One of the most fun parts about this franchise is how committed Rian Johnson and the team are to crafting an aesthetic. Knives Out is the perfect movie to throw on over Thanksgiving break with its wool sweaters, colorful foliage, and mansion in the woods. Glass Onion goes for a less cozy and more eccentric approach, with almost the entire story taking place on a summertime island. The latest and potentially last entry into the Knives Out trilogy, Wake Up Dead Man, goes for something new with the almost haunting aesthetic of the Catholic church. When a monsignor is murdered in a seemingly impossible way, Benoit Blanc is recruited to find out the truth.
Like the previous two films, the setting plays a key role not only in the story but also in the characters as well. While supernatural elements have never been a part of this franchise, the setting allows Johnson to play with superstition and belief, and it’s one of the best parts of the movie. Faith plays a major role in the external and internal battles throughout. It takes a big swing, dissecting the church and belief to their core questions and components. The ever-skeptic Benoit Blanc gets to play the role of devil’s advocate, which naturally allows these ideas and conversations to come to the forefront without ever being overbearing. At times the religious elements are on full display, while at others they’re subtle but strong. If done poorly, weaving religious ideals into plots is a fast track to losing an audience, but it’s done so well here it transforms a classic murder mystery into a powerful story about humanity. Taking a big swing like this is always a huge risk, but this cast does everything they can to make it a home run.
The past two movies were praised for their ensemble cast, full of award-winning and blockbuster stars alike. Wake Up Dead Man continues that tradition, and it may be the most stacked cast yet. To give each individual their flowers, of which they all deserve, would be monotonous, but there are some standouts. Nothing here works without the incredible performance from Josh O’Connor (Father Jud). What makes his performance so powerful is how believable it is. Father Jud’s troubled past lands him in a place that causes him to question his own faith as well as others. His character is written with so much nuance, and O’Connor doesn’t miss a beat. There are times when solving the murder feels less important than solving his internal crisis, which is fascinating. This movie is at its best whenever he’s sharing the screen with Daniel Craig (Benoit Blanc).
Craig’s portrayal of Blanc has always been such a fun character to watch, but now more than ever. On one hand, he and Josh O’Connor have some of the funniest moments of the year, sometimes without even saying a word. On the other hand, Blanc is pushed out of his comfort zone full of rationality and reason and forced to look at events from a fictional angle. The dynamic the two of them build is so much fun to watch. In the spirit of avoiding spoilers, singling out any other member of the cast feels unfair, but they all bring so much to their roles and make the mystery so intriguing.
It’s not a Knives Out movie without a murder mystery, and this might be the most fun mystery yet. The story gives the audience just enough to start making guesses but does save the full reveal for the end. Looking back, there are clues in plain sight, but the way Johnson writes these movies always makes you wonder how you didn’t figure it out sooner. Everyone has a motive, everyone has an alibi, and everyone saw the murder—truly an impossible crime. Technology plays a bigger role in uncovering the truth than it has in the past two movies. This isn’t inherently a bad thing, especially since it’s done well, but it does feel like a stretch once or twice. Luckily the fast pace keeps the story moving along, so there isn’t much time to dwell on it. For a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this movie flies by, which is partly due to how much there is to look at.
Visually, Wake Up Dead Man makes an argument for the strongest outing of the trilogy. Johnson uses every inch of the ministry to bring this story to life, particularly with the lighting. The lighting is working so hard in every shot it should honestly be included as a cast member. Cinematographer Steve Yedlin, who’s worked with Johnson on the previous two films, is showing off in some of these shots. A majority of the story takes place in a few main locations, but they use light and color to convey something new every time. Looking for clues hiding in the background is impossible when each shot is too gorgeous to look past.
It should surprise no one that Rian Johnson made another wildly fun murder mystery. What is surprising is how much more he delivered this time around. The cast, with Josh O’Connor leading them, is working overtime to demand the audience’s attention and emotion. What begins as a mystery rooted in this small town church is unraveled into a journey about faith and belief, all backdropped by a lonely ministry that seems to shift appearance as the story progresses. Wake Up Dead Man reminds us how effortlessly Johnson can shape a great mystery, and how rewarding it is when he chooses to reach beyond it.
