I still remember watching the first Knives Out film all the way back in 2019 as it was a sharp, crowd-pleasing surprise that mixed an old-school whodunit with a killer A-list ensemble. Fast forward to 2022 where Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery enters the picture and the more I sit on it, the less I like it as it feels like it lost the plot. It traded mystery for mockery as it leaned too hard into satire and comedy instead of the tight, twisty storytelling that made the original so much fun. Now enters Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which is billed to be a return to form with a dark, gothic mood. Does it live up to that promise? No really.
Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is brought into what is possibly his most difficult case yet. A charismatic priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) was found murdered in a sealed room by his devoted congregation and by the Reverend who despises him Rev. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). Blanc must investigate this impossible murder through a complex web of secrets and simmering tensions within a community to uncover the truth.
Before I bog down the room too much, let me explain where Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery gets right. I appreciated how the film tackles religion in the modern world, showing both its light and its rot. On one hand, you have faith that is twisted into a tool for control as it feeds off people’s insecurities and fears. The more it paints outsiders as a threat, the tighter its grip becomes until devotion turns into indoctrination. The idea is nailed down perfectly through Josh Brolin’s performance as Msgr. Jefferson Wicks who is both magnetic and terrifying.
While on the other hand, it shows that religion can provide comfort, wisdom and guidance to the people, regardless of beliefs, during hard times. Josh O’Connor embodies this belief beautifully Rev. Jud Duplenticy with his radiant warmth and quiet compassion. Though he himself is not perfect, as he has anger issues, he tries to do best as he leads and heals lost souls. Though the film’s take on this duality can feel a bit surface-level, with the actors carrying more weight than the script, I still found the commentary thoughtful and worth noting.
Much like Glass Onion, Wake Up Dead Man felt like it was more focused on hitting a vibe, in this case gothic Catholicism, rather than developing a cohesive, tightly-knit narrative. The mystery itself winds up tangled in its own, unfocused and messy web as it is more focused on outsmarting the audience, than delivering an intriguing mystery. By the time we reach the big finale, delivered in Rian Johnson’s usual spoon-fed manner as he doesn’t trust his audience’s intelligence, it all feels muddled and convoluted. I understood the themes Johnson was aiming for with his mystery, but the way they are executed just doesn’t hold together.
Furthermore, despite having an incredibly stacked ensemble, the majority of them are completely wasted. This is really the Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close and Josh Brolin show with Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, and Daryle McCormack popping up every once and a while. While everyone else is just there, sitting in the background adding little to the narrative beyond name recognition. What made the original, and to an extent Glass Onion work, was how the ensemble felt tightly woven together, forced to clash and collaborate within one contained mystery. Here, they’re scattered across too many convoluted threads, and the film squanders their talent in the process.
But with all of that stated, there is no denying that Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is still a good time. Josh O’Connor leads the charge with his effortless charm and Daniel Craig backs him up with his typical Southern drawl that never fails to amuse. Even if this installment didn’t completely win me over, I can’t say that I wasn’t entertained. At the very least this is an entertaining movie that goes down easy. A perfect movie to throw on with the family during the holidays.
My Rating: B-
Coming to theaters November 26. Coming to Netflix December 12th.
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