Rian Johnson’s third “Knives Out” mystery is out in theaters and will soon be streaming on Netflix. As a pop culture complementary piece, “Wake Up Dead Man” finds itself in an old small town chapel run by a tyrannical monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, his newly transferred young Father Jud Duplenticy, played by Josh O’Connor, and the few remaining loyal Catholics who have yet to have enough of Wicks’ outlandish behavior.
With the last two movies in the series having an overarching commentary on the elite and wealthy, having the third change pace and instead talk about the shift of Christianity in the U.S. was a refreshing sight.
Wicks’ portrayal was so realistic that I could point out people I have known in my own life who scarily reminded me of him. The same goes for Father Jud — all characters are convincing and pull at you in some way.
To avoid spoilers, all I will say is the message is satisfying and hopeful in today’s divisive climate. Father Jud’s soft, optimistic view on the world and Christianity warms the heart even without the viewer needing to be religious.
Unlike the two previous films, Detective Benoit Blanc is introduced near the second half of the movie and not in the beginning. As a viewer, I enjoyed this switch up. Not only did it help ease me into the new setting and introduce the character connections smoothly, but it also broke the formula expected from these movies.
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Some of the music gets extremely loud at some points. Though it’s only for a moment and to get the audience’s attention, experiencing those moments in a theater is something I don’t particularly care for.
The score, despite some egregiously loud moments, was a perfect aid to the experience. With the movie taking place in an old church, the spotlight of oboes, organs, and cello coming out so strongly lay into the small town. The town had almost gothic scenery, minus gorgeously vivid color grading.
Camera angles were used phenomenally well. For a mystery movie, using the camera to your advantage to conceal information or keep the viewer searching is a must. Cinematographer Steve Yedlin holds no punches in experimenting with the camera. In a much later scene, a character slides down a muddy hill, staining the lens for only a moment with grass.
Such a messy shot is something I have personally only seen in videos by online creators. To have the ability to try new and creative shots was very refreshing to see.
While reflecting back on the movie, once the killer was revealed, little hints about who the murderer was popped up more and more. Rewatching the last film, “Glass Onion,” it was entertaining to see where the killer slipped up. On rewatch, I expect to find those same moments in “Wake Up Dead Man.”
After a suicide cover-up and an obvious killer in the past two movies, having many twists and turns to try to uncover the suspect is truly a fun time to be had.
No context is needed for “Wake Up Dead Man,” as all the “Knives Out” movies act as separate cases solved by Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig.
“Wake Up Dead Man” is currently still being shown in select theaters. But if the showing is too far or the snow is too high, it will be available to stream on Netflix starting Dec. 12.