By William Ludwig
Ever since Knives Out debuted as a surprise hit, the franchise has lived and died by its mysteries. The first film was widely praised for its tight plotting, clever misdirection, and fresh take on the classic whodunit, setting a high bar that felt nearly impossible to match. Glass Onion, while entertaining, struggled to reach those same heights, trading layered mystery for spectacle and leaving many viewers divided. So when Wake Up Dead Man was announced, expectations were cautiously optimistic at best. Could the series return to form, or would it continue to drift further from what made the original so special? What followed was not just a course correction, but the boldest—and most confident—entry in the trilogy.
Previous entries have always made the mystery the focal point of the story. While that may sound obvious, what I mean is that they emphasize how layered and increasingly complex the mystery becomes as the film unfolds. This approach worked exceptionally well in the first film, though it noticeably faltered in the second. However, In Wake Up Dead Man, the mystery has never been more confusing, nor has it been more intriguing. With every scene I became more and more lost, making a fool of myself as I attempted to piece it together before the movie told me how it was done—and it’s never been better. The winding paths the film leads the audience down are near perfect, offering just enough clues to create a false sense of security before ripping it away with yet another twist. As Blanc himself states, it truly is an impossible crime. The mystery became so elaborate that I genuinely questioned my own memory of earlier scenes, accusing Josh O’Connor’s character an embarrassing number of times. This constant self-doubt is exactly what elevates the mystery and keeps the audience fully engaged until the very end.
Out of all three films, this one takes the longest to introduce Benoit Blanc, and yet it’s the best he’s ever been. The updated character design fits the film’s tone perfectly and makes Blanc feel like a more traditional detective. Daniel Craig delivers a stellar performance, rivaling—and in many moments surpassing—his work in the first film. While Blanc remains a standout, it’s Josh O’Connor’s Jud Duplenticy who truly steals the show. This was my first exposure to O’Connor’s work, and he absolutely knocked it out of the park. He convincingly portrays crippling guilt, anger, internal conflict, and religious devotion in a performance that is equal parts funny, serious, and deeply compelling. One of the film’s strongest scenes shifts from comedy to gravity within just a few lines, as Jud takes a call from a woman struggling with her deteriorating relationship with her elderly mother. The moment reminds us of his true motivations as a priest and leads into a powerful exchange with Blanc, culminating in the best line of the franchise: “And by using me in it, you’re setting me against my one and only purpose in life. Which is not to fight the wicked and bring them to justice, but to serve them and bring them to Christ.” It’s a moment that perfectly encapsulates the film’s thematic depth and emotional ambition.
In today’s world, religion is often weaponized and is used to shame others and justify cruelty. The central mystery revolves around the murder of Monsignor Wicks, a figure who weaponizes Christianity to spread dangerous and hateful rhetoric, at one point described as being powerful enough to “make him president” due to his online influence. Father Jud directly challenges him early on, arguing that Wicks represents himself rather than God, and that his actions distort the true faith. Rather than reducing religion to a caricature, the film treats it with nuance, showing both its potential for harm and its capacity for genuine compassion.
This film is also, without question, the best shot in the trilogy—a surprising achievement given its direct-to-Netflix release. With Netflix’s ongoing efforts to diminish theatrical experiences, combined with my discovering the film only days before its release, my expectations were extremely low. I anticipated a poorly lit, lazy sequel with a simpler plot than the second film, populated by actors collecting paychecks rather than delivering passion. What I got instead was a well directed, beautifully shot, and visually stunning movie that cranks everything about the previous films up to eleven. Every frame feels purposeful, reinforcing both the tension of the mystery and the emotional weight of its characters.
While this movie may seem perfect given my review thus far, it does have its faults, one of which was the pacing for me. As the plot got crazier and crazier, I felt like it was going too off the rails at points and began to really slow down, although looking back on it it’s most likely due to my own confusion and failure to comprehend the direction it was going in. That being said, I’d rate Wake Up Dead Man a 9/10 overall, making for a fantastic movie night with your family or if you’re looking for a good mystery to challenge your mind.