“Wake Up Dead Man” Examines Faith in Compelling Mystery

What has always struck me as being unique about the ‘Knives Out’ franchise is that there is more underneath the surface of these Agatha Christie-style whodunits. Yes, Rian Johnson is crafting fun mysteries that involve grand expositions and eccentric casts of characters, but there is always something bigger being contemplated. The first movie, for example, comments on immigrants and rich people’s attitudes toward the people who serve them. The second – “Glass Onion” – tackled the very real (and still evolving) topic of tech billionaires and the not always altruistic intentions they yield with their money and influence. In “Wake Up Dead Man,” Johnson tackles his most controversial topic: religious figures who twist the words in the Bible for personal gain.

This is a topic that is near and dear to me, as not only have I been concerned about where churches are as a professing Christian, I have also invited a retired pastor onto my podcast to discuss how politics has poisoned many of the institutions that used to be a beacon for goodness and hope. I don’t know if Rian Johnson has any personal religious beliefs, but I sense he, at the very least, has been looking around and senses that something good has been lost with the church in today’s modern age. In fact, if I’m watching these movies and taking in the correct message, I believe private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig), of whom this series revolves, likely speaks the opinions of what Johnson feels in his heart.

And Blanc is not shy about his feelings towards religion, calling it outdated, homophobic, controlling, and a few other words that I shouldn’t reprint here. The only reason he is in this place is because a young Rev. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is the primary subject in the murder of Msgr. Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), who walked off stage during a sermon and promptly died, in a murder that seems impossible to pull off. Locked room? Check. Murder weapon with no fingerprints? Check. All suspects in plain view? Check that one eight ways across. This is the sort of mystery Blanc lives for. Rev. Jud is the primary suspect because of his clashing views with Msgr. Jefferson, who he believes is using the word of God to stoke anger and fear in his constituents, rather than the love and hope of Jesus Christ.

While the movie ultimately avoids talking about specific political parties, it doesn’t shy away from the fact that Msgr. Jefferson’s message was being shared on social media, garnering more clicks and views than the messages that are more positive in nature. Despite his church having just a dozen or so faithful, his message of hate spreads to millions, and there is even a young social media manager who is already planning on how he can use this attention to pad his own pocket. Being murdered doesn’t stop his message, as it makes him a martyr to those online. It colors the eventual murder with even more complexity, as his message seems more pronounced in death rather than life.

While Blanc himself is more interested in facts and figures (he considers religion to be a great fiction), even he must reach deep down and contemplate humans’ desire for faith and to believe in something that is higher than themselves. While he may not have that faith, he understands that people’s desire to believe in a higher power could hold the key to solving the mystery. This is why “Wake Up Dead Man” feels like the most personal ‘Knives Out’ movie Johnson has directed: aside from voicing concerns that Johnson has on the subject, his cast of characters are the most human we have seen yet.

When it was announced that Netflix coughed up over $400 million to produce two more ‘Knives Out’ movies, the deal, frankly, didn’t make financial sense (especially with such a limited theatrical footprint). Speaking purely of quality, it was money well spent, and if great movies are considered priceless, then $400 million to help produce “Wake Up Dead Man” could easily be considered a bargain. Some may complain that the mystery itself sometimes takes a backseat to the bigger theme that Johnson is contemplating, but I would argue that motive is far more interesting than clues and circumstantial evidence. Even if you prefer the clues, though, “Wake Up Dead Man” still delivers the goods; you just have to look a little closer to what’s right in front of you.

This review was originally published on The Fandom Post.