Film Review: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Welcome back to the blog readers. Murder mystery is a genre I never really thought could be good because it almost always never works out in the end. Just look at Murder on the Orient Express (2017). But Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022) are perfect examples of murder mysteries that just work. A likable lead, a likable ensemble, and a mystery with so many twists and turns that leave you winded and wowed. Now that we are on the third installment of this franchise, how could everyone involved switch things up to keep the franchise rolling on fresh legs? Stick around to find out.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery was written and directed by Rian Johnson. Daniel Craig reprises his role of Benoit Blanc, alongside an ensemble cast starring Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. In the film, Benoit Blanc is hired to investigate the nearly impossible murder of a pastor in small-town New York as suspicion of guilt falls on his assistant.

I have loved this franchise since the very beginning (Knives Out was my third favorite film of 2019 and Glass Onion was my fourth favorite of 2022), and I have always been excited to see where this franchise would take us next. I was a bit nervous that this film would not be able to capture the same magic as the first two, but boy was I wrong. This film was just as good as the first two. The performances (especially from Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, and Josh Brolin) were incredible, the mystery was insane, and the script was one of the best of the year.

I first need to talk about the performance of Josh O'Connor. O'Connor is a younger actor that broke out in the film Challengers (2024), and was absolutely the best part of that poor film The Mastermind (2025). But taking on the role as reverend Jud Duplenticy showed me a new side to him that I did not see in The Mastermind. I saw a level of conviction in him that completely shocked me. He was in total command of this character and I was stunned. From the aforementioned conviction to panic to fear, Josh O'Connor delivered his most versatile and vulnerable performance yet.

Next up, I need to talk about the performance of Glenn Close. Is there anything I need to say about the legend known as Glenn Close? One of the greatest performers to ever grace our screens, there is nothing that Close hasn't exceeded in. This is why I was dubious of her taking on the role of Martha Delacroix in a murder mystery. But as the devout Christian, she was absolutely stellar in the role. She plays devotion, hereticism, and guilt and regret so god damn well. Everybody in this ensemble has their own flaws, but Close brings a sense of humanity and light to this role, and nobody else could have pulled it off as well as Close did.

And finally, in terms of performances, there is none better in this film than that of Josh Brolin. The son of legend James Brolin (who is married to Barbara Streisand by the way) has been wowing us since the 80s and gave us the greatest comic book villain adaptation ever. There was no better way to end a solid 2025 than by giving us a total douchebag of a man in Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. But I loved Brolin's portrayal of him. He gives us a level of vitriol that I have never seen from Brolin before. And because of the character's brash nature, I had a feeling it was going to be him that died before I even saw anything to confirm it. The best kinds of characters are the ones that you love to hate, and Jefferson Wicks is definitely one of them. Bravo, Josh Brolin.

Next up, I need to talk about the mystery that we get in this installment. At first, we are under the impression that this may be the only murder that Benoit Blanc cannot solve since it seems impossible. But certain plot points are thrown at us at the very beginning of the film that find its way through the film and come full circle to give us a wow moment for the ages. One of my favorite things about these films is how multiple plotlines are kept open for most of the runtime, but they are all tied together by the end in a beautiful little bow. That is absolutely the same thing this time around, because I was left agasp regarding the ending of this film. Plus, the ending reveal is changed a little bit, and I was a big fan of that.

And finally, I want to get into the script of this film. As always, Rian Johnson is the sole writer on this film, and he brings his A-game whenever he picks up the pen to write a Benoit Blanc story. This film is a lot sharper and a lot wittier than the last two entries in this franchise, and I love how meta the film feels sometimes (especially the Netflix joke). The film also has a lot to say about the state of the country, and I say it feels oh so relevant when people are struggling. I hate Monsignor Wicks because of the vitriol that he was spewing, and this is a big reason why I see myself as an atheist. This film highlights the dangers of American conservative Christianity making victims and scapegoats.

In conclusion, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery features an ensemble at their A-game and a script that is dipped in even more reality than its predecessors. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.