After earning thunderous applause at TIFF and the London Film Festival, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is already sparking near-religious hype among early audiences—and now the rest of us are finally getting a taste. Netflix just dropped the official trailer which offers us our first real look at the cast (and the suspects).
Critics who’ve seen the film are calling it everything from “a nearly pitch-perfect piece of murder-mystery fun” (Variety) to “tenaciously twisty, deliciously deranged, and a hell of a good time” (Mashable). The movie currently sits at a heavenly 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and the new look makes one thing clear: Rian Johnson is serving his darkest, campiest, most chaotic mystery yet.
The Darkest Benoit Blanc Case So Far
The trailer sets the stage for the third—and most ominous—chapter of Rian Johnson’s whodunnit universe. Daniel Craig returns as Benoit Blanc, sashaying back into our screens with his signature Southern drawl and a new case that plunges him straight into the shadowy world of faith, fear, and firebrand preachers.
The story centers on young priest Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), who’s assigned to assist the charismatic and controversial Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played with blazing intensity by Josh Brolin. But the holy waters are murky from the start. Wicks’ modest congregation is packed with big personalities and even bigger secrets, including:
- Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close) — a devout church lady who sees everything
- Samson Holt (Thomas Haden Church) — the groundskeeper with a suspicious past
- Vera Draven (Kerry Washington) — a tightly wound lawyer hiding something
- Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack) — a rising politician who knows how to play people
- Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner) — the town doctor whose bedside manner might be deceiving
- Lee Ross (Andrew Scott) — a bestselling author with more than words to protect
- Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny) — a concert cellist with a haunting presence
When a sudden, and seemingly impossible, murder shatters the town, the lack of an obvious suspect drives local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to call in the world’s most eccentric detective. From there, all logic crumbles as Blanc digs through lies, power plays, and motives steeped in obsession.
A Divine Mystery From Rian Johnson
Johnson’s latest entry has been hailed as everything from “glorious, goofy gothic horror” (The Wrap) to “a dark, twisting, and satisfying tale that’s also quite funny” (Toronto Star). The trailer leans all the way into that blend—gothic visuals, big performances, and just enough camp to keep queer audiences fed.
When Can You Watch It?
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery hits select theaters November 26 and premieres on Netflix December 12.
If the trailer is any indication, this will be the kind of movie you watch twice: once for the plot, once to catch every smirk, misdirection, and eyebrow raise along the way.
Get ready to step into the chapel, confess your theories, and join the congregation. A divine Benoit Blanc mystery awaits, and we can’t wait to see which suspect you think did it. Watch the trailer and start making your guesses now!
