The Wasteland Reviewer

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025) Written Review

He has done it once. He has done it twice. But can Rian Johnson do it again? Johnson certainly did…and then some. Knives Out was a wonderful surprise from a storyteller known for subversion tackling a murder mystery. Guess what? The film subverted so many conventions and expectations of the genre in such a fresh and beautiful way. Then he did it again with Glass Onion. A Knives Out Mystery franchise has become an absolute delight in modern cinema and ironically comes from the premiere streamer in Netflix now. But expectations, hopes, and excitement were high for Wake Up Dead Man. 

Did Johnson deliver with yet another win for the A Knives Out Mystery franchise? Wake Up Dead Man is a sharply crafted, delicately structured, and beautifully rendered film in modern filmmaking. This has that sleek digital feel in ways, but the combination of Johnson and cinematographer Steve Yedlin’s visions delivers a visually engrossing experience. There is a crispness to the visuals. Yedlin finds dynamic ways to engage the audience through perfectly placed zoom-ins, camera pushes, Dutch angles, and other ways to give this film a distinct cinematic voice. The use of lighting in this film is so gorgeous, but it is so much more meaningful than that due to its deep connection to the thematic framework of the film. Some of the most striking moments on film this year are the sunlight reaching through the stained-glass windows of this church and radiating off the striking blue eyes of Danial Craig (our connective investigator, Benoit Blanc). The pacing of this film is so impressive, which is wild for a murder mystery that clocks in at 145 minutes. For a film has funny and biting as Wake Up Dead Man, there is plenty of rich emotion to this film as well. A film that navigates faith so directly needs to have a level of passion and feeling when religion is such a powerfully emotional experience for those committed. Johnson understands that and channels that feeling is such an impressive way. A big shout out needs to go to Bob Ducsay for his impressive editing that helps craft so many shocking, impactful, and often unnerving moments throughout the film. 

What is the true shining light of Wake Up Dead Man? The incredible screenplay from Johnson. This film has so many layers and impressive elements of storytelling while still delivering those key subversions that Johnson is known for. The story focuses on the mysterious and impossible murder of Mons. Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) on Good Friday in front of the young Father Jud Duplenticy and the intense yet small congregation of Wicks’ church. There are full elements to the mystery whether they are the mystery novel beats that are injected in the story as well as some rich Catholic and Biblical trappings that layer into the film. There are plenty of twists, shocking revelations, and layers to the murder and subsequent shenanigans that occur during this sharply written investigation. The film lays down all the background for the rich tapestry of characters through a letter written by Father Jud (which has its own subversion of how it fits into the great story). The film even has some twists in how the truth comes to light (shifting away from the expected “Blanc explains it all” finale). The film is quite clever in its construction, character dynamics, and the backstory that leads to this fateful murder. Johnson’s script is full of great humor, biting commentary on our political landscape, and engaging character work. What stands out most is the rich exploration of faith and organized religion as well as the unfortunate rise in zealotry that have bastardized said organized religions. Jud and Wicks are the two sides to one coin. Their conflict and tension are the bedrock for the thematic exploration of Johnson film. This is the richest Knives Out film to date regarding the themes and ideas introduced. There is one powerful sequence with a phone call that captures just how significant faith and proper shepherding of a preacher can be. There are plenty of unexpected emotions injected into the film through its deep navigation of faith. This might just get a wayward soul to reflect and rethink dissolution with religion. That is the most powerful compliment that can be offered up to Johnson and Wake Up Dead Man. 

Just how great is this rich and stacked ensemble? Josh O’Connor steals this show. Like Ana de Armas and Janelle Monae before him, this story is really about his character, Father Jud. There is just so much personality and charisma that O’Connor injects into this character. There are also a tenderness and poignancy in how he navigates faith and connects with other human beings in this story. O’Connor also brings physicality that shines through in his performance when his old boxer reflects kick into gear. O’Connor steals every scene that he is in and continues to reinforce his impression skills as an actor. Daniel Craig does not receive nearly enough praise for his impressive character work as Benoit Blanc. Few actors have crafted such fully realized characters on film in recent memory. There is plenty of hammy southern charm and line readings in Craig’s performance for sure but there is so much more. Craig brings vulnerability, frustration, reflection, and an infectious charm to this now iconic character. Even his physicality from his walk, stance, and facial expressions deliver. There are a few moments of impressive acting when the camera captures intimate close-ups with the bright sunshine shining on his piercing blue eyes. There are some other great standouts in the film as well. Glenn Close is mysterious, intense, and authentic as the elder stateswoman of this small church who harbors so many secrets and truths about the history of the church. Brolin is a towering force portraying Wicks, capturing an impressive cult of personality with sheer force and might of his presence. When he delivers his sermons from his towering pulpit, he demands attention and gets it. The rest of the cast deliver pitch perfect turns as this congregation with stars like Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Jeffrey Wright even pops up and steals a few scenes. The only performance that does really knock it out of the park is Mila Kunis as the police chief. Not bad but a lot less memorable than anyone else in this charismatic ensemble. There is even a powerful scene crafted by Somebody Somewhere alumna Bridget Everett, which just might be the thesis of this film’s religious commentary.

Well…did Johnson truly do it again? He is now three for three with Wake Up Dead Man delivering an amazing topper to this (present) trilogy. This is the most thematically dense and richly character-driven edition in the Knives Out franchise. Craig continues to reinforce that he has crafted one of the most iconic cinematic characters of the 21^st century. The rest of the ensemble (especially O’Connor) really steals the show. A great mystery with even greater themes is something special. That is extra though in the hands of Johnson and his exceptional crew.