'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery' Review: Daniel Craig returns to solve a murder in star-studded sequel

There's nothing like a good murder mystery. It's perhaps the only genre that involves mental multitasking — absorbing what's unfolding in front of you while also attempting to jump ahead and crack the case yourself.

That's what's so fun about the "Knives Out" film franchise, which successfully revived the niche genre in 2019. Viewers can expect three things from each installment: laughs, twists and a stellar cast. And Netflix's "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" delivers.

Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, a detective with southern charm and an accent that could make Foghorn Leghorn blush. His newest case takes him to upstate New York to the fictional small town of Chimney Rock, specifically to the church run by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin).

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Wicks can be charismatic one minute and intimidating the next. His fiery, anger-induced sermons can easily deter prospective congregants, but he maintains a small group of parishioners. There's his loyal right-hand Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), the groundskeeper Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church), town physician Dr. Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner), uptight lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington), her viral-hungry adoptive son Cy (Daryl McCormack), a has-been bestselling author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott) and disabled concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny).

Rocking the church is the arrival of Rev. Jud Duplenticy (Josh O'Connor), a former boxer struggling to find his way in the priesthood. Wicks doesn't exactly roll out the red carpet — he tells the young priest, "Welcome to my church." — and his acolytes don't take too kindly to him either.

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Tensions rise, yada yada yada — Wicks ends up dead. And wouldn't you know it? All of them had good reasons to kill him. It's up to Detective Blanc, with the help of Rev. Jud and police Chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to figure out who did.

"Wake Up Dead Man," the third installment in the "Knives Out" saga, is certainly the darkest of the three films but still provides plenty of levity throughout. It marks an improvement from 2022's light but overly silly "Glass Onion," but it's difficult to reach the freshness of Blanc's first mystery.

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Writer-director Rian Johnson, who has helmed all three "Knives Out" films, does a brilliant job in creating a universe that weds intensity and absurdity. The franchise's star detective doesn't even enter the plot until roughly 35 minutes into the film, giving Johnson time to set the tone with a grim backstory and a proper introduction to the murder victim and the suspects. He is truly becoming our generation's Agatha Christie.

Craig clearly has fun playing Blanc, a hilarious and perhaps slightly overdramatic detective. But the real MVP of the ensemble cast goes to O'Connor, a rising star who gives "Dead Man" its heart as the earnest rookie priest serving as Blanc's Watson in his investigation. Brolin and Close also deserve honorable mentions for their performances.

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The Verdict:

"Wake Up Dead Man" is a strong, gothic turn in the "Knives Out" series, cementing it as one of Netflix's best film franchises. Johnson has mastered the craft of the whodunit with the help of Craig and a witty cast of characters. If you missed it in theaters, then start heating up the popcorn.

★★★½ — STREAM IT NOW

"Wake Up Dead Man: a Knives Out Mystery" is rated PG-13 for violent content, bloody images, strong language, some crude sexual material and smoking. Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Streaming on Netflix now.

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