A deteriorating Gothic cathedral with stone walls, haunted by a dark past. What a perfect place to commit an unsolvable murder. 

This is the challenge for Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s film Wake Up Dead Man, the newest addition to the Knives Out franchise, streaming now on Netflix.

The official synopsis of the movie follows: “A baffling death inside a quiet church draws Benoit Blanc into a tense investigation where faith, secrets, and suspicion blur as a close community turns against itself.”

Johnson has written and directed all three of these standalone modern-day whodunits. The only connection between these mysteries is the reappearance of Benoit Blanc. 

Knives Out was a certified hit with fans and critics alike. Johnson’s follow-up, The Glass Onion, was a small step back. 

So, where does Wake Up Dead Man fall? Does the new film allow for a future resurrection of the series, or is this the end for Benoit Blanc? 

So, without further ado, it’s showtime, folks.

The Plot

I know what you are thinking: this is yet another cliché murder mystery. You’ve seen them all before. Hell, Johnson has already made two of them.

But Wake Up Dead Man elevates the genre.

Every installment in the franchise is political, but Johnson has a way of using social commentary without it being slapped in your face. In this film, Johnson uses a secluded church to comment on moral authority.

The fictional Catholic church in the film, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, and all of its core members, find different ways to claim moral authority. They use the lord’s name not to connect with thy neighbors but to frighten them into submission. 

The congregation is manipulated by a wicked man who claims to be a righteous and holy savior. Now, who does this sound like? 

A new priest enters the fold and tries to bring Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude back to the glory of God. Things take a turn when a murder is committed on holy ground on Good Friday. 

The perplexing crime leaves the local police with no choice but to call none other than Private Detective Benoit Blanc. 

Sins of the past, modern-day sinners, and a crime only the devil could be responsible for make this an enticing plot that audiences are sure to be enthralled with.

Highlight Performances

Daniel Craig’s performance as Benoit Blanc is still the highlight of these films. 

With his third outing as the character, Craig has mastered the portrayal of Blanc. Blanc’s southern charm, wardrobe, and dramatic tendencies draw audiences in once again. 

Blanc can go from delivering comedic lines like “Scooby Dooby Doo” and playing the theme from The Phantom of the Opera to delivering a dramatic sermon at the film’s denouement. 

One thing is clear: when watching the movie, I no longer saw the man who played James Bond. Craig has fully committed to this Kentucky-fried monologuing private detective.

With every new film in the franchise, Blanc has his own Robin. In Knives Out, there was Ana De Armas as Marta Cabrera. In The Glass Onion, there was Janelle Monáe, who played Helen Brand. In this film, Josh O’Connor takes up the mantle with his portrayal of Fr. Jud Duplenticy. 

Fr. Jud is the type of neck-tattooed priest that Millikin’s Newman Catholic would be lucky to have. 

O’Connor portrays a boxer-turned-priest who is an outsider to the congregation. Johnson wrote this character to counter the religious zealots of the Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. 

Fr. Jud is a sinner, but unlike the others, he admits his faults. The character exists in this morally gray area, fighting his own demons, yet even in his worst hours, he finds time to help others.

Then, when it was finally revealed who the killer was, I was astonished. 

The killer delivered an elegant yet brutal performance. It was an outstanding scene that will surely become a staple of the franchise. 

The Shortcomings

It wouldn’t be a Knives Out film without a stacked cast. 

The main cast consists of Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Darly McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. 

What’s the problem with having a star-studded cast like this? 

There is only so much screen time. 

Some of these great actors feel wasted, like Kerry Washington, who really only had two worthwhile scenes in the movie. 

The Verdict

Rian Johnson has been redeemed. 

Wake Up Dead Man is an instant hit. Although nothing can top the first film, Wake Up Dead Man is the follow-up we deserved. 

Johnson’s directing and writing shine throughout the film. 

The Catholic aesthetic fits the franchise’s tone to perfection. The character of Benoit Blanc should be cemented with the other great sleuth solvers like Hercule Poirot and Phillip Marlowe. 

Rian Johnson has proven that this classic genre still has room to surprise audiences.

So if you decide to watch Wake Up Dead Man, grab your popcorn and get comfy, because you’re in for some twists and turns.