Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Daniel Craig returns as private detective Benoit Blanc to solve yet another dangerous murder mystery in Netflix’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man’, a Knives Out mystery.
Directed and written by Rian Johnson, ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ however is primarily narrated by Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), sent on a punishment posting to a rural parish run by the mean, mercurial Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). Wicks starts giving Jud a hard time from Day 1, but he is also exceptionally harsh on his small loyal set of followers, driving away many through scathing sermons. So when Jud mysteriously dies from a knife wound, multiple people, including Father Jud, become murder suspects.
Interestingly, the murder scene doesn’t transpire until after at least half an hour of the film. Instead, the creators take their time introducing some of the primary characters of ‘Wake Up Dead Man’. Now this can test the patience of viewers used to having the murder take place immediately in thrillers like these. But the ensemble cast keeps you entertained, with big names like Glenn Close (playing a screechy Church worker called Martha), Andrew Scott (eccentric author Lee Ross, well more a comic nut really), Jeremy Renner (heartbroken, alcoholic Dr. Nat), Kerry Washington (uptight lawyer Vera), Cailee Spaeny (musician Simone), and Mila Kunis as Chief Geraldine Scott.
Daniel Craig is suave, theatrical, and entertaining as genius detective Benoit Blanc, but Josh O’Connor steals the show as Father Jud, the young priest genuinely invested in working at the parish, but constantly bullied and harassed by Monsignor Jefferson. The Church’s odd group of loyal followers too don’t treat the priest any better.
While Rian Johnson’s ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ was extremely forgettable, with ‘Wake Up Dead Man’, he and his team deliver a memorable atmospheric tale of Church politics, faith, greed, anger, and murder. The religious chatter does get excessive through the runtime, and could’ve been trimmed by a few minutes, if not more. Father Jud’s earnest faith is made clear early on, rendering the extended dialogues meant to reaffirm his authenticity somewhat unnecessary.
To further thicken the plot, the film tosses in a dose of inheritance chaos tied to Monsignor Jefferson Wicks’ grandfather and his mysteriously hidden fortune. The idea that the money is still out there lingers over the narrative, subtly fueling suspicion, ambition, and a few unspoken hopes.
True to the genre, ‘Wake Up Dead Man’ lines up multiple suspects, though certain characters seem far guiltier than the rest. In-fact, given the cast, this might’ve made a more entertaining mini-series. Regardless, the dark humor, quirky characters, and over-the-top reactions make it a fun one time watch.
Rating: 7 on 10 . Watch ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ on Netflix.
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