Wake Up Dead Man Review: A Knives Out Mystery That is Divine…or Deadly!

Rian Johnson once again proves his mastery of the modern whodunit, blending Agatha Christie intrigue with Hitchcockian tension in what may be the darkest Knives Out mystery yet. 

Here is our Wake Up Dead Man review, the third installment in the Knives Out universe, and we certainly understand why the director titled it as such.

Plot details of Wake Up Dead Man (2025)​

The third film of the Knives Out series follows detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) as he investigates his most challenging case yet: the mysterious murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Wicks, who was aiding young priest Father Jud (Josh O’Connor), is found dead in a locked room. Only Father Jud witnessed the incident, making him the prime suspect.

Father Jud, being the sole witness to Monsignor Wicks’ death in a locked room, is immediately suspected. Detective Benoit Blanc is called in to unravel the case, and his arrival marks the beginning of the intricate and captivating investigation.​

Hit play to watch the trailer: 

Actors’ performances in Wake Up Dead Man

Every character in the film, regardless of their screen presence, has given a stellar performance. The three main characters were those of O’Connor’s Father Jud, Brolin’s Jefferson Wicks, and Craig’s Benoit Blanc.

I would like to talk about Josh O’Connor first, as his embodiment of the priest brought an authenticity to the film. It seemed as if he were the real priest who was stuck in a dilemma of accidentally killing another boxer in the ring. He was aggressive, spontaneous, and intelligent at certain times. He manifested several layers of guilt, strength, and compassion- much needed for the role. Superb!​

Josh Brolin was forceful, intense, and unforgettable, even with lesser screen time than O’Connor. He was unflinching when he gave the sermons, as he actually wanted people to fight back against the world. His presence was raw and commanding, even when he was not in the sermon, and just giving deep looks to Father Jud when he was ranting his thoughts out to the Monsignor. Excellent!

Daniel Craig has been the heart and soul of the entire franchise, and without him, we could not have imagined solving such a mind-twisting case like this. Craig’s detective brought a veritable delight to the mystery that was comedic and eccentric. Despite appearing rational rather than religious, the case challenges his theories as well as Blanc’s limits, which he decodes masterfully. Brainy!​

The rest of the cast did a splendid job, too, including Glenn Close as Martha, Daryl McCormack as Cy, Jeremy Renner as Dr. Nat, Mila Kunis as Geraldine, Andrew Scott as Lee, Kerry Washington as Vera, and Cailee Spaeny as Simone.  ​

What do critics add to the Wake Up Dead Man review?

Wake Up Dead Man gained an impressive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus says,

“Giving Benoit Blanc a worthy mystery with its genuinely soulful fixation on faith and a scene-stealing Josh O’Connor performance, Wake Up Dead Man is another Knives Out puzzle that comes together splendidly.” [Source]

Critics were pleasantly surprised by the ending and found it “unexpected”. They were all praising the direction, the ideal cast, and Daniel Craig’s powerful presence as always. The plot asked for a darker and more serious tone, fusing well with the religious setting, and it worked flawlessly. A few critics marked it as a “bit too long,” but overall, it was a fascinating watch, they declared.

Fans’ reaction

The audience loved the fact that religion and character portrayal of the guides of the Church were wonderfully intertwined that was portrayed with “decency”. The majority of the viewers called it “the best Knives Out yet” as the cinematography and the pacing of suspense kept them entertained for the entire two and a half hours.

Is it worth watching?

Of course! It certainly is one of the best crime investigation films that I have watched this year. The religious setting makes the thriller serious but cozy as compared to Glass Onion (2022). The latter was a lavish account of the wealthy people on an island, while this one is a complete contrast.​

The religious touch brings the emotional core of the characters to life that leads us to question faith and beliefs at one point. It enables us to contemplate the real meaning of religion, people around us, their motives, and hope in life, leaving us wondering what kind of cynical world we are living in.​

The title itself is a mystery that unfolds once we are done with this gem of a film. It references the themes of faith, corrupted idols, and spiritual guidance, or more precisely, awakening. The spiritual crisis of the characters is even connected to U2’s song, where Jesus is asked to “wake up” and help the troubled world.​

The film forces us to question whether those in positions of power manipulate us and guide us down paths never meant for us, or whether religion should instead be rooted in personal choice, mutual respect, and understanding. Even those who present themselves as pious are not always what they seem.​

Here’s the proof of how Wake Up Dead Man kept the legacy of the franchise’s high ratings alive:

	IMDb	Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score	Rotten Tomatoes audience score
Knives Out (2019)	7.9	97 percent	92 percent
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)	7.1	91 percent	92 percent
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)	7.4	92 percent	94 percent

What we liked

• A darker, more thoughtful mystery
• Strong performances across the board
• Daniel Craig as the franchise’s core
• Atmospheric direction and cinematography
• Meaningful themes and power
• A satisfying and unexpected ending

What could be better

• Length and pacing
• Underutilized supporting characters
• A heavier tone may not suit everyone
• Complexity may challenge casual viewers

Here’s a detailed breakdown of our rating for Wake Up Dead Man (2025):

Story/plot	9/10
Characters and acting	9/10
Direction and pacing	8/10
Visuals and cinematography	9/10
Soundtrack/score	8.5/10
Themes and message	8.5/10
Emotional impact	7/10
Creativity/originality	8/10
Rewatchability	8/10

Our rating: 8/10​

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Is Wake Up Dead Man (2025) available for online streaming?

Yes, Wake Up Dead Man (PG-13) is available for streaming on Netflix starting from December 12, 2025.

Genre: Dark comedy, crime, drama, mystery, thriller

IMDb rating: 7.4

Rotten Tomatoes: 92 percent on Tomatometer (critics’ rating) and 94 percent on Popcornmeter

Cast:  Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis

Director:  Rian Johnson

Writer: Rian Johnson

Producers:  Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman

Release date:  December 12, 2025

Movie runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes

Do you think Wake Up Dead Man is the best Knives Out mystery yet? Chime in with your thoughts below.