Review: Wake Up Dead Man

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Official Synopsis: Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for his most dangerous case yet.

Back in 2019 Writer/Director Rian Johnson gave us an all-timer character in Southern Sleuth Benoit Blanc. Now he completes his whodunnit trilogy with a harsh take on those who pervert religion as we follow along Jud, (Josh O'Connor) a preacher who is moved to a church run by a man who isn't exactly the most exemplary person of faith. (Josh Brolin)

The humor in this films is much more in line with Knives Out than Glass Onion. It's more subtle, but it still hits every mark. There's a sight gag at a morgue that absolutely sent me. But as far as the themes, this is probably the most critical Johnson has gotten yet. He challenges those who use Christianity as a tool to hate, and how easily others can be manipulated by that. I think the film treads very carefully in showing these hypocrisies while also not looking down on anyone who believes in the teachings of Christ. It gave me a lot to think about. I suppose I can add it to my "Favorite movies about Christianity" list, which was just Dogma and Simon Birch if you squint until now.

Josh O'Connor makes for a fantastic main character, and I daresay he's the strongest lead that we've had in any of the Knives Out movies. When the film is well into its second act, there's a scene between him and Bridget Everett (side note, I need to start Somebody Somewhere asap) that is so sweet and sincere that it kind of threw me off in a way. I'm cynical enough by nature as it is, and I had already spent over an hour with a bunch of questionable characters, and the kindness involved in this scene just moved me. It's not sappy, it's just sweet.

Daniel Craig is still having a good time. I hope he loves playing Blanc as much as we all love watching him. I think some will be split on the amount of exposition here. I think the way the story was told worked, but my husband didn't care for it at all. If I had to rank the three films, this would be #2 after Knives Out. Johnson never needed to top his original though. He just needed to keep entertaining us. 

Grade: B

Comments

  1. thevoid99December 16, 2025 at 2:34 PM

    Any film that takes a shit over Christianity is cool with me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. SJHoneywellDecember 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM

    You and I rank these movies the same way. It's a real step up from Glass Onion. I also agree with you on Josh O'Connor. He's not just the strongest of the non-Blanc main characters, he's also easily the most likeable.

    ReplyDelete

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