Eccentric detective Benoit Blanc returns in Rian Johnson’s third “Knives Out Mystery,” Wake Up Dead Man (2025). Eliminating the blemishes of Glass Onion, this one delivers first-rate comic mystery, shifting from the series’ usual target — obscene wealth — to a new one: the religious right.
Wake Up Dead Man focuses on Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a former boxer turned priest. Duplenticy’s ordeal begins when he is reassigned to work under Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), whose flock has been shrinking under the withering barrage of his judgmental sermons. Duplenticy quickly makes an enemy of Wicks, whose combative approach to shaping his flock into radicalized “soldiers” puts him at odds with Duplenticy’s genuine good nature. This rivalry makes Duplenticy the prime suspect when Wicks is shockingly murdered, mid-service, in a confounding “locked-room” manner. Wicks’ motley crew of core faithful are quick to point the finger at him, but fortunately the legendary mystery-solver Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called in to untangle the threads and identify the true culprit.
With its clever plot, high-powered ensemble, and quirky sense of humor, Wake Up Dead Man possesses the series’ familiar strengths, without the on-the-nose messaging and production indulgences that marred the first sequel. The stellar suspect list — which includes Glenn Close, Daryl McCormack, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeney, and Kerry Washington — is considerably less scene-stealy than that of Glass Onion, but everyone is quite effective. Instead, it’s O’Connor who sustains the narrative momentum, sliding comfortably into the Blanc-ally slot previously occupied by Ana de Armas and Janelle Monae. Providing a centering presence, he is equally good with the comedic and emotional aspects of his role, making for the most nuanced and interesting “protagonist” in the series so far. Given Glass Onion’s market-driven feel and clusmier elements, I had doubts about the sustainability of this franhchise, but now I’m excited to see it (hopefully) continue.
