Daniel Craig returns as the master detective Benoit Blanc in the third instalment of Rian Johnson's Knives Out franchise, Wake Up Dead Man. The film, set in the eerie village of Chimney Rock, introduces Josh O'Connor as Father Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned priest who nearly steals the show with his sharp comic timing. O'Connor's performance, alongside a stellar cast including Josh Brolin as the fiery Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, brings a darker yet more playful tone to the series.
The mystery unfolds in a neo-Gothic church and its adjacent graveyard, a setting reminiscent of an Agatha Christie novel. Johnson explores deeper themes of guilt and haunting, drawing inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe. The film balances irreverent dialogue and literary allusions, with a touch of meta-humour, including rude graffiti on a mausoleum. Blanc, more dapper than ever, enlists Father Jud's help in solving the Good Friday murder, weaving through a plot full of red herrings and duplicity.
Glenn Close stands out as Martha, the devoted church accountant, with an entrance that channels Mrs Danvers from Hitchcock's Rebecca. The cast also includes Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott, each playing characters with hidden motives. The religious setting opens up possibilities of the supernatural, challenging Blanc's rationality, and offers numerous confessions, both honest and deceitful. At over two hours, the film feels slightly long, but its sharp wit and engaging mystery make it a worthy addition to the franchise.
