Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives out Mystery

Synopsis: 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.

Movie Review: 

"Wake Up Dead: A Knives Out Mystery" is once again directed by Rian Johnson, marking the third installment in his captivating murder mystery series that I absolutely adore. He has crafted another intriguing mystery filled with twists and turns that are truly satisfying. The humor is both funny and has a darker edge, incorporating religious and political commentary that works well, making this a significant improvement over the second film. Daniel Craig reprises his role as Benoit Blanc, the iconic private detective, and he shines once more with his amusing, quirky southern accent and charming demeanor, which makes him the smartest person in the room. It's always a joy to see him on screen. However, the downside is that his character feels the least developed in this film compared to the previous two, which was a bit disappointing. Josh O'Connor takes on the role of Jud Duplenticy, a young priest who really steals the spotlight as this naive, ambitious priest who aims to be kind, loving, and caring, making him incredibly likable and easy to root for. He is the most well-rounded character, well-written and fully developed. His chemistry with Detective Blanc is fantastic, with their witty banter and hilarious humor making me fall in love with their characters. Glenn Close portrays Martha Delacroix, another scene-stealer, delivering a fantastic performance as an obsessive woman determined to care for the church, adding a funny and silly touch. Josh Brolin plays the head priest, giving an outstanding performance as a corrupt, greedy man driven by hate and guilt, making him quite unlikable at times. The talented supporting cast, including Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, and Thomas Hayden Church, all deliver wonderful performances as residents of this small town, each grappling with their own demons. I wish they had more screen time because they were all such intriguing characters. The only character I didn't care for was Daryl Mccormack as Cy Draven, a failed politician who came off as unlikable, and I just didn't connect with his storyline.  Even though there are a few issues with the storyline, the intriguing mystery wraps up nicely. Rian Johnson has done it again! I'm giving "Wake Up Dead Man: a Knives Out Mystery" a solid 4.5 out of 5.

Director: Rian Johnson 

Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O”Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jermey Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaney, Daryl McCormack with Thomas Haden Church and Jeffrey Wright 

Runtime: 145 Minutes