mixes religion, mystery
By Glenn Kay
For the Sun
Rating: +++
out of ++++
Running Time: 144 minutes
This feature from Netflix received a limited theatrical release and will be debuting on the streaming service on Friday, Dec. 12.
Back at the end of 2019, Knives Out arrived out of the blue, charmed audiences and became a box office smash. The Lionsgate production featured a talented cast of stars, a witty screenplay and a compelling mystery with an amusingly quirky investigator. A Netflix sequel arrived three years later, featuring a similar setup. It was decent, but couldn’t quite match the original. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is the latest entry. Like the previous sequel, it is receiving a brief theatrical release before officially arriving on Netflix for all to see.
It begins with a lengthy introduction from ex-boxer turned Catholic priest Reverend Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor). He explains his violent past and choice to make a fresh start serving the Catholic church. However, Duplenticy admits to having a difficult time controlling his temper. Things get worse when he is assigned to work under Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). His superior has extreme views and seems pleased to rattle the congregation, to the point where he now has only a handful of followers left.
The remaining fervent devotees include church aide Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), writer Lee Ross (Andrew Scott), cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny), videographer Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack) and groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church). During Good Friday services, Wicks is found dead, with Jud Duplenticy being named the prime suspect by police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis). After finding herself unable to close the case, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is called in to prove the identity of the killer.
At times, the film almost feels like a cousin of the Father Brown British mystery program, only set in the U.S. The church setting, featuring only the primary characters above, lend this title an even more intimate feel than earlier installments, and the performers are all entertaining to watch. O’Connor’s character is actually the protagonist of the story, which is especially evident as much of the set-up to the murder is told through his eyes. The young priest is eager to serve and inspire, only to find himself surrounded by a group of disagreeable individuals who also seem to have an interest in Wicks’ estate.
Close also makes a memorable impression as the church aide, who frequently appears from behind corners to alarm Duplenticy in amusing ways.
And when he finally arrives on the scene, it’s as fun as ever to watch Craig’s Blanc investigate the case. There is plenty of entertaining back and forth between non-believer Blanc and the devoted Duplenticy, adding some good-natured sparring to the pair. As the case progresses and Blanc finds himself struggling to come up with an answer for what has occurred, there are also a few tense moments, not to mention a couple of unsettling sights.
For the most part, it’s a fun little mystery, but there are some nitpicks. As mentioned, we don’t even see the quirky, humorous Blanc in the first 45 minutes of the story. In fact, the pacing in general is slower this time out. And while the investigator believes Duplenticy to be unjustly accused, as more and more evidence is revealed, it continually points back to the priest, which eventually begins to feel repetitive.
Additionally, the big reveal isn’t quite as satisfying as hoped for. For me, when one watches a mystery, it’s important that the clues are all laid out for viewers so that they too have a chance of figuring it out. But upon first viewing, it feels overly complicated, leaving one having to just accept the explanation presented.
Still, the film has its moments and is agreeable overall. If I were to rate this picture within the franchise, it doesn’t match the marvelous original, but I would rank it slightly higher than the previous chapter. Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery may not be the high point in Benoit Blanc’s career, but it’s intriguing and enjoyable enough to earn a solid recommendation.
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