Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

He works in mysterious ways.

PG-13
2h 25m

Directed by: Rian Johnson
Writer: Rian Johnson
Premiered: November 26, 2025
Language: English
Status: Released
Budget: $210,000,000.00
Awards: 2 nominations total
Country: United States of America

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

7.9/10 (15 vote)

★★★★★★★★★★

Production: T-Street

Spoiler

Rian Johnson, a filmmaker who has steadily refined his mastery of intricate murder mysteries since the debut of Knives Out in 2019, returns with his latest installment, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. This new chapter sees Daniel Craig reprise his role as the impeccably dressed and keenly observant detective Benoit Blanc, who is once again tasked with untangling a complex web of deceit.

Following the examination of upper-class white family dynamics and classism in the original Knives Out, and the deconstruction of the inflated personas of the ultra-wealthy in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Johnson delves into a significantly weightier theme with Wake Up Dead Man: faith. The narrative centers on Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor), a young priest assigned to a church where the congregation's devotion is directed more towards the magnetic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) than towards a divine entity. The central mystery ignites when Monsignor Wicks is found murdered, and suspicion immediately falls upon Jud, whose intense relationship with the Monsignor becomes a focal point. This seemingly unsolvable crime serves as a profound meditation on belief and the potent influence of storytelling.

Johnson, who has been open about the inspirations behind his previous mysteries, has also shed light on the genesis of Wake Up Dead Man. A primary driver for this installment is the classic "locked door mystery" format. This subgenre presents a crime that appears impossible to commit, with the victim seemingly isolated behind an impenetrable barrier, leaving no apparent means of access for the perpetrator. This setup, combined with a dark backstory involving Wicks' mother, Grace – ominously referred to as "the Scarlet Woman" – who once vandalized the church in a fit of rage over a promised inheritance, crafts a narrative brimming with more unexpected turns than any of Johnson's prior whodunits. The sheer impossibility of the crime compels the assembled characters to confront their own convictions, or lack thereof, regarding faith.

Wake Up Dead Man distinguishes itself structurally by delaying Benoit Blanc's introduction until after the initial act. Instead, the film opens with Josh O'Connor's character, Duplenticy, narrating the events. He introduces Monsignor Wicks' inner circle and recounts the days leading up to the murder, which tragically occurred on Palm Sunday, as well as the immediate aftermath. The audience is led to believe that the perpetrator is someone within the church community, as Duplenticy meticulously details his account of the events to Blanc in a written deposition.

The overarching theme of storytelling emerges as the key to unlocking the mystery for Blanc. During their initial encounter, Blanc and Duplenticy engage in a spirited debate about religion and the persuasive power of belief. Blanc expresses skepticism towards religious institutions and their potential for abusing power. Duplenticy, however, offers a different perspective, likening faith to personal narratives that individuals construct to find solace or uplift their spirits during challenging times.

The resolution of the murder, and indeed the revelation of a subsequent "miraculous resurrection," unveils a carefully constructed narrative designed to maintain the facade of a healthy church and its revered leader. It is revealed that Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close) is responsible for both Wicks' demise and the staging of his apparent reappearance from the tomb. Blanc, initially feigning defeat before the congregation, declares the case unsolvable. This charade, however, is a gesture of compassion towards Delacroix, who later privately confesses her actions to Duplenticy.

Delacroix's confession reveals that her earlier act of desecrating the church was not an act of religious defiance, but rather a desperate search for an inheritance promised to her – a jewel known as "Eve's apple." She discloses that the original Father Wicks had swallowed the diamond to prevent it from corrupting his daughter. Delacroix confesses this to Duplenticy in an attempt to demonstrate that Wicks genuinely cared for her. However, upon learning of his intention to exhume the jewel from the tomb, she devises a plan to murder him, aiming to "preserve" his image before greed could tarnish it.

To execute her plan, Delacroix enlists the help of her groundskeeper husband, Samson (Thomas Haden Church), and a congregant, Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner). Samson is tasked with impersonating Wicks' resurrection, while Dr. Sharp is to switch the fake knife planted by Delacroix with a real one, thereby explaining the seemingly impossible nature of the murder. However, Dr. Sharp succumbs to his own avarice, killing Samson to claim the diamond for himself. Subsequently, Delacroix poisons and kills Sharp.

After recounting her confession and the events, it is revealed that Delacroix has also consumed the poison she administered to Sharp. Duplenticy holds her as she seeks forgiveness, and in her final moments, she releases her animosity towards Grace (the Scarlet Woman), expressing empathy for her past suffering.

The film concludes with Duplenticy assuming leadership of the church. He conceals the diamond left to him by Delacroix within a newly constructed wooden cross, a symbol that had been conspicuously absent throughout much of the movie. This signifies the emergence of a new, authentic form of faith within the church, replacing the corruption that once defined Monsignor Wicks' tenure, bringing the narrative to a hopeful close.

Rian Johnson has characterized Wake Up Dead Man as the darkest Benoit Blanc mystery to date, and for good reason. The film features the highest number of fatalities in the trilogy and directly confronts the corrosive impact of institutional power abuse within religious organizations. The duality of belief is explored, demonstrating how it can be both a source of profound beauty and dangerous delusion. Samson's blind faith in his wife, Delacroix, ultimately leads to his downfall. Conversely, Duplenticy's genuine faith and profound care for his congregants facilitate Delacroix's confession, illustrating that the film is not entirely condemnatory of faith itself.

Wake Up Dead Man presents a nuanced portrayal of faith, acknowledging both its positive and negative manifestations. However, it is not divine intervention that resolves the case. Instead, it is Blanc's sharp intellect, the exploration of past traumas, and the exposure of human avarice that ultimately bring the grim truth to light. The film suggests that misplaced loyalty and an unwavering belief in individuals, rather than the principles they espouse, can lead to a perilous path. Much like real-world religions, Wake Up Dead Man refrains from offering definitive answers to these complex moral questions, instead inviting viewers to form their own conclusions after Blanc unravels the gruesome murders.