Wake Up Dead Man is the third instalment in the Knives Out series. I absolutely adore murder mysteries, and this series has been consistently stellar. The first Knives Out was phenomenal, and while the second film Glass Onion was enjoyable, it was admittedly a bit of a step down from its predecessor. Because of that, I was incredibly excited going into this entry. Does the series continue to deliver, or is this a case not worth solving?
Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, and once again, he delivers a terrific performance. A Sherlock can’t be without his Watson, and this time Blanc is accompanied by “Priest Jud,” played phenomenally by Josh O’Connor. Jud is easily the most layered partner character the series has had so far. He has a meaningful past and a compelling reason for becoming a priest. You truly understand why he wants to solve this case, and as an audience, we genuinely root for him to succeed. His dynamic with Blanc is also a lot of fun, as the two often clash due to Jud’s faith and Blanc’s atheism. A special mention goes to Josh Brolin, whose performance is particularly disturbing and effective.
Unlike previous entries, which leaned heavily into themes of greed and wealth, Wake Up Dead Man explores the more intriguing subject of faith and religion. Josh Brolin’s character, Wicks, uses faith to create a loyal cult through fear and hellfire preaching. In contrast, Priest Jud views faith as a means to heal the world and help others through forgiveness and empathy. This fundamental difference puts Jud in direct conflict with Wicks and his followers, ultimately isolating him. The film does a commendable job of exploring the dangers of obsessive faith while still illustrating the positive impact faith can have when rooted in compassion.
Of course, the murder mystery itself is the main reason people watch these films, and I’m happy to say it remains a delight. This time, the mystery revolves around a classic locked-room murder, and it easily feels like the most difficult case yet, one that genuinely seems near impossible to solve. The film also takes a more streamlined approach to its storytelling. There is less reliance on flashbacks, opting instead to move forward chronologically alongside the characters. As a result, we uncover information at the same time they do. This makes the mystery more engaging, as the audience can actively attempt to solve it themselves. At no point does it feel like the audience is being cheated by withheld information, which was admittedly an issue in Glass Onion.
That said, Wake Up Dead Man isn’t without its flaws. The suspects are easily the weakest of the series so far. Beyond being creepy, many of them lack a strong presence, distinctive personalities, or compelling chemistry with one another. One of the biggest strengths of the previous two films was their larger-than-life suspects, each with clear motives, memorable quirks, and strong relationships with one another, making it believable that any of them could be the culprit. Unfortunately, this is sorely lacking here. Most of the suspects have little screen time, few defining traits, and minimal connection to one another. This ultimately makes it fairly obvious who the culprit is, as certain character receives significantly more focus than the rest. Thankfully, this doesn’t completely ruin the mystery, as the “how they did it” remains unpredictable and satisfying.
Overall, Wake Up Dead Man is another excellent entry in the murder mystery genre. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first film, it delivers a stronger and more engaging mystery than the second. Rian Johnson and Daniel Craig continue to provide a thoroughly entertaining experience, and I certainly hope we get a fourth instalment.
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