Warning: This review contains spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man
Wake Up Dead Man may be the third film in the Knives Out saga, but it is by far not the least entertaining. With a complete tonal shift into a darker theme and a star-studded cast, it was hard not to enjoy it. Although the film is a Netflix original, there was an early screening over Thanksgiving that left a lot of online buzz about the film, proving that audiences love a classic whodunnit story.
A Story of Religion and Power
Each film has a theme that it’s going for. The first film focuses on familial issues, the second on tone deaf billionaires, and now the third on religion and power. The film follows a Catholic Church—although many would say the portrayal of religion can be more targeted towards evangelical Christians—and its two priests, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) and Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). After being sent to a church in upstate New York for punching a deacon, Jud realizes that the town worships the word of him and Wicks, even if he’s spreading hate instead of faith. The stark differences in priests highlight the bad faith that Wicks spreads to the members of his church. The way Wicks uses his power as a religious figure really illuminates the current cultural problem of powerful figures using their platform to create a violent mob that will take every word they say as truth, with the use of religion mirroring the near-religious cults of personalities these individuals often create.
There are some scenes in the film that had me slightly doubting Rian Johnson, with some of the visuals and gags being a little too on the nose with the religious imagery, but in true Knives Out fashion, everything wraps up neatly in the third act, and all doubts are washed away.
The Stars that Shine Bright
O’Connor and Glenn Close are standout actors in the film. O’Connor’s portrayal as a retired boxer-turned-priest was the perfect concoction of anger and faith. Although Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is the titular Sherlock-esque character in the series, the most interesting character is always the Watson counterpart, and O’Connor is probably the best sidekick in the trilogy, stealing the entire film. The most moving scene was when Jud gets so caught up in the mystery of who killed Monsignor Wicks, he doesn’t expect Louise (Bridget Everett) to ask him to pray for her mother. O’Connor’s immediate mood shift is so fascinating to watch. It makes the entire scene so much more emotional, and it makes for a perfect scene to encapsulate Jud’s faith and how he helps the community.
Close’s character is comedic, but pretty one-note for most of the film, which isn’t a bad thing in her case, as her confession in the third act turns everything around. Having such an important monologue that ties the entire film together, Close makes the scene very compelling. Her comedic timing is also impeccable, with most of the funniest scenes belonging to her. I could watch two hours of just Martha interacting with the church.
A Swing and a Miss-Cast
The cast of the film is massive. From Kerry Washington to Brolin, there’s a plethora of A-listers on screen at all times. Unfortunately, there was a lot of wasted talent as well. In a story like this, there needs to be enough ensemble members to hide the true killer, but this film had the weakest ensemble of the series. Jeremy Renner plays the local town doctor whose wife just left him, but his character was very bland. His character is supposed to be an important cog in the machine, yet there’s a lot to be desired with his acting. Similarly, Andrew Scott’s scorned novel writer seems to only be there to drop controversial opinions and not much else. There’s a huge disconnect between Close and O’Connor’s characters, almost as if they are in two completely different films altogether. The chemistry wasn’t there, and it felt clunky the whole film.
Mila Kunis’s Sheriff was also another huge letdown. In both this and the first film, the other law enforcement don’t have much of a role, but her Sheriff was so stiff that it was hard not to notice. Jeffrey Wright plays a very minor character within the film, which is a shame because he could have easily taken on the Sheriff role much better. The film is great as it is, but with stronger actors it could have been even better.
What is Benoit Blanc's Next Mystery?
It seems like the first Knives Out film cannot be outdone, but Wake Up Dead Man is a close second for me. The setting, natural lighting, and Johnson's use of memories creating false narratives depending on who’s telling the story make it hard not to enjoy the film. With a few different actors and a slightly shorter runtime, the film would be perfect.
Audiences yearn for more Knives Out films. There is a massive untapped market for this film series, and with the success of this new film, there’s hope for even more to come. Benoit Blanc is such an entertaining man that even putting him in the Muppets universe could make for a perfect fourth film in the installment. Whenever Johnson decides to make the next film, it’s safe to say I will be in theaters for it.
Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb
Photo: Netflix
Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or @s.jasionowski on Instagram.
