That’s the challenge facing Daniel Craig’s relentless detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man — the third film in Rian Johnson’s acclaimed Knives Out series. The highly anticipated Netflix film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it generated Oscar buzz and stellar reviews, currently holding a 96% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Many critics already hail it as the best Knives Out installment yet.
The Teaser & Plot
The teaser introduces a darker and more gothic mystery. Blanc is called to upstate New York, where he investigates the murder of a prominent cleric (Josh Brolin) inside a locked chamber of a small-town Catholic church. Every member of the congregation becomes a suspect, including Josh O’Connor, who plays the young priest that discovered the body and now teams up with Blanc to clear his name.
Director Rian Johnson emphasized that this film explores a darker, dramatic tone, unlike the lighter approaches of the first two movies. “The first was a cozy Agatha Christie-style mystery, the second a vacation blowout mystery, and this one goes back to the gothic roots of the genre, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe,” Johnson said.
Craig himself requested a more grounded and intense Knives Out experience, making Wake Up Dead Man a distinct entry in the trilogy.
The Cast
As expected, the film features an A-list ensemble:
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Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc
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Josh Brolin, Josh O’Connor
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Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner
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Mila Kunis, Andrew Scott, Thomas Haden Church, Cailee Spaeny
Release Date
Wake Up Dead Man opens in select theaters on November 26 before its global Netflix release on December 12.
Awards Buzz
The Knives Out franchise has a strong Academy Awards history: the first film earned a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, while Glass Onion scored a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay. This time, Wake Up Dead Man is predicted to follow suit, with Best Adapted Screenplay already on the radar.
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Glenn Close is also generating serious Best Supporting Actress buzz for her sharp, scene-stealing performance as a mysterious church marm. If nominated, this would mark her ninth Oscar nomination.
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The gothic production design, led by Rick Heinrichs, could land on the Academy’s shortlist for its haunting recreation of the church and overgrown grounds, which serve as an atmospheric “character” in the film.
With critical acclaim, box office anticipation, and Netflix’s awards push, Wake Up Dead Man is set to become the darkest and most acclaimed Knives Out film yet.
