'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' (dir. Rian Johnson, 2025) Film Review

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, dir. Rian Johnson (140mins) | Releases December 12th 2025

CREDIT: Netflix, British Film Institute

When the credits rolled for Wake Up Dead Man, the third and latest instalment in the surprise hit Knives Out franchise, everybody started to applaud. And I joined in. Because this isn't just the most compelling Benoit Blanc mystery yet, it's the best film in the series and a bona fide career highlight for writer-director Rian Johnson.

I still remember going to see Knives Out in 2019. Hackney Picturehouse was heaving. I think it was the last time I've been in a fully packed cinema for a film that wasn't (at that point) already part of an established franchise...maybe with the exception of Oppenheimer? It was a much more common occurrence before 2020... Regardless, there was something special in the air surrounding that first film's release. It's true that the murder mystery genre was receiving a concurrent resuscitation attempt from Kenneth Branagh, but even his talents could not distract from the high-gloss and low-piquancy of his Poirot, and the genre was in a notable slump.

But then in walked Daniel Craig, trading in his MI5 city-slicker silks for a cozier number sewn from tweed. He was to play Benoit Blanc, the charismatic case-solver in this fresh-faced whodunnit. In many ways, Knives Out felt classic. Its autumnal setting, star-studded cast of suspects and gothic sensibilities certainly met the expectations of audiences looking to detangle the unsolved murder. But Knives Out also managed to weave in modern politics, doubling as a commentary on migration, class warfare, and the weary state of Trump's America.

The major success of Knives Out provided Johnson with a Netflix-brokered sequel deal and a bigger budget boost, and the summer-set Glass Onion was a perfectly fine continuation of the Benoit Blanc saga. The new cast was as charming as the previous one, and the sets just as lavish and labyrinthine. I just don't think it has aged as well. The mystery felt overly convoluted and the film itself feels overstuffed, not as rewatchable as the original.

These minor gripes seem to have been noted by the team behind the camera, for Wake Up Dead Man takes a back-to-basics approach to the series, seeming determined to remind audiences of all the ways in which this Johnson-Craig teaming can excel. The premise is simple; an embittered Catholic preacher (played menacingly by Josh Brolin) is implausibly murdered during his service - a case only Blanc can solve. It's also autumn again, thank goodness, for no other season screams Murder!! quite like fall, and as the film begins and we're greeted by falling leaves and a crackling fireplace, this murder's primary suspect offers his introduction.

Josh O'Connor, the co-lead of this film, here trades in his 'I TOLD YA' tee for a Catholic collar, becoming the latest heartthrob to adopt the mantle of sexy priest. His performance here is impeccable, a breath of fresh air for the series, and he absolutely walks away with the film in spite of compelling performances from legendary co-stars. O'Connor's on-screen success is abetted by his neon chemistry with Craig, who shows up late to this show but proves reliably electrifying when he does. In fact, this duo are so magnetic together on-screen that I'm hoping for a Knives Out 4 that sees them re-team to tackle a new case.

Also joining the congregation is Hollywood legend Glenn Close, whose portrayal of the grieving zealot Martha is deliciously hammy and deceptively delicate all at the very same time. It's nice to see Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington here, too, who are reliable and sturdy amongst the wider ensemble cast. I was also very happy to see Cailee Spaeny show her face, following her standout performances in 2023's Priscilla and the recent sci-fi horror Alien: Romulus.

Though a cast like this offers audiences an embarrassment of riches, I did feel slightly short-changed by the lack of Andrew Scott. As the original sexy priest, Scott has proved himself consistently as one of the most compelling actors in his generation, and this witty whodunnit franchise seemed poised to offer him an ample spotlight in which to demonstrate his skills. Sadly, his is the only character that feels more 'spare part' than 'essential cog' in the murder-flick machinery.

Regardless, when you take a crew this competent and give them a script this satisfying, you're bound to come out with something successful. And we should also all take a moment to thank Steve Yedlin, who reunites with Johnson here as cinematographer. His vision elevates the film even higher, and it's so refreshing to see a streamer-backed cinematic production that actually looks like a well-crafted film.

I don't want to unpick any of the threads of this mystery here, for doing so yourself in the comfort of your cinema seat offers so much of this film's fun. What I will say is that Wake Up Dead Man made me laugh out loud so many times, kept me guessing until its final moments, and - if there's any justice in the world - should help bolster Josh O'Connor's momentum as one of our finest young stars. It's gothic, it's surprising, and it's really, really fun, all while questioning the role of religion, grace and guilt in the modern world. Join the congregation and make sure you see it on the big screen this December before it's sent to Netflix purgatory...

★★★★½

Written by James Green