Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery X Review: Daniel Craig's Film Is 'Incredible, Moving, The Best'

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Review: Rian Johnson sharpens the blade once again with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, the latest chapter in his wildly popular whodunit franchise. This

time, master detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) steps into his most unsettling case yet—one that trades sunlit satire for shadows, secrets and a distinctly ominous tone.

Set against a moody, almost gothic backdrop, the film follows Blanc as he is drawn into a tightly wound mystery involving a powerful inner circle bound by faith, fear and long-buried sins. When a shocking death fractures this already volatile group, Blanc must navigate a maze of moral contradictions, personal betrayals and carefully curated lies—where everyone claims righteousness and no one is entirely innocent.

Unlike the flamboyant spectacle of Glass Onion, this instalment leans into a more grounded, psychologically charged narrative. The humour is still sharp, but it cuts deeper, giving way to a story that wrestles with themes of belief, guilt, and the stories people tell themselves to survive. Each suspect carries a private truth, and as Blanc peels back the layers, the mystery becomes less about who committed the crime and more about why.

The social media reactions are flooding in, and they paint a rather positive picture of the film. One person wrote, “‘Knives Out: Wake Up, Dead Man’ was so phenomenal, I need a 4th immediately. Like ASAP. It was grim, moody, intriguing, filled with compelling characters and- newly this time- beautiful & poignant. Treated religion artfully & respectfully while also not trying to investigate it.”

‘Knives Out: Wake Up, Dead Man’ was so phenomenal, I need a 4th immediately. Like ASAP.

It was grim, moody, intriguing, filled with compelling characters and- newly this time- beautiful & poignant.
Treated religion artfully & respectfully while also not trying to investigate it pic.twitter.com/PpbsrbgwVy

— Blaine 🎲✨️🏳️‍🌈 (he/him) (@BlaineRollsDice) December 12, 2025

Another post on X read, “I’m at a place of fatigue with movies using Christianity to illicit quirky or scary vibes, and I’m not a fan of Rian Johnson in general… but credit where credit is due. Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man did an incredible job of telling a tale that revolved around a church while still being incredibly respectful with the storytelling and producing some powerful and authentic religious scenes.”

I’m at a place of fatigue with movies using Christianity to illicit quirky or scary vibes, and I’m not a fan of Rian Johnson in general… but credit where credit is due.

Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man did an incredible job of telling a tale that revolved around a church while… pic.twitter.com/3qTYApxPhF

— Brad Stephenson (@Shuttlecock) December 12, 2025

Someone else wrote, “The most moving of the KNIVES OUT instalments. That phone call scene, in which a character doesn’t get the answer he wants, but one he needs, resolving something much deeper within himself — the very best thing this franchise has done. Josh O’Connor is incredible.”

WAKE UP DEAD MAN: The most moving of the KNIVES OUT installments. That phone call scene, in which a character doesn’t get the answer he wants, but one he needs, resolving something much deeper within himself — the very best thing this franchise has done. Josh O’Connor incredible pic.twitter.com/cJIy55MFSk

— Gayle Sequeira (@gayle_sequeira) December 12, 2025

“Wake up dead man is THE BEST instalment in the Knives Out universe. Murder mysteries do not get any better than this. Funny, visually stunning, stellar performances by all the actors, diabolical plot(twists), just wow. 5/5,” another review mentioned. Another review mentioned, “This is the best Knives Out movie! Josh O’Connor is incredible as a Boxer turned Priest! Kerry Washington is so phenomenal! Cailee Spaeny is amazing as a Cellist! Glenn Close & Josh Brolin are fantastic! What an ending! 10/10.”

Wake Up Dead Man Cast

As with every Knives Out mystery, the cast of Wake Up Dead Man is as much a draw as the puzzle itself. Daniel Craig returns as the impeccably dressed Benoit Blanc. Glenn Close lends gravitas, while Josh Brolin adds a brooding intensity that feels perfectly suited to the film’s darker emotional palette. Mila Kunis and Kerry Washington bring contrasting energies, enhancing the sense that every character has something to hide.

The cast is further strengthened by acclaimed performers such as Andrew Scott, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, each known for inhabiting morally complex roles.