Review
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(Spoiler-free!)
〰️
Review 〰️ (Spoiler-free!) 〰️
“Wake Up Dead Man” unforgettably expands the “Knives Out” saga
Photo // Netflix (Creative Commons)
// December 23, 2025
On Dec. 12, the highly anticipated third installment of the "Knives Out" franchise became available on Netflix, "Wake Up Dead Man." Lovers of the murder mystery genre are undoubtedly familiar with the franchise, and it is safe to say that they were not disappointed.
"Knives Out" and "Glass Onion" — the first two films in the series headed by director Rian Johnson — have received critical acclaim and countless award nominations. The first film quickly became a success, earning the 24th spot on Letterboxd’s most logged movies and the sequel trailing closely behind. With this in mind, fans had every reason to be excited for the third installment of Benoit Blanc’s mystery-solving adventures.
"Wake Up Dead Man" lives up to the hype of the past two films and delivers an original, twist-filled experience that keeps viewers on the edge of their seat for the full two-and-a-half-hour runtime. Complete with great performances, a tight script, and fantastic production design, this film is an exhilarating ride from the first scene to the last.
The first two "Knives Out" films keep the protagonist relatively obscure as a twist to be uncovered a little later into the film. However, in "Wake Up Dead Man," it’s quickly made clear who our main character is going to be from the first scene. Father Jud Duplenticy, brilliantly played by Josh O’Conner, draws viewers into the film with his narration. Although the use of voiceover can easily come across as a cheap way of ‘exposition dumping,’ this film executes it perfectly. Duplenticy sets up how he came to arrive at ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude,’ a small-town church run by Josh Brolin’s character, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks. He then takes us through each of the suspects, the day of the murder, and the eventual iconic moment when detective Benoit Blanc arrives about 40 minutes into the film. Not long after Blanc’s arrival, viewers find out that it turns out everything Duplenticy has explained so far is actually a narration of the witness statement he wrote down for Blanc. From there, the rest of the movie plays out and the mystery is unfurled.
Photo // Netflix (Creative Commons)
As Father Duplenticy, O’Conner gives what could be easily considered the most powerful performance out of all three films thus far. He is an incredibly charismatic and likeable character who steals every scene he’s in, and is the most developed and complex character as well. His backstory and why he chose to become a reverend to better his life are an excellent emotional core for the film, which especially shines through during an extremely heartfelt scene that takes place over a phone call with another character — no spoilers! Even as the film progresses and audiences are unsure of his innocence, it’s near-impossible not to want to root for him.
Of course, Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, with the most southern drawl you will ever hear. He does a great job here, like always. He seems to be getting even better at portraying the character with each installment, and the movie isn’t afraid to give him some fun moments to mess around while maintaining his credibility as a capable detective.
We also get to find out slightly more about Blanc’s own personal family history and his religious beliefs (or lack thereof) through details in his interactions with Duplenticy, which further develop his own story. Towards the end of the film, Blanc makes a very significant choice regarding his integrity as a detective that makes for a truly unforgettable scene, and it further cements him among the likes of Sherlock Holmes and Hercules Poirot as a detective character for the ages.
The "Knives Out" films are always stacked with an incredible ensemble cast, and "Wake Up Dead Man" is no exception. Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and the rest of the cast give incredibly fun and engaging performances as the townspeople and suspects of the murder, all of which only make the technical aspects of the film shine even more. The gorgeous set design and excellent soundtrack are a perfect complement to the cast’s hilariously nuanced performances.
Of these technical aspects, what stood out the most to me was the masterfully executed lighting. Light work was used beyond just as a tool to make a scene look good, but to help further develop the narrative. When certain characters would enter the room, the light would dim faintly, whereas in other cases, some characters even seemed to have a halo of light around them as if to signify their role in the story.
Photo // Netflix (Creative Commons)
A personal favorite example of this technique was when Blanc first entered the church to help Duplenticy and the natural light on the outside of the church seems to get brighter, showing how Blanc is a shining beacon of hope and the only one able to help him prove his innocence. It was a breath of fresh air to have such motivated and intentional lighting, since many recent films don’t bother to explore the narrative potential it can have.
All in all, "Wake Up Dead Man" is an exciting and thought-provoking watch. While it’s the third in the "Knives Out" series, it stands alone and can be watched without prior knowledge of the others. The cast is fantastic, the production design and lighting is eye-catching, and the twists and turns of the mystery are sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. Be sure to avoid spoilers, as this is a five-star film that is undeniably worth your time and I highly recommend giving it a watch! ✮