Reviewed on 9th September at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival –Special Presentations, 140 Mins.
Cast: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director: Rian Johnson
In Irish Cinemas: 26th November 2025
On Netflix: 12th December 2025
Jud Duplenticy, newly ordained and eager to leave behind a violent past, enters the Catholic priesthood with renewed purpose. Embracing the teachings of Jesus with fresh conviction, he hopes to dedicate himself fully to evangelisation. Seeing this zeal, Bishop Langstrom assigns Father Duplenticy to the fading parish of Chimney Rock, where Monsieur Jefferson Wicks has long presided over a dwindling congregation. Rather than welcoming help, Wicks views the young priest as a rival.
Upon arriving, Father Duplenticy quickly senses a struggle over the community’s spiritual direction. Wicks maintains an unsettling hold over several parishioners: Dr Nat Sharp seeks guidance to repair his fractured marriage; writer Lee Ross hopes for the spark that will revive his creative energy; Simone Vivane longs for healing from a mysterious neurological illness; and Cy Draven desperately pushes for a political breakthrough. Duplenticy fears each of them is being quietly used and swayed by Wicks.
When a parishioner is suddenly murdered, hidden sins within the church rise sharply to the surface, and suspicion falls squarely on Father Duplenticy. With his faith under immense pressure, he receives unexpected help in clearing his name from none other than Detective Benoit Blanc.
Wake Up, Dead Man brings all the trademarks of a classic Knives Out mystery: a lively ensemble, a twist-filled plot, and Daniel Craig revelling in the role of Benoit Blanc. True to the series’ spirit, the film delivers a tightly constructed whodunit while introducing a surprisingly weighty exploration of faith.
The film presents a remarkably thoughtful look at religion, particularly through Duplenticy’s heartfelt reflections on spiritual life and the true mission of the church. One standout moment occurs during a frantic chase for the killer: a talkative woman on the phone abruptly asks, “Father, pray for me.” Duplenticy halts mid-stride, listening as she opens up about her ailing mother. Even Blanc pauses the pursuit as the priest shifts into pastoral care. The emotional honesty of the scene is unusual for a Hollywood mystery, but it speaks profoundly to both characters.
Despite its religious themes, the film allows for differing worldviews. Blanc, openly atheist (and, as hinted previously, gay), shares candid opinions about scripture and the institution of the church. He and Duplenticy stand on opposite ends of belief, yet treat each other with genuine respect. Their conversations offer a nuanced example of how people with opposing convictions can still engage meaningfully and even grow through the exchange.
Josh O’Connor anchors the cast as Father Duplenticy, delivering a performance layered with humour, complexity, and sincerity. His chemistry with Daniel Craig is sharp and engaging, with both actors meeting each other’s energy effortlessly. Josh Brolin brings compelling force to the role of Wicks, making the character’s manipulations easy to despise. Glenn Close shines as Martha Delacroix, the stalwart elder who keeps the parish from collapsing. Jeremy Renner brings charm and frustration to Dr Sharp, while Andrew Scott adds delightful comic flair as burned-out sci-fi author Lee Ross.
The story is filled with the expected misdirections and surprises that define the Knives Out franchise, and it remains fully accessible to newcomers. However, its balanced approach to religion does not extend to politics. Conservatives become frequent targets of the film’s satire, while liberal ideologies go largely unmocked. Wicks uses his pulpit to feed division and inflate his own ego. Cy Draven weaponises social media to promote his image as an emerging Republican star—without the same level of scrutiny of the opposing side.
Pacing presents occasional issues. The setup leading to the murder stretches longer than necessary, and Blanc’s introduction arrives later than fans may expect. Even after his appearance, some sequences linger more than they need to. While the religious commentary is thoughtful, certain moments could have been trimmed without losing their impact.
Though the ensemble is strong across the board, a few performers feel notably underused, with details best left unmentioned to avoid revealing key plot twists. While Knives Out and Glass Onion may remain the more memorable entries, Wake Up, Dead Man still offers a compelling mystery that should please fans of Benoit Blanc’s investigations and lovers of classic whodunits alike.
Overall: 7/10
Movie Reviewer
