“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” the third film in Rian Johnson’s mystery series, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2025, to strong reviews that highlight its darker tone and Gothic elements while maintaining the franchise’s signature humor.
The film trades the sunny settings of previous entries for a small church parish in upstate New York, where Daniel Craig returns as detective Benoit Blanc to solve what critics describe as an “impossible crime” – a murder that occurs in a church closet during a Good Friday service.
Josh O’Connor, known for his dramatic roles, has surprised critics with his comedic talents as Father Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned priest who becomes Blanc’s unlikely partner in solving the case. O’Connor’s character arrives at Our Lady of Perpetual Grace to assist Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, described by Variety as “a beady-eyed threat in a cassock who has his flock under a spell.”
Unlike the more campy “Glass Onion,” this installment leans into Gothic mystery traditions while exploring themes of faith versus rationality. Critics note that despite its darker tone, the film may be “the funniest and most playful” entry yet, balancing intrigue with humor.
“It’s a lavish gothic that’s also trying for something grander than the first ‘Knives Out,'” writes Owen Gleiberman of Variety, adding that it’s “more rooted and organic than ‘Glass Onion.'”
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The impressive ensemble cast includes Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church. Many play members of Monsignor Wicks’ congregation, described as “embittered petty egomaniacs” with complex backstories.
Several reviews highlight the film’s political undertones, with some critics reading Monsignor Wicks as a “symbolic Trump figure and his followers as committed true believers.” The story has been praised for weaving together themes of “sin, guilt, greed, and God” while maintaining its core appeal as an entertaining whodunit.
At 144 minutes (2 hours and 24 minutes), the film is substantial but has been commended for its pacing and cleverness. Cinematographer Steve Yedlin, editor Bob Ducsay, and composer Nathan Johnson round out the key creative team under Johnson’s direction.
TheWrap’s Chase Hutchinson praised O’Connor’s performance, noting he “brings a genuine amount of grace to a film that ends up becoming precisely about that,” calling it Johnson’s “most elaborate murder mystery movie yet, but also his most emotional.”
During the TIFF Q&A, director Rian Johnson framed the film as a “back to church” experience, referencing his personal history with religion while emphasizing entertainment over puzzle-solving. Daniel Craig also expressed willingness to continue playing Blanc “if Johnson keeps writing them,” suggesting a future for the franchise.
“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will have a limited theatrical release starting November 26, 2025, before streaming on Netflix beginning December 12, 2025, positioned within the awards season window.
As Caryn James of BBC writes, “Johnson walks a perfectly balanced line as he borrows old tropes and adapts them,” creating what Variety calls “an enticingly clever and droll, nearly pitch-perfect piece of murder-mystery fun.”
