A Whodunit with a touch of Humanity

 Dr Ramandeep Mahal reviews Wake Up dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is written and directed by Rian Johnson and marks the third film in his Knives Out detective series. The movie stars Daniel Craig (known for Glass Onion, Spectre, Skyfall) as Detective Benoit Blanc, and Josh O’Connor (known for Challengers, Cinderella, The Crown) as Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer who becomes a Catholic priest. Jud is sent to upstate New York to serve at a church led by Monsignor Jeffersonwicks (played by Josh Brolin).

​

On Good Friday, a body turns up inside the church, drawing the attention of none other than Detective Benoit Blanc. Wake Up Dead Man is darker in tone than the previous two installments, yet it remains extremely humorous. There are numerous laugh-out-loud moments, but the film’s real strength lies in its exploration of the priest’s past and the lives of the many people who visit the church daily—each, in one way or another, affected by Monsignor Jeffersonwicks.

​

Jeffersonwicks is a fire-and-brimstone preacher who actually enjoys it when people walk out of his church. He has a sadistic streak and derives a thrill from pushing his congregation to such emotional extremes that they leave. Yet there are also those who remain, listening earnestly to his words and placing their faith in him. The film sharply illustrates how people can be radicalized when they follow the wrong individual.

​

Midway through the story, one begins to wonder whether the murdered person is truly dead at all. At its core, the film is a locked-room mystery, raising the classic question: how did someone die in a locked space—in this case, the church—when no one else could possibly have been present?

​

Unlike the earlier films, Benoit Blanc takes something of a back seat here, allowing Josh O’Connor’s Reverend Jud to emerge as the emotional center. O’Connor is magnificent, delivering a deeply sympathetic and likeable performance. Glenn Close (known for 101 Dalmatians and Tarzan) stands out as Martha, a fiercely devoted woman who would do anything for the church and blindly follows Jeffersonwicks.

​

The rest of the ensemble cast is equally impressive, including Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott. Thomas Haden Church (Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: No Way Home) appears as Samson, marking a welcome return to a major film role.

​

Rian Johnson’s dialogue is sharp and layered, and the staging of scenes is impeccable. However, the murder mystery itself remains the film’s greatest strength. Reverend Jud is written almost as a mythical figure—someone with liberal, unconventional ideas about morality and faith. In one striking scene, when he witnesses a corpse being turned during a post-mortem, he panics, runs out, and collapses. Rather than praying in the chapel, he allows Detective Blanc to hold his hand and lend him strength.

​

Mila Kunis plays a police officer who leads her own “flock” in pursuit of rationality and truth. Kerry Washington portrays a woman raising an adopted adult son while quietly questioning her own commitments. Her son, played by Daryl McCormack (Twisters, Bad Sisters), is a failed politician actively searching for a scandal. Meanwhile, Jeremy Renner’s Dr. Nat is a newly divorced man adrift and uncertain of his place.

​

Steve Yedlin’s cinematography is outstanding, making exceptional use of light and shadow. In Jeffersonwicks’ introduction scene, his shadow falls on a wall where a cross once hung, visually foreshadowing his moral corruption. In another beautifully shot sequence, Reverend Jud and Benoit Blanc’s first meeting—where they discuss faith and religion—features clever lighting and an evocative play of shadows.

​

One of the film’s most intriguing ideas is that the priest who hears everyone’s confessions has secrets of his own. Daniel Craig once again excels as Benoit Blanc, slipping effortlessly into the role with precision and wit. The script masterfully convinces the audience that everyone is a suspect, and the actors fully commit to sustaining that tension.

​

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is one of the most engaging murder mysteries I have encountered in recent years. What I love about the genre is the way it invites the audience to solve the puzzle alongside the protagonist, and this film does exactly that.

I would rate it 8.5/10 for its clever plot twists and stunning cinematography.