I have seen all three of the Knives Out films at the Toronto International Film Festival. These films always play well with the TIFF crowd, and I enjoy watching them on the big screen with an enthusiastic audience. In this third entry, Rian Johnson draws inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue and sets the film in a small town, centering the story at a local church. If you have seen any of the Knives Out films, you know the setup: a murder occurs, everyone becomes a suspect, and then Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) shows up to investigate.
After being disappointed by Glass Onion, I am glad to be back on board with the franchise thanks to this film. I loved the gothic setting and appreciated that the story felt tighter by focusing on Jud (Josh O’Connor) and Benoit. I felt more connected to these two characters and really enjoyed their sharp back-and-forth banter. Watching them go head-to-head in several scenes was a delight.
While the identity of the killer was fairly obvious, I did not see where the rest of the story was heading. This may be the twistiest of the three films. The script is filled with humor with plenty of jokes that are very meta. Daryl McCormack plays Cyrus, who is a business man and social media influencer. There are plenty of jokes poking fun at influencers and YouTubers. Johnson also uses the film to satirize the current administration, conservative ideology, and religion.
Daniel Craig once again steals the show, although this time around he has real competition from Josh O’Connor. Their chemistry and energy give the film the feel of a buddy-comedy whodunnit as Jud and Benoit team up to investigate the murder of Wicks (Josh Brolin). It is still hard to top the first film, but I can confidently say this is the best Benoit Blanc has ever been. Johnson expands on the character giving him additional layers as well as a completely new look and vibe.
Josh O’Connor, meanwhile, continues to prove himself as one of the most exciting actors working today. He was excellent in Challengers, but here the entire story revolves around Jud, and he shines in the role. Jud was a boxer in his past life and accidentally killed someone. This incident led him to dedicate his life to the church. As an antagonist, Jud is fascinating because he is so likable and yet he is despised by those around him. O’Connor balances charisma with a realistic down to earth approach, making Jud fun to watch while also giving the character some depth.
Johnson also makes strong use of the setting. The gothic church atmosphere is gorgeous, and he manages to make the church itself feel like a character. The film also showcases impressive cinematography and production design, and the score matches the setting of the film pretty much perfectly.
What did not work for me was Josh Brolin’s character. I know he was not meant to be likable, but his performance felt forced, over the top, and not nearly as funny or entertaining as Johnson intended. I do think Brolin was miscast in this role.
I also felt much of the supporting cast was wasted. In the first Knives Out, every actor had a standout moment. In Glass Onion, some were underutilized, but at least a few had the chance to shine. Here, only Josh O’Connor and Daniel Craig truly stood out. The rest of the cast felt underwritten and underused, which is surprising given the caliber of talent. Glenn Close plays a pivotal role, but the character is not memorable, and her performance as much as I hate to say it felt like she was hamming it up a bit too much. Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Cailee Spaeny, and Jeremy Renner all do their best but are given very little material.
At least Josh Brolin and Daryl McCormack were given meatier roles, even if I did not enjoy their performances. They had more to work with than the rest of the supporting players. Andrew Scott, who could have been a highlight, is also sidelined, though I did enjoy his arc as he pursues a career as a right-wing author. Jeffrey Wright, in a brief role, delivers the best supporting performance of the bunch. He only appears in two scenes but completely nails both.
Johnson deserves credit for keeping the franchise fresh with each new chapter. By narrowing the focus to two leads and tailoring the tone to the setting, he proves the series still has plenty of life. If a fourth film happens, I would love to see it break away from the massive ensemble format, perhaps introducing characters one by one rather than all at once. That shift could help mix up the formula. I also like the idea of a standalone Benoit Blanc story, maybe even an origin story.
Even with its flaws, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is an absolute blast. This is a film that is consistently entertaining and plays like gangbusters with a packed crowd. While I know that this film will have a limited release before debuting on Netflix, I do think this is one to seek out and see in a theater if you can. Like the previous films, it benefits enormously from a crowd and heightens the joy of the whodunnit experience.
Grade: 7/10
Awards Buzz: For above the line, I think nominations for cast ensemble and screenplay are possible. For below-the-line, production design seems the most likely.
