This review was made possible by Popped attending a Press and Industry screening for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery at the 69th London Film Festival.
Rian Johnson has quickly become a favourite as he continues to pour out these stories from the mystery genre and surprises with each release. Knives Out has become a staple name and franchise from him, with both Knives Out and Glass Onion being nominated at the Academy Awards for their scripts, and it’s safe to say with Wake Up Dead Man, Rian Johnson is likely to get nominated again with his best script yet.
Knives Out provided us with a stellar cast that featured the likes of Ana de Armas, Chris Evans and Toni Collette with a mystery so intriguing and an ending that was hilarious but justified. Glass Onion switched up its tone and delivered us a mystery that leaned more into its comedy. It still provided a strong cast with Edward Norton, Kathryn Hahn and Dave Bautista, but the lean into the comedy took away from the charm that came with the first Knives Out, although it was still a good entry into the series.
Wake Up Dead Man is the third Knives Out mystery and takes us to a small town where, instead of following obnoxious rich people, we follow in the path of religion and a congregation that has been trapped in fear by one of their own. Knives Out has always been a franchise known for its humour, and if Glass Onion was too comical and out of place, then Wake Up Dead Man will be the perfect entry for you, as it takes a darker and grittier tone, even playing with horror elements at times.
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Rian Johnson Has Done It Again!
With the two previous movies, Rian Johnson has found himself being nominated for his screenplays. Johnson has not only an understanding for the mystery genre but a love for it too. He has the knowledge of how to handle a howcatchem detective story, and time and time again, he has proven he knows how to capture the intrigue of a whodunnit. Johnson takes Wake Up Dead Man in a different direction by allowing it to be a “locked room” mystery, which Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) notes as impossible cases that wouldn’t work outside the world of fiction.
It was a change of pace to be allowed to sit down with all the characters prior to Benoit meeting them for an extended period of time, as this environment, similarly to Knives Out, felt lived in. One of the many mistakes that Glass Onion makes is that you learn about the cast of characters through these fast-paced, quirky moments that tell you about their personality, but don’t give you enough depth to ever feel invested in that particular group of characters.
Wake Up Dead Man, on the other hand, spectacularly introduces us to this new cast through the eyes of Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a reverend with a dark past who has been sent to a remote village after a violent incident and follows behind its church’s leader, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).
A Worthwhile Murder Mystery
Rian Johnson allows us to be introduced to this new setting and its characters with Rev. Jud is a pure stroke of genius, and allows for the audience to further connect with their struggles. This not only makes the mystery-solving feel more worthwhile, but it plays off in the second and third acts when Benoit is finally dealing with them and we’re seeing all the events that have led up to those moments unravel in a satisfying way. It serves the story better when you’re not just throwing exposition at a wall and hoping it sticks, and Wake Up Dead Man is proof of that.
Daniel Craig will always be the lead of the Knives Out movie, and Johnson ensures that with this latest entry, Benoit Blanc remains one of the greatest modern detectives we’ve ever received. His presence jolts the movie to life with his witty comments, charm and his staple accent that he carries with such confidence.
But it’s Josh O’Connor who takes the largest supporting role to date, surpassing the iconic Ana de Armas. O’Connor matches Craig with his performance and elevates the movie with their dynamic, as Blanc uses logic and reason to tackle the case while Duplenticy challenges him with faith. If there’s ever an All-Stars Knives Out movie, Josh O’Connor deserves that return so he can shine once more.
A Star-Studded Cast
With the structure of the story, Rian Johnson gives the star-studded supporting cast of Wake Up Dead Man all the time to get their moments on screen. There’s a standout scene with Vera (Kerry Washington) where she finally lets loose, and you can feel all the raw emotion pour out from Washington as she allows Vera to feel vulnerable at that very moment.
There are some clear standouts, such as Josh Brolin or Glenn Close, who plays Martha Delacroix, who leave their mark on the Knives Out franchise, but unfortunately there’s the odd one or two, like Cailee Spaney, who plays the talented but closed-in Simone Vivane, and Andrew Scott, who plays the renowned author Lee Ross, who don’t get as much to do in the movie.
Wake Up Dead Man offers the best cinematography to date with its gothic architecture and use of lighting and shadows, which elevate Johnson’s script with them acting as metaphors for faith in the belief system. There’s a spectacular shot where the light from outside shines into the Catholic church onto Benoit Blanc, and it starts to make you question whether, for one second, he may have believed in a higher being more knowledgeable and powerful than himself.
Blocking is extremely important in cinema but most importantly in movies with a large ensemble to ensure everyone is in shot and allows for focus of all important characters in a shot. The blocking in Wake Up Dead Man helps to amplify the tension in these small confined rooms where arguments can break out.
‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ – Final Thoughts
Wake Up Dead Man is another entry in the Knives Out franchise that is a success and surpasses its predecessor. The film has a lot going for it and can get convoluted towards the end as the mystery begins to unravel itself, but it’s Rian Johnson’s most complicated mystery yet as he attempts a locked-room mystery.
Even with its complications, this movie is further proof that Knives Out is currently the best ongoing mystery franchise that we have the delight of watching, with a charismatic Daniel Craig leading as one of the greatest detectives of our time and outstanding performances from supporting cast such as Josh O’Connor, which only help to elevate the story. With each movie, Johnson’s writing appears to improve in certain aspects, and there’s no doubt he’ll get a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at next year’s Academy Awards.
Wake Up Dead Man releases in select theaters on November, 26 and on Netflix on December, 12. Check out the trailer below:
