Rian Johnson’s Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery opens with Josh O’Connor declaring his theological perspective (“Christ came to heal the world, not fight it.”), which establishes his character and perspective. He is reassigned to Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude, a church led by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). His sermons tend to be flamboyant and divisive, and Wicks lives for the world’s conflicts and people’s walkouts. Johnson’s social commentary is as sharp as it is captivating.
Like last year’s Conclave, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery stages a battle over the soul and direction of the Catholic Church through two contrasting priests—played brilliantly by O’Connor and Brolin. A theological clash of two Joshes, the tension between them is instant and electric. It is the movie’s strongest element. One represents reform and compassion; the other embodies a tradition weaponized to the point of stirring culture war strife.
See Also: TIFF 2019: “Knives Out” Review by Demetri Panos
A colorful cast of characters in the congregation and town, including Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, is a lot of fun. For Monsignor Wicks to die on Good Friday is a little too on the nose, and the tomb is metaphorically empty as well as literally. The only role I didn’t care for was Glenn Close, who was very over-the-top, “look at my acting” Oscar voters’ performance. As the evidence points to O’Connor as the likely suspect, people turn on “Judas Judd” and call him a PINO (Priest In Name Only), which is when the movie has audiences guessing. This pivot is when you see characters weaponize the faith to burn the worlds and stir conflict to bring hell on earth. In a flashback, one character’s sins are used against them. A lot of the plot makes you think about its themes while also entertaining you.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is both clever and doesn’t shy away from challenging the convergence of faith and power. Johnson explores hypocrisy, hope, and the human capacity for both deconstruction and forgiveness. This “Knives Out” mystery is gripping, the characters are bombastically unpredictable, and the social commentary is razor-sharp, ready to tear apart institutions and theologies it criticizes with a (no spoilers) perfect ending. It will get a lot of people talking when it launches on the streaming platform in a few weeks.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is now playing in theaters and will stream on Netflix on December 12th.
