--- title: "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 22 reviews: 21 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. The reviews are warm and remarkably close together: almost every critic recommends the film, and a good number call it the strongest of the three, though a few also admit that is faint praise after Glass Onion. The praise clusters on Josh O’Connor, whose junior priest is singled out in nearly every notice as the film’s centre and as a proper foil for Daniel Craig’s Blanc. Critics also like the shift to a wintry, gothic church setting and the script’s willingness to argue about faith and reason without turning solemn. Reservations are mild and consistent. Several find the plotting over-elaborate and the star-heavy cast of suspects underused; The Hollywood Reporter thinks the investigation loses momentum after a promising start, and Den of Geek complains that Blanc becomes a supporting player in his own film. The one outright negative score comes from Slant Magazine, though its objection is narrow: the satire of right-wing figures is effective but one-dimensional. ## The Times Rating ★★★★★. 12 December 2025. Rian Johnson bounds back triumphantly with an enthralling puzzle-box whodunnit that is funny, dark, moving and meaningful. Standout performances, especially from Josh O’Connor, and a probing script exploring faith elevate the film. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-josh-o-connor-daniel-craig-netflix-5r78x67f7) ## The i Paper — Emily Bootle Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2025. The third Knives Out film reverts to a traditional whodunnit feel for a smart, funny Gothic-camp romp that blends mystery with religious-horror satire. It delivers vintage Knives Out pleasures with a satisfying conclusion and strong turns from Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/knives-out-3-melodramatic-masterpiece-4052548) ## Empire — John Nugent Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 2025. Rian Johnson delivers another consistent, rewarding entry in the Benoit Blanc series with a wintry, morbid Gothic tone that skewers contemporary culture while respecting faith traditions. The intricate plotting, strong ensemble (led by Josh O’Connor) and Craig’s dapper detective make for an engrossing, very funny whodunnit. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wake-up-dead-man/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 November 2025. The third Knives Out film is sharper and smarter than Glass Onion, with a confident screenplay that dares to ask existential questions. Josh O’Connor stands out in a heavy-hitting cast as the best instalment yet. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/wendy-ides-pick-of-other-films-blue-moon-wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-and-more) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 7 September 2025. Festival review. The third entry may be the sharpest yet, delivering a clever, droll, nearly pitch-perfect whodunit that fuses intrigue, confession, and themes of rationality versus faith on a human scale. It returns to the immersive ingenuity of the first film while adding philosophical depth. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-1236510178/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 December 2025. The review calls this the best Knives Out yet for its beauty, ideological curiosity, and shift to timeless targets like corrupt religious power, making it more urgent than prior entries. It praises the focus on O’Connor’s priest character and the film’s blend of formula with deeper emotional and thematic resonance. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-pope-would-love-wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery.html) ## Little White Lies — Cheyenne Bart-Stewart Rating 4/4/4. 28 November 2025. Rian Johnson’s sharp and witty Knives Out threequel is powered by a standout lead turn from Josh O’Connor. It charts a refreshing new course while proving that despite the increasing body count, this franchise is very much alive and kicking. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery) ## Radio Times Rating 4/5. 8 October 2025. It’s a great joy to see Daniel Craig break out his Southern drawl once again in this excellent third outing for eccentric sleuth Benoit Blanc. It all adds up to a film that might just be the best entry in the series so far. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/wake-up-dead-man-knives-out-review/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2025. Rian Johnson’s latest Knives Out film delivers an enjoyable deadpan-absurdist ensemble comedy with a religious undercurrent. The critic singles out Josh O’Connor’s standout performance as the junior priest for particular praise amid a sparkling cast. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/nov/26/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-josh-oconnor-excels-in-another-deadpan-delight) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 12 December 2025. The cosiest Knives Out film yet offers enormous fun and witty cosy crime in a church setting. Josh O’Connor’s sincere performance as a man of faith lends unexpected spiritual depth. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2025/12/12/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review/) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4/5. 15 October 2025. Rian Johnson’s latest addition to the franchise is the most out-there and fun so far, with Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor forming a sleuthing double act with shades of Holmes and Watson. Johnson has assembled his strongest cast yet and provides them with entertainingly ‘extra’ characters. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-2025) ## Total Film — Emily Garbutt Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2025. The film brings Knives Out back to its roots with a sequel that's almost on a par with the original. It offers a satisfying return to classic mystery form with strong performances and clever twists. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/mystery-movies/wake-up-dead-man-knives-out-3-review/) ## The AV Club — Jacob Oller Rating B. 25 November 2025. The review deems the film another lively, vital entry that smartly uses its church setting for both mystery and existential questions, with standout buddy chemistry between Craig and O’Connor. It notes some shagginess and overstuffed moments but highlights its cleverness, silliness, and visual flair. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review) ## Slant Magazine — Ross McIndoe Rating 1/4. 9 October 2025. Festival review. The review praises the film’s razor-sharp command of detective tropes, misdirection, and exploration of seeing versus believing, plus strong turns from Craig and especially O’Connor. It notes the satire on right-wing figures is effective if one-dimensional, while the central debate between rationalism and grace gives it lasting resonance. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig/) ## Financial Times — Danny Leigh Rating ★★★☆☆. 27 November 2025. The film is never less than entertaining as it mixes God, locked-room murder and Scooby-Doo homages in another round of cartoonish Cluedo. It does what the series does best while touching on serious themes. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/f5523c2b-1525-460a-bc14-aa661607610d) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland 24 November 2025. The review calls the film a darker, Poe-inspired take that still delivers laughs, strong performances from Daniel Craig and Josh O’Connor, and thematic depth on disinformation and faith. It praises the shift to a church setting while noting the franchise’s continued vitality. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/wake-up-dead-man-review-rian-johnson-third-knives-out-1235149631/) ## Los Angeles Times — Amy Nicholson 25 November 2025. Rian Johnson’s darkest and funniest Knives Out installment features Daniel Craig investigating an impossible murder at a parish and satirizes hypocritical strongmen abusing religious power. It weaves contemporary social critique into an entertaining mystery plot. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/0000019a-b8d4-d9c7-a3bf-fcfd79d20000-123) ## RogerEbert.com 12 December 2025. The third Knives Out film corrects the lighter tone of the previous entry with a chillier, more gothic locked-room mystery that explores faith versus logic. Johnson’s sharp script champions understanding and hope without sentimentality. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/knives-out-3-wake-up-dead-man-movie-review-2025) ## Screen Daily 7 September 2025. Festival review. For the third instalment in his Knives Out franchise, writer-director Rian Johnson adds an element of spiritual searching that blends nicely with this sequel’s darker tone. This mystery-comedy is as clever as the previous films, and is bolstered by a graceful performance from series newcomer Josh O’Connor. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-returns-in-crowd-pleasing-sequel/5208644.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman 2 December 2025. Daniel Craig’s sleuth is pushed to find his spiritual side as he investigates the murder of a badly-behaved pastor in this dark and satisfying addition to the Knives Out film series. It’s darker in look and subject than the earlier films, but remains extraordinarily pleasurable, a meal of brain food garnished with wicked wit. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/wake-dead-man-knives-out-mystery-religion-latest-puzzle-rian-johnsons-extraordinarily-pleasurable-whodunit) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 6 September 2025. Festival review. The review finds the third Knives Out entry overworked and convoluted after a promising start, with too many underused stars and momentum lost in the investigation. It singles out Josh O’Connor’s revelatory performance as the young priest-turned-suspect/Watson for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-daniel-craig-1236363835/) ## The New York Times — Alissa Wilkinson Rating Critic’s Pick. 26 November 2025. Rian Johnson’s latest Benoit Blanc mystery tackles a murder in a church amid themes of religious cults of personality and twisted faith, with a light irreverent touch. Josh O’Connor’s Father Jud emerges as the real heart of the film in his verbal sparring with Blanc about belief. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/movies/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review.html) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Rating 5/5. 9 October 2025. Festival review. Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out entry is a triumph: devilishly clever, darkly funny and unexpectedly heartfelt. The critic singles out Josh O’Connor’s standout turn as the conflicted priest Father Jud for grounding the gothic mystery with real human tension. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review/) ## Consequence Rating A-. 25 November 2025. The critic hails it as the year's best murder mystery and cements Rian Johnson as mystery’s modern master, praising the clever locked-room puzzle, thematic depth on faith, and standout ensemble led by Josh O’Connor's nuanced performance. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2025/11/wake-up-dead-man-review-daniel-craig/) ## Collider — Ross Bonaime Rating 8/10. 7 September 2025. Festival review. The critic calls it twistier, darker, and more emotional than prior entries, exploring faith, logic, and mythologizing in a brilliant murder mystery that caps one of film's great trilogies. Singles out the strong ensemble, especially Josh O’Connor and Glenn Close, alongside Johnson's inventive direction. [Read the review](https://collider.com/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-rian-johnson/) ## Digital Spy — Ian Sandwell Rating 4/5. 26 November 2025. The critic calls it the darkest yet but still totally entertaining, praising the devilish locked-room mystery, the strong double-act between Blanc and Jud, and the fresh Gothic tone while noting some supporting cast members are underused. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a68997134/wake-up-dead-man-review-knives-out/) ## NME — James Mottram Rating 4/5. 10 October 2025. Festival review. The critic finds it largely enjoyable with a riotously entertaining cast and clever Christie-inspired plotting that prods the Catholic Church, though the script is a little over-elaborate and Blanc’s arrival feels tenuous. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-daniel-craig-3898565) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 26 November 2025. The critic views it as a faithful series addition that takes on big ideas with a standout Josh O’Connor performance, calling it probably the best Knives Out film for its sophisticated structure and personal investment while noting a predictable wrap-up. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2025/11/26/movies/knives-out-wake-up-dead-man-netflix-review) ## Den of Geek — Joe George Rating 3.5/5. 11 December 2025. The critic finds the film bold but disappointing as it prioritizes religious introspection over the usual mystery elements, making Blanc a supporting character and the mystery less central. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/wake-up-dead-man-review-rian-johnson-loses-knives-out-edge/) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 7/10. 24 November 2025. The third Knives Out film is sharp, smart and the most overtly political entry yet, using religion and exploitation as a lens on modern divisiveness while remaining engrossing and fun. The critic praises Josh O’Connor’s central performance and the film’s stylish flourishes but notes it feels less interested in its ensemble of suspects than prior installments. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/2032606/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-movie-review/) ## Deadline — Damon Wise 6 September 2025. Festival review. Rian Johnson returns the Knives Out franchise to its gothic roots with a wintry whodunit that might be the best yet. The film is more introspective than its predecessors, using a religious community setting to explore themes of faith, modernity, and miracles while retaining plenty of fun and comedy. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2025/09/wake-up-dead-man-review-rian-johnson-1236510199) ## The Playlist — Gregory Ellwood Rating A-/B+. 7 September 2025. Festival review. Johnson delivers another murder mystery with even more delicious twists than its predecessors, plus a slightly more serious tone and gorgeous cinematography. The critic highlights the film’s timely philosophical debates on faith and forgiveness alongside its strong ensemble, especially Josh O’Connor and Glenn Close. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery-review-rian-johnson-tackles-faith-forgiveness-in-benoit-blancs-most-twisty-murder-yet-tiff-20250907/) ## The Wrap — Chase Hutchinson 6 September 2025. Festival review. Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out film is the most elaborate murder mystery yet and also his most emotional, with Josh O’Connor delivering an excellent comedic and graceful performance. The film explores faith, community, anger, and redemption without sacrificing entertainment, featuring rapid pacing, killer jokes, and thoughtful reflection. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/wake-up-dead-man-review-rian-johnson-daniel-craig-knives-out-3/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/wake-up-dead-man-a-knives-out-mystery.md