REVIEW: ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Solidifies ‘Knives Out’ As One Of The Best Franchises In Hollywood
- Kevin Verma
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Rian Johnson is back with the third installment in the Knives Out franchise, titled Wake Up Dead Man. Following the success of Knives Out and Glass Onion, this third Benoit Blanc outing takes the franchise in a bold new direction, weaving gothic influences, religious symbolism, and classic locked-room mystery tropes into something both familiar and startlingly fresh. The result is a film that is arguably the best of the series so far, and certainly the most daring.
Johnson returns once again to write and direct this one and just like its predecessors, it premiered at TIFF. This time the ensemble includes Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack apart from Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. Wake Up Dead Man slyly subverts all the expectations. Rian Johnson has proven once again that he is one of the most talented, inventive, and reliable filmmakers working today.
One of the most striking differences this time around is tone. Where Knives Out dissected class and Glass Onion skewered tech billionaires, Wake Up Dead Man turns its razor-sharp commentary toward religion, death, and greed. These weighty themes give the film an added resonance, elevating it beyond puzzle-box entertainment into something richer and more unsettling. Johnson still delivers the clever twists and crowd-pleasing humor fans expect, but he layers them within a darker, more haunting atmosphere that also offers thriller and at times even horror elements.
The ensemble cast is once again filled with big names, though less thoroughly explored than in past entries. Johnson chooses instead to focus his attention on Josh O’Connor, who takes on the largest supporting role the franchise has yet seen. O’Connor delivers a complex, unpredictable performance that anchors much of the story and adds a fascinating foil to Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. When Blanc does eventually make his entrance — after a deliberately patient buildup — his arrival electrifies the screen. Craig has never been better in the role. Here, we see new shades of the detective, but while being as witty and clever as ever. His charisma, comic timing, and razor-sharp delivery once again remind us why Blanc has quickly become one of cinema’s most beloved detectives.
On a technical level, Wake Up Dead Man dazzles. The production design is the most ambitious of the franchise, draped in gothic flourishes that perfectly echo the film’s themes. Costumes, from Blanc’s impeccable wardrobe to the more eccentric ensembles of the suspects, are equally memorable. The cinematography and lighting are exquisite — Johnson and his team play with shadows, reflections and confined spaces in ways that continually trick the audience. It is also one of the most unpredictable and cleverly constructed mysteries Johnson has ever staged.
Perhaps the film’s greatest achievement is its balance of homage and originality. With nods to classic locked-door mysteries, Johnson tips his hat to the genre’s traditions while still crafting something thrillingly modern. Watching it with an audience only enhances the experience: the gasps, laughs, and collective tension transform the film into an event. It’s no wonder the film placed as second runner-up at TIFF 2025 — a strong sign of its awards season potential, with even a Best Picture nomination not out of reach.
Wake Up Dead Man is a thoroughly engaging whodunit that is a worthy successor and, in many ways, superior to its predecessor. Rian Johnson delivers his most complex yet interesting entry in the franchise, solidifying Knives Out as one of the most consistent and rewarding franchises in modern cinema. It is the year’s best murder mystery and a bold reminder that Benoit Blanc is one of the most entertaining detectives in Hollywood.
Rating: ★★★★☆
About Wake Up Dead Man
Premiere Date:Â December 12, 2025
Writer: Rian Johnson
Director: Rian Johnson
Production: T-Street Productions, Ram Bergman Productions
Distribution:Â Netflix
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack.
Synopsis: Benoit Blanc returns for his most dangerous case yet.