Wake Up Dead Man Review: A Dark and Brooding Whodunit With Pacing Issues

Wake Up Dead Man Review: When the controversial priest turns up dead in a small town, Benoit Blanc is called in once more to solve the mystery once more.

The film, the third instalment of the Knives Out franchise, has a runtime of 146 minutes.

Wake Up Dead Man Review

In this Netflix film, a young priest finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation when the controversial priest he’s shadowing turns up dead. Shifting gears from the quirky, light-hearted vibes of the previous instalments to a more gothic vibe in this film, Wake Up Dead Man feels like an old-timey mystery thriller that we all love to watch unfold. The film takes place in the cold, echoing halls of a church, and the mood conveyed is perfect for the story that it tries to tell.

If you love locked-room mysteries, then this film will be right up your alley. Following a group of people with their unique eccentricities, all battling their own demons, who come under scrutiny for the murder of Jefferson Wicks, the film does a good job of following a winding path where every road leads to corruption.

The characters are the most important part of these films, and that’s what made the first two films of the franchise so juicy and tight. In this instalment as well, viewers are given a host of interesting characters to watch, but the film mostly focuses on the two priests who butt heads at every given possibility. Josh O’Connor, as Rev. Jud Duplenticy, is a revelation in the film as he adds depth and vulnerability to the story. He’s great in his role, as is Josh Brolin, whose unhinged Msgr. Wicks will make you uncomfortable.

Of course, Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc and is as charismatic and witty as ever. It’s always a fun time watching him portray this character with his Southern accent, solving crime with his sharp detective instincts that anchor the story. The film’s main focus is the two’s push and pull, and bringing out different facets of Jud’s character and his moral dilemmas.

Moreover, this isn’t just another whodunit and, rather, focuses more on ambiguous themes and deeper moral undercurrents. It explores faith, power, morality and the complicated relationship between belief and institutional authority. These themes take the story beyond just being another murder-mystery and give the story gravitas.

However, at 146 minutes, the film is entirely too long and the mystery too spaced out to hold on to an impact. This film isn’t like the previous two instalments, in that it doesn’t hold on to the fun, quirky vibe and is less humorous than its predecessors. The heavier tone isn’t a problem, but it definitely does take away from the enjoyment I felt while watching the other two movies. It’s also easier to hide slower moments with humour, and that’s missing in this film, which makes it sluggish in a lot of places.

The final revelation is interesting, with a dose of morality to give it an interesting twist and make us question everyone’s motives. Moreover, I think the film also doesn’t fully utilise all the supporting characters, which is a shame. A lot of them are just there for the sake of it and don’t serve any purpose. In the end, the third film asks some heavy questions and swaps out glamour for grit, which was a very engaging part of the first two films. It’s not a bad change, but it definitely doesn’t have enough humorous moments to balance out the seriousness.

Final Thoughts

Wake Up Dead Man is an interesting discussion surrounding faith, manipulation and the follies of man. However, if you’re going into it expecting a classic Knives Out Mystery, then you might find yourself a bit disappointed. Overall, I think this is a fun watch, but it does make you miss the charm of the previous films in a way.

What are your thoughts on Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery? Let us know in the comments below!

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