Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

Movie · 2025 · Thriller, Mystery, Comedy · 2h 25m · PG-13 · English

Curator score: 7.3/10 (2.4M ratings)

He works in mysterious ways.

Overview

When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.

Ratings

Director

Rian Johnson

Production

T-Street

Cast

Daniel Craig, Josh O'Connor, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church, Jeffrey Wright, Annie Hamilton, James Faulkner, Bridget Everett, Noah Segan, Jamie Karitzis, Kit Burden, Gavin Spokes, Paul Hilton

Where to watch

Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

Curator Review

Verdict

A stylish, crowd-pleasing mystery with sharper thematic ambitions than the average whodunit, blending comedy, faith questions, and a strong ensemble into a very watchable package. The appeal is as much in the character interplay and visual wit as in the puzzle itself.

Best for

  • fans of twisty ensemble mysteries
  • viewers who like detective stories with humor
  • audiences interested in faith, morality, and grace as themes
  • people who enjoy charismatic, dialogue-driven filmmaking

Skip if

  • you want a straight, serious thriller
  • you dislike heightened comedy in murder mysteries
  • you prefer mysteries that stay purely procedural
  • you are not interested in franchise-style detective storytelling

Overview

This is a polished, highly entertaining mystery that knows exactly how to balance puzzle-box plotting with personality. The setup is classic: a closed community, a suspicious death, and a detective who can’t resist pulling at every thread. What makes it stand out is the tonal confidence, moving between satire, suspense, and sincere moral inquiry without losing momentum.

Worth noting

The film seems especially invested in faith, hypocrisy, and the uneasy space between conviction and compassion. That gives the detective work a little more weight than usual, and it also helps the ensemble feel less like suspects in a game and more like people with wounds, vanities, and private beliefs. The result is a mystery that is fun on the surface but more thoughtful underneath.

Bottom line

It should satisfy viewers who want a big theatrical whodunit with strong craft, vivid performances, and a sense of play. If you come for the clues, you’ll get them; if you stay for the character dynamics and the thematic bite, there’s even more to enjoy.

Top Letterboxd reviews

Chris Feil (4★) · 61674 likes

Pray for me, Josh O’Connor’s neck tattoo peeking out from his cassock, pray for me

effy ☆ (5★) · 58258 likes

i wish there was an app where we could talk about jeremy renner being in this

mikesmic (4.5★) · 38358 likes

I want 15 more of these. I want instalments reaching Fast & Furious levels. 4 Knives 4 Out. KNIVE5 OUT. It’s all there. As expected, a stellar cast enveloping an excellently unfurling mystery. Visually fantastic. Just so so fun. Annoys me this is only getting a 2 week theatrical release 💔💔 Go see it in cinemas if you can

Karsten (3.5★) · 33038 likes

feel so spoiled with how much josh o’connor i got with this

David Sims (4★) · 28102 likes

hot priest

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Topics

mystery, thriller, dark comedy, ensemble cast, church setting, faith, satire, whodunit, suspense, theatrical spectacle

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