Now that’s what I’m talking about! Finally, a superior Benoit Blanc mystery! Like every other Benoit Blanc film, our beloved detective is not the lead. Struggling priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) finds himself thrust into an impossible murder when the Trump-esque Monsignor of his church, Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), is found stabbed to death shortly after giving a fiery sermon. All leads point to Jud as the culprit. Lucky for him, Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is on the case!
Writer/director Rian Johnson delivers what is his best work in years. Not only is this a delicious, twisty who-dun-it (and how), Wake Up Dead Man also doubles as a musing on faith, religion, and their corruption in the modern day. The cast (consisting of Glenn Close, Andrew Scott, Thomas Hayden Church, Jeffrey Wright, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Ed Harris, Kerry Washington, and Jeremy Renner) is phenomenal, with the only weak link being Mila Kunis as Police Chief Geraldine Scott. Luckily, not much is asked of her and she isn’t in the proceedings much. She manages to perform her role well enough.
Glenn Close as Martha Delacroix, Monsignor Wick’s right hand and most faithful disciple, is the most impressive out of the supporting cast. She crafts a character that isn’t the easiest to like with how devoutly religious and judgmental she is. That said, it’s always a joy to watch Ms. Close do her thing. She continues to be one of the most under-rated actresses of all time.
Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc steps back into his fan favorite role with ease. He is still one of the coolest and suavest detectives around. It’s easy to forget this man was James Bond, as between this and 2024’s Queer he continues to prove he is capable of so much more. He remains as delightful as ever. All that being said, this film belongs to Josh O’Connor.
Josh O’Connor as Jud Duplenticy performs his multi-layered role with intense passion and dedication. His numerous monologues/musings on faith and religion are compelling and have a tendency to hit home in a meaningful way. Josh O’Connor easily dominates the entire film. He makes it all look easy. O’Connor continues to be a true diamond-in-the-rough and he delivers one of the best performances of 2025. Make no mistake, he is not a supporting character. He’s the lead/star of this mystery.
Steve Yellon is in charge of cinematography, and he does a fantastic job. There are some impressive dolly shots and fast zoom-ins that feel like camera tricks of old. Possibly the most impressive technical aspect of this film is the lighting, which is the best and most effective I’ve seen this year. The way rooms or windows light up behind characters during certain scenes is very cool and incredibly effective, just as effective is when that lighting fades into an icy cold blue blackness just as suddenly as the light appeared (or the reverse, how an icy cold blue blackness is slowly illumined by the light from outside).
I’ve been waiting for an incredible and gripping Benoit Blanc mystery since 2019. The first entry flipped the detective genre on its ear to delightful and fun effect. Its sequel used that genre to point an accusatory finger at the corrupt wealthy and powerful elites. This third installment easily satisfies the most with an intriguing and timely blend of murder, religion, and faith with plenty of tasty twists and turns thrown in for good measure. Escapism works best when it can relate back to our real world in meaningful ways and leave us with themes to ponder upon and contemplate once the end credits roll. Wake Up Dead Man is very fun and very meaningful. It’s another one of the best films of 2025!
5 STARS
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