Ticketworthy! - Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

The first Knives Out film is a nearly perfect mystery film, the kind that we hadn’t seen in a very long time when it debuted in 2019. It was a breath of fresh air in a genre that seemed stale and dead. Director Rian Johnson and his lead, Daniel Craig, did such a masterful job with that first outing that it was hardly a surprise when a sequel was greenlit. Though that sequel, Glass Onion, didn’t really recapture the magic, it wasn’t awful. Now, with the release of Wake Up Dead Man, all eyes are on the franchise to see if it’s sustainable or just a one-trick pony. If this one is anything to go by, the series is going to be just fine.

This third story once again follows master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he attempts to solve an unsolvable murder. In this case, a brash and manipulative Catholic priest (Josh Brolin) has been murdered, and it seems that his young assistant priest (Josh O’Connor) is going to go down for the crime. Blanc has to navigate a web of lies, greed, and violence to get to the truth.

The set-up is intriguing and adds a new layer to the formula we’ve gotten used to in these kinds of stories. Blanc is a fun character to watch as he solves mysteries, partially because he is extremely sure and proud of his deductive abilities. He loves showing off how clever he is. Watching him try to balance that impulse while not trampling on the faith of the people he is trying to help is an interesting dynamic. Craig, once again, nails every aspect of the character beautifully.

O’Connor is also spectacular as Father Jud Duplenticy. He’s likeable and charming, and his chemistry with Craig does a lot to carry the film. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the cast. Nobody does a bad job, but the various suspects just aren’t terribly engaging. This is not the wickedly fun ensemble that the first or even the second film boasted. Craig and O’Connor keep the story afloat, but it is a shame the rest of the group doesn’t pull their weight.

Johnson, on the other hand, definitely does pull his weight. The number of small details that he weaves into the plot and every shot is impressive. The hallmark of a good mystery is that it gives the audience everything they need to solve the case without making it obvious. Johnson’s writing and direction do exactly that, and it makes the final reveal feel satisfying.

I’ll admit that there are parts of the film, notably around the middle, that seem to drag a bit. I don’t know if it’s a proper pacing issue or if it’s simply because most of the cast aren’t that interesting, but the film just gets lost a few times. Fortunately, it never stays that way. As soon as you start to get a little bored, Craig or O’Connor pop back up to move the plot along.

While it isn’t perfect, I’d say that Wake Up Dead Man is a clear improvement over Glass Onion, and it shows that the franchise has plenty of steam left. Johnson and Craig are a magnetic combination. If you like a good whodunit with great lead characters, the pair seem to deliver time and time again. As such, there’s no mystery as to whether you should see Wake Up Dead Man. It’s easily worth your time.