After turning the world of mystery cinema on its head with Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022), Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Rian Johnson is back with his third installment of the Knives Out franchise: Wake Up Dead Man. This time, the enigmatic detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) takes a personal journey through faith, belief, and morality, all set within the hallowed, atmospheric walls of a Gothic church. And as always, Johnson is subverting the genre in a way only he can.
A Return to Genre Roots
While Glass Onion took aim at tech excess, Wake Up Dead Man returns to the heart of the genre, drawing on the literary tradition of Edgar Allan Poe and classic whodunnits. Set in an old church and surrounded by graveyards, the film features atmospheric cinematography by Steve Yedlin that amplifies its moody, Gothic tone. “It’s grounded and gothic,” says Johnson, who’s bringing a more somber and reflective edge to Blanc’s latest adventure.
The story centers on Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a young priest grappling with a crisis of faith, who becomes the emotional core of the mystery. Blanc remains the key detective, but Johnson points out that Wake Up Dead Man isn’t “just about Blanc” — it’s Jud’s journey that carries the stakes.
Faith, Guilt, and Mystery
The religious setting provides fertile ground for exploring guilt and moral conflict. Johnson, whose own views on faith shape the narrative, sees this as an opportunity to explore how personal beliefs intersect with larger cultural issues. “Themes of guilt, mystery, and fallible humanity feel right at home in a church,” Johnson explains. As Blanc puts it, the murder might “look like a miracle,” but it’s a puzzle he’s determined to solve.
A Star-Studded Cast
In true Knives Out fashion, the ensemble cast is top-tier. Alongside Craig and O’Connor, the film features Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, and Jeremy Renner. Johnson credits the film’s success to the chemistry between the actors: “Every day on set was a blink moment — we got these people together, and the magic just happens.”
Wake Up Dead Man will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 and open the BFI London Film Festival on October 8. It arrives in select UK cinemas on November 28, before streaming globally on Netflix on December 12.
With this latest film, Johnson continues to redefine the genre, keeping audiences on their toes while delving deeper into what makes us believe — or doubt — in the first place…
