of Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. Brolin has been on a streak this year playing villains this year (he was also big bad of The Running Man) and he relishes in the hatred of this corrupt priest. You can tell he is having a blast playing the villainous priest as he leaves a congregation of radicalised yet desperate followers who cling on to his vile sermons.
Glenn Close is also a standout as Martha, who is Wick’s loyal right-hand woman and the longest serving member of his church. She plays a fanatical church lady perfectly, even getting some laugh-out-loud moments as she claims the seemingly supernatural events as miracles. Johnson’s script also allows the other characters to have memorable lines, including one hilarious meta-zinger from Scott’s tortured author Lee Ross.
And of course, there is Daniel Craig as the Southern sleuth Benoit Blanc. There’s something about him in this film that makes his on-screen presence so delightful. Perhaps it’s his longer hair and shaggy beard that makes him look like Craig’s ideal image of Yves Saint Laurent. Maybe it’s his Southern charm and atheism being a bright light in the darkness of the film’s themes of religious fervor.
Personally, this is the best I’ve seen Craig portray Blanc and I think it’s because this is the first time I saw him as a complete character. In the previous films, Blanc is either a third party or an eccentric comedic relief. This time, Blanc’s past has compelled him to solve this church murder. Although he is not a man of God, his passion for crime-solving and his kindness to O’Connor’s Father Jud made me want him to bust the church’s dark secret wide open.
One thing that Johnson does so well is the script of the film is it’s central mystery, which seems straight out of a ghost story. Without giving too much away, a man enters a room alone and is killed with no one inside. Johnson presents a case which seems so impossible you actually do begin to wonder how will Blanc and Father Jud will solve the case. Then there are also themes of acceptance and hatred within the Catholic faith. Father Jud’s compassionate approach to religion seems at odds with Wick’s more divisive rhethoric, which makes for a great thematic clash of ideas.
For a film without much visual grandeur or spectacle, it looks fantastic. The cinematography by Steve Yedlin could be another character in itself with the way light moves through the church, how characters are lit, and gorgeous closeups. The costume design by Jenny Eagan also deserves high praise, just look at Blanc’s boots. Blanc’s suits are at their best yet and the priest outfits are also stunning and symbolic. Visually, this film is a treat, and shows you don’t need expensive locations or large sets to make a film look good.
However, as much as I liked the film, I can acknowledge that it is the longest of the Knives Out films and the least action packed. I also did feel that not all members of the cast had their moment to shine. The focus of the film is put on Benoit and Father Jud circling around a handful of key suspects. That makes the rest of the characters feel more like people who are just there rather than potential killers hiding a secret. That said, finding ample character time has always been the challenge of the whodunnit genre.
If you’re not really into religious symbolism or are looking for more action in your murder mysteries you may come out of this film disappointed. The previous two Knives Out films were designed to thrill and entertain, and leave you breathless. Wake Up Dead Man leaves the thrills backseat for a film far more dramatic and personal. Some would say it is more about the mystery of the murder and not the case itself. And I won’t fault them, some people love their murder mysteries factual and complex and I’m sure the next Knives Out film will probably be that.
This film explores the roots of the murder mystery genre in the backdrop of the religious extremisation we see today. The Knives Out films have always been a commentary of the times we live in and this latest entry is perhaps its most biting yet hopeful take on the issue. Even with its more ‘back to basics’ approach, Wake Up Dead Man is still an entertaining, darker entry into the Knives Out franchise and proves that the genre is alive and well.
Our final thoughts on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Cast: 8/10
Plot: 9/10
Visuals: 10/10
Writing: 9/10
Action: 6/10
Overall rating: 9/10
Watch Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery here.
All images by Netflix
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.