‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Review: Daniel Craig stars in dark, fun ‘Knives Out’ sequel

There’s nothing like a good murder mystery. It is perhaps the only genre that involves mental multitasking; absorbing what is going on in front of you and at the same time trying to jump forward and figure it out for yourself.

That’s what makes the “Knives Out” film series, which successfully reinvigorated the niche genre in 2019, so entertaining. Viewers can expect three things from every episode: laughter, surprises, and a great cast. And Netflix’s “Wake the Dead Man: A Knife Out Mystery” nails it.

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, a detective with southern charm and an accent that would make Foghorn Leghorn blush. His newest case takes him to upstate New York, to the fictional small town of Chimney Rock, specifically the church run by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).

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Wicks can be charismatic one moment and scary the next. His fiery, anger-fueled sermons could easily dissuade would-be parishioners, but he retains a small group of parishioners: loyal right-hand woman Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), gardener Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church), town doctor Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), uptight lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), virus-hungry adopted son Cy (Daryl McCormack), bestselling author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), and disabled concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny).

The arrival of Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a former boxer trying to find his way in the priesthood, shakes the church. Wicks isn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet; The young nun says “Welcome” Mine church.”—and his aides aren’t being too kind to him, either.

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(L-R) Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Kerry Washington, Thomas Haden Church, Glenn Close and Daryl McCormack, “Wake the Dead Man: A Knife Out Mystery.” (John Wilson/Netflix © 2025)

Tensions rise, yada yada yada — Wicks dies. Well, didn’t you know this? They all had valid reasons to kill him. It’s up to Detective Blanc to find out who did it, with the help of Pastor Jud and police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis).

“Wake Up Dead Man,” the third installment in the “Knives Out” saga, is definitely the darkest of the three films, but still provides plenty of hilarity throughout. It marks an improvement over 2022’s slightly but wildly silly “Glass Onion,” but the freshness of Blanc’s first mystery is hard to come by.

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Josh Brolin in “Wake the Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” (John Wilson/Netflix © 2025)

Writer-director Rian Johnson, who helmed all three “Knives Out” movies, does a great job of creating a universe that combines intensity and absurdity. The series’ star detective doesn’t even delve into the plot until roughly 35 minutes into the film, giving Johnson time to set the tone with a bleak backstory and accurate introductions of the murder victims and suspects. She truly becomes our generation’s Agatha Christie.

It’s clear that Craig is having fun playing Blanc, a funny and perhaps a little over-dramatic detective. But the real MVP of the cast goes to rising star O’Connor, who pours his heart into “Dead Man” as the earnest rookie priest who serves as Blanc’s Watson in his investigation. Brolin and Close also deserve honorable mention for their performances.

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(L-R) Andrew Scott, Mila Kunis, Daryl McCormack, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington and Cailee Spaeny in “Wake the Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”

Decision:

“Wake Up Dead Man” is a powerful, gothic spin on the “Knives Out” franchise, making it one of Netflix’s best movie franchises. Johnson “Whodunit?” He mastered his art. With the help of Craig and his witty cast of characters. If you missed it in the movies, start warming up the popcorn.

★★★½ — PUBLISH NOW

“Wake the Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery” is rated PG-13 for violent content, gory images, strong language, some crude sexual material and smoking. Running time: 2 hours 20 minutes. It’s currently streaming on Netflix.

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