My Thoughts on the Film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025), 2/23/2026….

As the third installment of what is now the Knives Out franchise, the film Wake Up Dead Man is darker, longer, more crowded, and—believe me when I tell you—more graceful, despite the film’s inherent darkness.

It’s still an enjoyable film, though.

Filmmaker Rian Johnson (Brick) returns to the writing table and director’s chair for this film. And with the same skill and wit, he breathes life into this mystery; although this did not feel as fun as the two previous installments. Perhaps it was the dark gothic lighting in this film, as opposed to the in-your-face Mediterranean sunshine of Glass Onion and the steely wintry daylight in the original Knives Out. I get the feeling that this was all intentional on Johnson’s part to make three distinct films.

Daniel Craig (Skyfall) returns as the eccentric master Detective Benoit Blanc, but more foppish this time—just take a look at his hair. He enlists a young priest, Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor, of Challengers), to be his Dr. Watson to help investigate the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin, of No Country for Old Men), who declared holy war on the not-so-innocent, assistive priest.

Needless to say, Father Jud is Suspect #1, with Police Chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis, of Black Swan) always present, waiting for the opportunity—and the evidence—to arrest him. The rest of the suspects are the monsignor’s usual parishioners, led by Glenn Close (Fatal Attraction), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker), Kerry Washington (Scandal), Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers), Cailee Spaeny (Alien: Romulus), and Thomas Hayden Church (Sideways). Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction) portrays Bishop Langstrom, a mentor to Father Duplenticy. Unfortunately, with all these characters, even with the two and a half hour running time, not enough screen time was given to them to flesh out their full arcs.

But the large ensemble cast still worked well together. The standout performance is from Glenn Close (who’d have thunk?), who brings gravitas and grace to a character who has suffered for her secrets.

Johnson says that he will work on another film before he continues with Knives Out 4.

Watch this film. Like the other two, you will be entertained.