Rian Johnson just rewrote the Benoit Blanc playbook. Wake Up Dead Man, his third Knives Out mystery, hit Netflix on Friday, and the shift is electric. The film is a gothic, soul-deep stunner that still snaps with clue-hunting fun. I have seen the reactions, and I can tell you, this is a big moment for Johnson, for Daniel Craig’s detective, and for modern whodunits.
The story cuts to the bone. A monsignor is murdered in a tight, religious community upstate. Blanc steps into a fog of grief, doubt, and small-town secrets. The result is lean, haunting, and oddly tender.
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The Big Swing, And Why It Lands
Johnson leans into faith, service, and compassion. You feel it in every quiet pause and sharp reveal. He drew on his own upbringing, and it shows. The mystery clicks, but the beating heart is the point.
Craig’s Blanc is still witty and precise. Here, he also feels mortal. He listens more, judges less, and lets the weight of the case sit on his shoulders. The tone is darker and more introspective than the first two films, yet never heavy for heavy’s sake. It breathes.
Wake Up Dead Man premiered in theaters on November 26 and began streaming on Netflix on December 12. The film holds a 95 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
An Ensemble That Feels Like Event TV
This cast is stacked, and they leave marks. Glenn Close slices with steel and grace. Josh O’Connor, as a priest under suspicion, walks a tightrope of guilt and goodness. Josh Brolin makes the monsignor feel real, which makes his loss matter. Kerry Washington, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and more round out a tense, lived-in world.
- Glenn Close, ice and empathy in equal measure
- Josh O’Connor, fragile, fierce, and hard to read
- Josh Brolin, a presence that lingers after he is gone
- Andrew Scott and Kerry Washington, precise and riveting
This is a murder mystery that watches like a character drama. Fans of Blanc came for a puzzle. They will stay for the ache.
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How Johnson Changed The Game
Johnson finally says the quiet part out loud. Whodunits are about trust, guilt, and the stories we tell to feel safe. He wraps classic mechanics in spiritual questions. What do we owe each other. What does justice look like when faith is on the line. The answer here is not a lecture. It is human. It is messy. It hits.
The gothic touch is a flex. Candlelight. Choir lofts. Snow that feels like ash. A small town that watches itself. Johnson respects the genre, but he is not playing museum guard. He lets the form breathe, then he pushes it somewhere new.
Johnson insists this series is personal to him. He remains the writer and director of each Benoit Blanc film.
What Comes Next For Benoit Blanc, And For Johnson
I can confirm talk of a fourth Benoit Blanc mystery is real. Johnson and Daniel Craig are exploring ideas. They will only move if the spark stays lit, but the door is open. The bar is now higher, and they know it.
Johnson is also building a new machine. He is developing an original 1970s style paranoid thriller with light sci fi elements. The project is set to shoot in 2026. That lane fits his mind, which loves puzzle boxes and pressure cookers. If Wake Up Dead Man is any clue, expect something bold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I watch Wake Up Dead Man right now?
A: It is streaming on Netflix. The film had a brief theatrical run starting November 26.
Q: Is this one darker than the last Knives Out films?
A: Yes. It is more introspective, with spiritual themes, yet it still delivers sharp twists and laughs.
Q: Who is in the cast this time?
A: Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc. The ensemble includes Glenn Close, Josh O’Connor, Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, and Josh Brolin.
Q: Will there be a fourth Benoit Blanc movie?
A: Johnson and Craig are thinking on it. They will move forward if the next idea feels strong.
Q: What is Rian Johnson making after this?
A: He is developing a 1970s style paranoid sci fi thriller, with filming planned for 2026.
Rian Johnson did not just deliver another Blanc case. He stretched the frame. He made a crowd pleaser that looks you in the eye. Wake Up Dead Man is a franchise turning point, and it is a clear signal of what comes next. The mystery is sharp. The feeling lingers. That is the headline.
