The meticulous mind of mystery Writer/Director Rian Johnson fills his 3rd killer mystery with a cast to die for amid this filmmaker’s talent for misdirection and diversion. Pay close attention to the clues in this faith-based whodunnit laced with comedy, violence, some dark elements. and even some jump scares. No need to have seen the previous Knives Out films, although you should. This one works as a stand alone.
We spoke with Rian Johnson who revealed to us that although he grew up in a religious family, he is not religious now. But this film is all about faith and spirituality, secrets and truth. You see the famous dapper Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), Cajun accent and all, very briefly at the open of the film, but not again till much later after murder is committed … in church! Johnson named the film after the U2 song, Wake Up Dead Man, from their 1997 POP album. The song has Bono pleading with Jesus to come back and save humanity from itself.
Our interview with Rian Johnson done at Austin Film Festival coming soon where he talked about the religious theme, how he creates diversion and misdirection to keep the audience glued ,and that he hopes to do more sci-fy, not interested in using AI for filmmaking, but maybe as the subject of a mystery some day.
Josh O’Connor (The Crown, Challengers, The Mastermind) carries this film appearing on screen as Fr. Jud Duplenticy almost every minute. He has to be physical, funny, and frightened. He plays an honestly earnest priest, with innocent, soulful eyes, even though he was a former boxer who killed man in the ring. He still agonizes over it. Now he’s given the chance to redeem himself working in a small, bare and very odd church in Upstate New York, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. And you find out how it’s aptly named.
Bishop Langstrom (Jeffrey Wright) is sardonic and rye as he briefs the Rev. Duplenticy sarcastic lines about the ups and downs of this particular house of The Lord. Young Jud is innocent and passionate about being good and pious. But wait till you meet his superior, Msgr. Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), a blustery authoritarian, off-the-rails, difficult but charismatic character. Brolin lays everything out there, boldly using earthy language. He never hides his disdain. He’s balls out!
Jud’s first task is to take Wick’s explicit confession as he graphically lists sins including some crass, intimate details about himself coming from a man of the cloth. This introduction to the Monseignor brings nervous laughter from Jud as well as the audience. And wait till you meet the Monseignor’s loyal congregants.
Martha Delacroix, (Glenn Close) is Wick’s intense office manager who knows where the skeletons are buried. There is sordid history of the church and a MacGuffin. Glenn Close as Martha describes it in detail with steely eyes that are almost maniacal. She’s spellbinding.
Then there’s town Doctor, Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), sophisticated lawyer, Vera Draven, Esq, (Kerry Washington), her son, aspiring politician and influencer who runs around taking photos of every move with his camera, Cy Draven, (Daryl McCormack). Simone Vivane, is a disabled former cellist confined to a wheelchair, (Cailee Spaeny) and, at one time a best-selling mystery writer author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott). Always present, is the weird but quiet groundskeeper, Samson, (Thomas Haden Church). P.S. Even Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who had cameos in the two previous Knives Out films, has one here.
It takes the very-matter-of fact Chief of Police, Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis), to call for only the best detective to investigate when the dead body of Wicks is discovered during a service. “The Spirit is moving today.” Cool and calm Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finally shows up, fedora, accent and all, 45 minutes into the film to cheers from loyal Knives Out fans. They know this fabled detective is going to start postulating how to solve this crime. He takes Jud, the prime suspect, under his wing.
Everyone and everything seems to point the finger at the young Priest. Johnson keeps taking Blanc, and us, down blind alleys. Josh O’Connor wears his collar well in this film working with the famous Craig as Benoit Blanc in this Knives Out Mystery. Just know, it’s impossible to fall asleep watching Wake Up Dead Man.
Netflix 2 hours 20 minutes PG-13
In select theaters now. Streaming on Netflix December 12th.
