The Knives Out anthology continues with excellence.
A young, optimistic priest is the top murder suspect in a small rural town, after its aggressive head priest is found dead. Only detective Benoit Blanc can possibly solve this “locked room” mystery.
Director Rian Johnson appears to have found his calling, alongside star Daniel Craig. The 2019 theatrically released Knives Out was a big hit. Recreating the classic murder mystery genre for a new generation, and introducing a new detective: Benoit Blanc. In 2022, during the height of the pandemic, Glass Onion saw the return of director Johnson and Craig’s unorthodox Blanc. Now, the hotly anticipated third entry, Wake Up Dead Man, is here.
The film has a new ensemble cast to rival the previous two movies. Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Jeffery Wright, Josh O’Connor and many more.
Is it another smash hit? Is it more like the divisive Glass Onion? I would say it is more the former.
Our story follows Father Jud (O’Connor) a boxer-turned-priest, who saw the light of God and wanted to repay for a life of violence. He is sent off to join a small town’s church, overseen by the domineering “Monseigneur” Jefferson Wicks (Brolin). But when Wicks is mysteriously killed, seemingly in plain sight, Jud is confronted by possible murder charges. Until detective Benoit Blanc (Craig) arrives and takes the case. But… is this case too incredible, too miraculous, too impossible, even for him?
To directly compare the Knives Out entries so far is a little unfair, but it is easy to do. What is so delightful is how different they are, with the main connective tissue being Craig playing this performance. But if one were to choose: Wake Up Dead Man would be above Glass Onion but below the original Knives Out. But that isn’t to say Glass Onion is bad; if anything it is more unique and experimental with the formula.
What the newest Benoit Blanc adventure does differently, is to be a surprisingly emotion-filled affair. Unlike 2019 or 2022’s experiences, this one is full of God-fearing, penitent, or simply lost individuals. Oh, don’t worry, they have darker sides; they wouldn’t be looking for the lord’s redemption if they didn’t. But it isn’t the nest of vipers, or downright villains, we would normally expect.
At the heart of the story are two men with different views on Christianity and the teaching of them. Jud, who is full to bursting with reborn energy, devoted and humble, intent on showing others the love of Christ. The other, Jefferson Wicks, who torments and roots out sinners from his commune as a means of steeling the resolve of others.
Meanwhile, Blanc is a fierce, coldly distant atheist.
The comedy comes from Benoit and Jud working together to solve the case. O’Connor and Craig have excellent chemistry; Jud trying to be ever vigilant and trusting, Benoit wanting to investigate, trusting no one, and moving on. It is a nice twist on the formula.
Speaking of twists. Wake up Dead Man is perhaps the most straight-and-narrow of the Knives Out stories. 2019’s movie was an intricate web of misinformation, clues, and puzzles. Glass Onion wore its absurdity on its sleeve. This film feels more predictable. Not that it doesn’t stop the audience from guessing what’s happening next. They are with Blanc, not catching up to him; we see clues and hints when he does. If you don’t like the third act rug-pull where the detective says “Ah! Well, dear Watson. The solution is all of this you didn’t know!” then you will enjoy Wake Up Dead Man more.
Honestly, that’s perhaps its one failing. It is more transparent. But not played deliberately transparent, like Glass Onion.
It is an excellent movie nonetheless. A fun little caper with unusual characters and hidden motives to unpick. The lighting and cinematography are beautiful; so many scenes lit by warm sunlight, deliberately contrasting with deep shadows in others. It is an excellent continuation of the Knives Out series, and if you are a fan of murder mysteries and Daniel Craig being silly, you definitely need to check it out.
