Culture Cabinet

It’s another Rian Johnson Whodunnit.

Three years after its last installment (2022’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery), Benoit Blanc is back for another mystery with Wake Up Dead Man. 

The film follows this generation’s most lovable detective, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), as he sets out to solve one of his most perplexing mysteries yet. After being summoned to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a Catholic church in a small town in Connecticut, Blanc must solve the mystery behind the sudden (and suspicious) death of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a charismatically controversial leader of an auspiciously small congregation. As suspects begin to emerge, all eyes turn to Reverend Jud Dulplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a compassionate young priest with a rough past and a notoriously contentious relationship with Wicks, Martha (Glenn Close), the church’s devoted staff member, and the congregation, which includes an absolute knock out of an ensemble lineup, including: Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, and Daryl McCormack. 

Johnson set the bar impossibly high for himself six years ago with the first release of Knives Out, offering a modern take at a good ole fashioned detectivemystery. Preceding generations could tout a hallmark fictional detective. Hercule Poirot. Sherlock Holmes. Nancy Drew. Columbo. And yet, the options for contemporary private eyes seemed to be slim pickings, save for the modern adaptations of classic characters. The art of the whodunnit film seemed to have been lost to the sands of time. But then . . . “Enter Benoit Blanc.” 

Knives Out offered a classic mystery film that balanced fresh, modern takes (and of-the-time pop culture references) with a classic and nostalgic story, blended perfectly with a well-stacked cast, topped with a well developed, cunning, Southern-drawl dawning sleuth to anchor everything together. It only felt inevitable that the tales of Benoit Blanc and his adventures would lead to a full on franchise, and that’s exactly what Johnson delivered with Glass Onion. While Knives Out’s second installment didn’t quite make the mark (stellar cast aside), it seems third time truly is the charm with Wake Up Dead Man. 

Much like its two predecessors, the obvious standout with this film is the brilliance of the ensemble cast. Daniel Craig can already boast a number of impressive roles on his resume, not the least of which include cinematic icon James Bond, and yet, it feels like this is his hallmark role. Blanc is the only constant amongst all three Knives Out films, and Craig masterfully manages to keep him consistent throughout each performances, without ever faltering into overcooked territory. Like the other two films, viewers can expect a charming rouse from Benoit Blanc, full of twisting alliterations underscored by a charming Southern accent, musical theatre allusions (let it be known: Benoit Blanc is a Cats fan), and of course, twisting mysteries. However, Wake Up Dead Man also sees Blanc battle more of his inner beliefs and grapple with existentialism, as he, as seemingly staunch atheist, finds himself having to come to grips with the themes of spirituality by nature of his surroundings. 

Those battles of beliefs and spirituality are driven by the other big standout performance given by Josh O’Connor as Reverend Jud Dulplenticy. Jud is a young priest who is sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude initially as punishment for getting into a fight with another priest in his parish, and it’s revealed that he had a bit of a troubled past before finding his vocation. He initially clashes with Monsignor Wicks, who likes to keep his congregation secluded, and preaches in a way that makes fire and brimstone seem tame. Jud, by contrast, is kind, soft, and compassionate. However, as the movie progresses, his darker side is also put on display. Each Knives Out film seems to have some sort of anchor character that serves as the counterpart to Blanc throughout the story, given that Blanc himself does not have any sort of sidekick. In Knives Out, that was Ana de Armas’ Marta, and Janelle Monáe’s Helen in Glass Onion. Here, Jud is a perfect counterpart to Blanc, as he seems to work as both a mirror and a foil at the same time. Both men share a desire for justice, a keen sense of observation to detail, and intuitive deductive reasoning. However, Jud’s aptitude towards those qualities come from his desire to connect with people, and his ability to find compassion in just about anyone’s story. Blanc, on the other hand prefers the game, and really only looks at those involved as players in his labyrinth of complexity. This creates a great yin-yang dynamic between the two leads, and the chemistry between Craig and O’Connor carries the film. While O’Connor is certainly a name that we’ve been seeing increasingly more often (with four films coming out in 2025 alone), this is one of his strongest performances. He strikes the perfect balance of heart, humor, and vulnerability. 

Though, while O’Connor and Craig are carrying this film, they do so at a bit of the detriment of the ensemble cast. While this film is incredibly well-stacked, many of the congregation members feel a bit half-baked in their characterization. However, the film doesn’t really suffer too badly from such, as the leads make up for the slack (though, I personally would have enjoyed a bit more of Andrew Scott). The stunning score from composer (and Knives Out signature) Nathan Johnson is gorgeous and well-utilized, and despite the fact that the church is a murder scene, it makes for a gorgeous backdrop. 

All in all, Wake Up Dead Man is perhaps the strongest entry of the Knives Out trilogy. While the mystery is just as fun as one would expect, this one features a lot of heart, knockout performances, and an endearing bit of spiritual introspection that can move even the harshest of cynics. 

Wake Up Dead Man is in select theaters on November 26th, and will be streaming on Netflix on December 12.