While “Glass Onion” may not have lived up to the high expectations set by “Knives Out”—leaning more toward bigger spectacle than better storytelling—it still served as a well-earned victory lap. Writer-director Rian Johnson’s 2019 whodunnit revived the star-studded, clever fun of ’70s and ’80s mysteries, a genre that once thrived with frequent releases. It became a surprise hit, earning nearly eight times its budget worldwide. In contrast, Kenneth Branagh’s earlier Poirot revivals, though commercially successful, felt dated and miscast, failing to inject the genre with fresh excitement.
Johnson’s third film, “Wake Up Dead Man,” is the second installment in his Netflix deal—reportedly worth $450 million—and arrives as the whodunnit genre nears saturation, especially on the small screen. Despite the abundance of murder mysteries involving suspiciously perfect couples and strangers, none have matched the sharp, lively fun Johnson delivered originally. The first “Knives Out” premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to one of the most buzzed-about audience reactions I’ve seen, and that thrill returns with this latest chapter. It’s a roaring comeback that confidently steers the series back on track with plenty of room to grow.
In his introduction, Johnson highlighted the versatility of whodunnits. While this film again gathers famous faces under suspicion from Daniel Craig’s detective Benoit Blanc, Johnson described it as a gothic tale inspired by Edgar Allan Poe and John Dickson Carr—a darker, stormier contrast to “Glass Onion’s” sunny vibe.
This time, Craig is joined by Josh O’Connor, who plays Jud, a boxer-turned-priest assigned to work under a controversial small-town priest portrayed by Josh Brolin. Jud is one of the few who sees through the priest’s cruel demeanor, making him the prime suspect when the priest is mysteriously killed. Teaming up with Benoit, Jud must unravel what seems an unsolvable crime.
O’Connor is supported by newcomers Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Cailee Spaeny, Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, and Jeremy Renner—thankfully not playing himself, avoiding a repeat of “Glass Onion’s” weak hot sauce joke.
What dampened my enjoyment of the second film and limited its rewatchability was Johnson’s overreliance on internet trends, likely influenced by the first film’s success. The humor often felt tailored for an overly online audience—somewhat excusable as a COVID-era film, but still distracting. Strangely, the same approach seems to have improved the third installment, but this time Johnson appears to have learned from the criticism of “Glass Onion.” The excess, cameos, and smugness are gone, replaced by a refocus on storytelling fundamentals. The plot remains twisty and layered, but it feels elegantly constructed like the original, building to a finale that leaves viewers smiling.
In the first “Knives Out,” Johnson’s online sensibility was used sparingly and smartly to update a classic format. Here, it’s employed more extensively but with greater purpose.Here, but in ways that feel just as carefully considered. Without clumsily turning it into the Knives Out film we might expect, Johnson takes aim at the rising religious hypocrisy of the far right and how blind faith is twisted to prop up leaders more focused on selfish power than genuine good. The shadow of Trump clearly hangs over Brolin’s vile, destructive parish head, whose double standards and hateful rhetoric do nothing to weaken the unwavering support of his followers. While we’ve seen plenty of blunt attacks on a president who’s almost beyond parody—often making the left seem smug and ineffective—Johnson’s jabs here are woven into the story in a way that feels organic. To those paying attention, his targets are clear, but they’re integrated so they serve the plot. This time, his knives are out for bigots, charlatans, opportunists, and YouTubers—targets that make it easy to cheer when he draws blood.
Craig feels just as re-energized as Johnson, avoiding the risk of parody that hovered over Glass Onion. The script finds fresh ways to add depth and discovery to his character. While not every new cast member gets enough time to shine (Spaeny feels particularly shortchanged), there are no weak performances. Close and Washington are clearly having fun, and O’Connor stands out, fully confirming his leading man status.
Set in upstate New York but filmed in the UK, parts of the movie occasionally feel a bit too stagey and artificial. It doesn’t suffer from the typical Netflix gloss, but it lacks some of the authenticity of old studio films. That’s a minor complaint, though, when the streamer is funding a series that has clearly found its stride again. There’s plenty of fun to be had, with surprises at every turn—a franchise fully awakened.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is screening at the Toronto Film Festival and will be released in theaters on November 26, followed by its Netflix debut on December 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Wake Up Dead Man A Knives Out Mystery Review
General Questions
Q What is Wake Up Dead Man A Knives Out Mystery
A Its the third movie in the popular Knives Out mystery series known for its clever whodunnit plots and fun twists
Q Is this movie a sequel or standalone
A Its part of the Knives Out series but features a new mystery and characters so you can enjoy it even if you havent seen the others
Q Who directed Wake Up Dead Man
A It was directed by Rian Johnson who also directed the previous Knives Out films
Q Whats the basic plot of this movie
A Without spoilers it involves a murder mystery with a quirky detective solving the case among a group of suspicious characters
Review and Quality
Q Is Wake Up Dead Man as good as the previous movies
A According to reviews yesits described as murderously good fun and maintains the series high standards
Q What makes this movie enjoyable
A It combines humor suspense clever writing and engaging characters making it entertaining for mystery fans
Q Are there any standout performances
A Reviews often praise the ensemble cast though specifics depend on the actors involvedexpect strong and fun character portrayals
Q Is the ending satisfying
A Yes reviewers note that the mystery wraps up in a clever and satisfying way typical of Rian Johnsons style
Viewer Tips and Recommendations
Q Do I need to watch the previous Knives Out movies first
A No each film tells a separate story so you can jump right in However watching the others might enhance your appreciation of the style
Q What age group is this movie suitable for
A Its generally rated for teens and adults due to mystery themes and some mild language or suspensecheck the official rating for details
Q How long is the movie
A Runtime is typically around 2 hours similar to the previous films in the series
Q Any tips for enjoying it more
A
