By
Mae Abdulbaki
Updated
23 minutes ago
Mae is the Senior Reviews Editor and Critic at ScreenRant. Her previous work can be found at Inverse, Pajiba, CinemaBlend, The Mary Sue, Looper, and more. She has also served as a film festival juror at SXSW, LightReel Film Festival, and more. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and the Washington, DC Area Film Critics Association.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
1
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
The Knives Out franchise has certainly grown over the last three films. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery takes its inspiration from G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown mysteries. It’s a bit darker than the first two movies — Knives Out and Glass Onion — but even as its focus turns towards religion and the perspectives of two very different priests, Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin) and Father Jud (Josh O’Connor), the film still centers on the theme of greed, with discussions of faith woven in.
Writer-director Rian Johnson moves away from Agatha Christie and into more of Edgar Alan Poe, but it’s the weakest of the three Knives Out movies. Though there’s a new group of characters, all with their own motives for killing Wicks, who’s much more of an asshole than Jud, despite the latter having a bit of a darker history before becoming a priest, they’re more thinly drawn than the previous installments. Their dynamics with each other aren’t as whipsmart or complex.
Even Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), who’s still having a lot of fun playing the witty detective, is not as much of a central figure here. He’s a bit more muted than usual, likely because he’s not religious, and this is the most uncomfortable he’s been before working a case. Blanc remains enthusiastic, yet also more quietly observant. Granted, we don’t know what’s been going on in his life in the years since we last saw him, but some of the edge has certainly worn off.
The mystery still has its twists and turns, and they’re occasionally fun and clever, but something is missing, too. It’s like the film is trying to be reflective — about religion, the draw of power and money, and the people who abuse it — but it rings hollow. That groundedness of faith, however, is found in O’Connor’s character. Father Jud tries to do the best he can; he’s spiritual in a way no one else in the film is, and we root for that sincerity in faith to remain.
Wake Up Dead Man’s Ensemble Isn’t The Strongest
The Characters Lack A Deeper Level Of Interconnectedness
Blanc pairs up with Father Jud, and their relationship is one of the best parts of the film. They’re good together, with Blanc’s cynical approach to belief the opposite of Jud’s. And yet, the pair don’t butt heads about their perspectives, likely because Jud is more understanding. They click, and there’s an interesting need that Blanc has to protect Jud from people, including Geraldine (Mila Kunis), an officer working on the case. Craig and O’Connor have great chemistry and elevate every scene they’re in together.
It’s the other characters — save for the scene-chewing Josh Brolin, who’s believable as a radical priest who drives people away from his church, and Glenn Close’s Martha, a firm believer who has a history with the Wicks — who fall short. With a stupendous cast including Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, and Andrew Scott, among others, the film fails to give them more depth. Some of their motives make sense, while others feel like they’re simply around to be red herrings. More importantly, they’re underwritten, which adds to the lackluster feel this movie so often gives off.
The film might be a bit more serious than the previous two, but it’s still quite funny. Something dramatic will happen, but a beat later, the audience will be laughing. It’s a delicate balance that is maintained for the most part. And yet there are far more lulls than there is witty, acerbic dialogue. Johnson still keeps us on our toes, but the franchise has lost some of its footing with this one.
Despite its pitfalls, Wake Up Dead Man is still enjoyable. It has its charming moments, there’s a lot to think about in terms of the story, and the cast is good, if not great, overall. It’s just hard to watch the movie and realize the mystery and excitement have waned.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. It will be in select theaters on November 26 and on Netflix on December 12.
Note: This review was originally published on September 7th, 2025.
6/10
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed PG-13 Comedy Drama Mystery Release Date November 26, 2025 Runtime 140 minutes Director Rian Johnson Writers Rian Johnson Producers Ram Bergman, Rian Johnson
9 Images
Wake Up Dead Man image
Daniel Craig looking inquisitive as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man A Knives Out Mystery
Daniel Craig walking in a church as Benoit Blanc as light shines on him through a window in Wake Up Dead Man A Knives Out Mystery
Josh O'Connor in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
Glenn Close screams as Martha Delacroix in Wake Up Dead Man
Jeremy Renner as Dr. Hart in Wake Up Dead Man
Andrew Scott signs books in Wake Up Dead Man
Daryl McCormack as Cyd in Wake Up Dead Man
Daniel Craig Leaning Up Against a Tree in a Cemetery in Knives Out Wake Up Dead ManClose
Cast
See All-
Daniel Craig
Benoit Blanc
-
Josh O'Connor
Rev. Jud Duplenticy
-
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
-
Toronto International Film Festival
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Reply / Post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation email Sort by: Popular Oldest Newest- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
Sep 10, 2025
Prime Video Renews 93% RT College Comedy For Season 2
Sep 10, 2025
Saruman Is Sauron's Brother & It Completely Changes The Lord Of The Rings
Sep 10, 2025
Hulu’s New Murdaugh Murders Miniseries Revealed In New Trailer
Sep 10, 2025
Sydney Sweeney's New Psychological Thriller With 1923 Star Gets First Images
More from our brands
Knives Out 3 Lands Surprise Theatrical Release (But There's a Catch)
Daniel Craig Returns as Benoit Blanc in Mysterious Sneak Peek Trailer for Wake Up Dead Man
‘I’m Not Good Enough’: Rian Johnson on Why Every Knives Out Film Has to Feel Different
‘Knives Out’ Director Rian Johnson Teases the Franchise's Future After ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ [Exclusive]
'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' Theatrical Release Plans Confirmed as New Poster Released
Daniel Craig Looks for Clues in New Image From Sequel to Rian Johnson’s 91% Rotten Tomatoes Mystery
Daniel Craig's Oscar-Nominated Mystery Thriller Netflix Franchise Returns in Haunting New Teaser
Trending Now
Ahsoka’s World Between Worlds & Every Major Force Nexus In Star Wars
Fast & Furious Wanted To Cast Jamie Foxx In Major Role 4 Years Ago
7 MCU Movies That Would Have Been Forbidden in the 1950s
Johnson needs to move on to something else.
2025-09-07 20:53:38 Upvote Downvote Reply Copy