Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Review
Whenever Rian Johnson decides to dive back into the world of Knives Out, you know that you’re in for a treat. Guided by Daniel Craig’s ever-charismatic performance as the detective with a countryside flair, Benoit Blanc, these films have been truly hilarious to watch thanks to their varieties of pessimistic, if wacky, characters. Now, Johnson makes his next return to this alluring franchise with Wake Up Dead Man, a divine mystery that explores the spectrum of faith, religious pragmatism, and vice through the prowess of Benoit Blanc.
Wake Up Dead Man is unlike the franchise’s previous installments: instead of dealing with a straightforward murder mystery and a game of killers, this film is woven with extremely heavy twists. After being brought into a case surrounding the devout and abusive Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin) by Rev. Jud (Josh O’Connor), a priest-in-redemption, Blanc finds himself in a wicked conspiracy involving community tensions, secret riches, and much more. However, this case might be the one that finally breaks the camel’s back.
Saying that this film is truly unlike its predecessors is a really considerable understatement that doesn’t begin to encapsulate what Johnson and his team have here. There’s a consistent persistence of understanding that Johnson infuses into Jud, who actually feels more in the spotlight than Blanc because of his innate knowledge. The way that Johnson fleshes out Jud from this lowly, somewhat inept, man (he really gets put into hell with those confessionals) into a more pro-active and assertive character really makes him stand out from other co-protagonists.
This wouldn’t have been possible without O’Connor’s sensational performance, perfectly opposing Wicks’s oppressive old guard-isms of institutionalism with an empathetic, supportive personality that reflects that much-needed optimism. Whenever O’Connor’s Jud is present with Wicks’s devoted followers, O’Connor really allows Jud to put the character into the shoes of these characters while retaining a sensible understanding of how complicated each member truly is.
This diverse collective really rounds out that theme of religious perspective that Johnson wants to explore with Wake Up Dead Man. Kerry Washington’s Vera looks for freedom from the familial weight that’s being held back because of Daryl McCormack’s innately capitalistic Cy. Andrew Scott’s Lee is only seeking Wicks for his own creative pursuit at the cost of over-dramatizing what Wicks is actually doing. Perhaps the most sane (if you can call her that) is Cailee Spaeny’s Simone, who’s a bit too blinded by Wicks’s teachings to realize that she’s being taken advantage of.
However, the characters from the ensemble that really carry the story lie on Glenn Close’s Martha. Martha’s overzealous dedication towards Wicks’s teachings is written by Johnson in a way that not just feels intricate, but also purposeful. Certain actions that she takes in the second act really keep you pondering why she’s very harsh, but the way her arc plays out is beyond mind-boggling in the best way possible. If only she could have more of that bond with Thomas Haden Church’s Samson would it have been fun.
With an incredible ensemble cast, led and influenced by Craig and O’Connor’s great chemistry, Johnson’s able to balance this grand undertaking with those religious overtones. The dialogue, mixed with that much-needed familiar bleak comedy, continues to be sharp and succinctly snappy as Johnson never allows these characters to back down. However, in those dire exposing scenes, the tension just keeps going up as their own vices bite back in big ways.
Johnson also makes great use of lighting and cinematography with the help of Steve Yedlin, allowing the environment to perfectly dramatize what each character is thinking. Whether it be those bright heavenly lights transitioning to a grim aesthetic to front-flashes in the rain that emphasize its impacts even further, Wake Up Dead Man instantly gets you hooked into those hard moments. It never lets down, especially when the action plays out in wicked fashion; that’s when the film’s unique shots truly shine.
Wake Up Dead Man once again proves Rian Johnson’s mastery of the genre with magnetic performances from O’Connor, Craig, and its ensemble cast and an introspective, yet exciting, mystery. I’d be happy to see more Knives Out stories as always, but there’s just something special with this installment that will stick with fans for so long.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery releases in select theaters on November 26 and on Netflix on December 12.
Rating: ★★★★
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Review