Rian Johnson has become the new master of the murder-mystery genre. With the success of the Knives Out films, as well as his two seasons of Poker Face, Johnson has subverted what people come to expect from the whodunnit through his elaborate screenplays and rich character work. His newest project Wake Up Dead Man is the latest entry in the Knives Out series, Seeing Benoit Blanc tackle his most spiritual and difficult case yet.

The film follows Reverend Jud Duplentis as much as, if not more than, Benoit Blanc. Played by Josh O’Connor, Duplenticy is a former boxer who accidentally murdered a man in the ring, turning him to Christianity as the role of a Reverend. After being sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a church in upstate New York, he becomes tangled in a homicide case in which he is the prime suspect. With Blanc assigned the case, Duplenticy attempts to work with him in order to prove his innocence and find the real killer.

Being the third film in a murder mystery franchise, it is extremely easy for the story and overall execution to feel redundant, but Wake Up Dead Man is quite the opposite. Although it follows the detective-pairing-with-a-suspect format seen in the other two films, the structure and storytelling are entirely refreshing. Instead of focusing on Blanc’s mindset in solving the case, it is more about Duplenticy rediscovering his faith after feeling overwhelmed with sin. Guilt-ridden after his boxing experience and being involved in the murder at his church, Duplenticy is grappling with his life and morals, making for a far more enriching experience compared to the previous entries in the franchise.

Josh O’Connor has shown himself to be one of the strongest actors of his generation in projects like Challengers and The Crown, but his work in Wake Up Dead Man easily ranks as one of his strongest performances. The role asks a lot of the actor: to stay subdued during confessions and outrageous when someone challenges his morals, and O’Connor captures each aspect in a cohesive, satisfying manner. Daniel Craig is once again captivating as Benoit Blanc, but because the film centers so much on Duplenticy, he is given a slightly less developed arc than in the other films in the series.

The Knives Out films are known not only for their twisted, elaborate mysteries but also for their stacked A-list ensembles. With Knive Out scoring Oscar-winning talent such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Plummer, and Glass Onion starring a slew of Marvel talent, including Dave Bautista, Kathryn Hahn, and Edward Norton, there was a lot riding on Wake Up Dead Man to deliver on this front. Although the ensemble doesn’t have the same slew of witty banter as the previous films, every actor delivers a strong performance. Glenn Close is easily the standout supporting actor as church secretary Martha Delacroix, delivering a committed and comedic performance as a woman obsessed with the power of God. Josh Brolin is also great as Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, the leader of the church who uses his power to manipulate and ward off those who disagree with his views. Although he is easily the most unlikable character in the film, Brolin presence makes for an always capitvating character, allowing the audience to understand why those would want to attend his sermons.

Most of the films in this series delve into the “eat the rich” concept, and while Wake Up Dead Man has elements of this, it is more focused on religion and how people practice it. Movies about religion, especially those that attempt to dissect it, can easily come across as critical of those who practice it, but luckily, this film does so in a nuanced manner. The film depicts how people have practiced religion for selfish reasons, using higher powers to get people to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. It also depicts how religion can be extremely beneficial to someone, having the power to bridge connections between people and to bring love back to those who feel they’ve lost it. Seeing this idea developed so deeply in the film makes for what is easily the most complex and thematically rich film in the franchise.

The cinematography shows off much more in this film than in the previous two. Each film has had its own distinct aesthetic, with the first having a cozy, homey vibe and the second a lavish, shiny one. The third film delves has gothic undertones that perfectly align with its darker themes. The film uses darkness and shadows to an extremely effective degree, showing that darkness is always looming in the frame. The lighting has an extreme level of control, with the sun bursting in and out through the church’s windows, representing when God is and isn’t present. While most murder mysteries focus solely on delivering a satisfying screenplay, Wake Up Dead Man ensures that every aspect of filmmaking operates at the highest level.

While the film has the ingredients to be the best in the franchise, the first act left a lot to be desired. Not only do the first 30-40 minutes lack Benoit Blanc to a detrimental degree, but they are also littered with exposition and narration that fail to push the film along. Instead of revealing information organically, the exposition feels like catch-up for the viewer, presenting so much information that one would need to take notes to keep up. Luckily, once Blanc enters the picture, the film finds its footing and delivers exactly what audiences are looking for.

Wake Up Dead Man may have some minor issues, but it delivers a satisfying new story that somehow reinvents itself in style and themes. Far darker with a higher body count, the film once again shows how Rian Johnson is one of the strongest original storytellers working today, delivering an experience that is equally entertaining and thought-provoking. If Rian Johnson continues to make Knives Out films for the rest of his career, no one would be disappointed.

Wake Up Dead Man is now playing in select theaters and will stream on Netflix on December 12.

Rating: 8/10

Oscar Prospects:

Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress