Rian Johnson’s latest film, Wake Up Dead Man, has arrived on screens both big and small, and it’s already stirring up conversation among fans of the director’s celebrated murder mystery trilogy. Released in December 2025 and available on Netflix and in theaters as of early January 2026, the movie marks the third entry in Johnson’s saga starring Daniel Craig as the ever-perceptive detective Benoit Blanc. According to OSV News, the film boasts a star-studded cast, including Josh O’Connor, Andrew Scott, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Thomas Haden Church, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, and Kerry Washington.
At the heart of Wake Up Dead Man is a complex, brooding tale set within the walls of a small-town Catholic church in upstate New York. The story kicks off with O’Connor’s character, Father Jud Duplenticy, being forcibly relocated to the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude after a scandalous incident—he punches a deacon in the face. The parish is presided over by Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, played by Josh Brolin, whose fiery sermons and fear-based theology have left the congregation divided and uneasy.
The film takes a dark turn during a Good Friday service in Holy Week, when Wicks is found dead, stabbed in the back. The shocking murder rocks the small community, and suspicion quickly falls on Duplenticy, who had openly clashed with Wicks over his leadership style. The local police, as well as Wicks’ loyal followers, view the troubled priest as the prime suspect. But the arrival of Benoit Blanc, the trilogy’s beloved detective, signals that things are not as simple as they seem.
Fans of the earlier films, Knives Out (2019) and Glass Onion (2022), will recognize Johnson’s knack for assembling an ensemble cast and weaving together intricate, character-driven plots. Yet, as noted in a review published on January 4, 2026, Wake Up Dead Man takes a distinct thematic turn, diving deep into questions of faith, Catholic guilt, and the corrosive effects of institutional corruption. OSV News observes that, unlike many Hollywood films that lampoon religious institutions, Johnson’s script approaches Catholicism with nuance and respect.
That authenticity is no accident. Johnson enlisted the help of Father Scott Bailey, a Denver-based priest, as a script consultant to ensure that the film’s depiction of Catholic practices and beliefs rang true. The result is a story that doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of religious life, but also refuses to caricature its subjects. The film’s Good Friday setting, for instance, is not just a backdrop for melodrama but a deliberate choice that amplifies the themes of sacrifice, betrayal, and redemption.
Josh O’Connor’s performance as Father Duplenticy has drawn widespread acclaim. According to OSV News, O’Connor, who was raised Catholic and once served as an altar server, brings a rare tenderness to the role. His portrayal of a priest wrestling with doubt and despair is described as “fantastic,” with critics highlighting his ability to convey both vulnerability and conviction. One reviewer remarked, “His crisis of faith was so tender; the two priests’ warring theologies were a lot more thoughtful and complex than any one of those Jesus Freak-y ‘faith-based’ films.”
The dynamic between Duplenticy and Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks is central to the film’s tension. Wicks, with his harsh, punitive view of religion, stands in stark contrast to Duplenticy’s more compassionate approach. During Mass, Wicks delivers homilies that paint a distorted, fear-driven picture of Catholicism, prompting Duplenticy to threaten to “cut him out like a cancer.” The animosity between the two priests lays the groundwork for suspicion when Wicks is murdered.
Yet, as the investigation unfolds, it’s the partnership between Duplenticy and Benoit Blanc that drives the narrative forward. Craig’s Blanc, a character who “only believes in rationality and calls God ‘a fiction’ in the film,” nonetheless demonstrates a deep respect for Duplenticy’s faith. Rather than mocking or belittling the priest, Blanc encourages him to fulfill his spiritual duties, especially during the film’s climactic moments. This careful handling of religious themes has been widely praised, with reviewers noting that Johnson’s script “could have easily been another film that chooses to make fun of the Catholic Church, but it doesn’t do that.”
Despite the film’s strengths, not all critics are entirely won over. One reviewer, still working through the film as of January 4, 2026, described the viewing experience as “puzzling” and remarked on the lack of believable interpersonal dynamics within the church community. “No one is gossiping about them? No one is like, so what’s the deal with the otherwise normal people who are obsessed with a priest who is Josh Brolin-playing-Jeff Bridges?” they wondered. The reviewer also noted that, while the cast is stacked with talent, including Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, and Jeffrey Wright, the story sometimes struggles to give its ensemble meaningful interactions and backstories.
Still, the film’s two-and-a-half-hour runtime is packed with memorable moments. Josh O’Connor, in particular, is singled out for his performance in a scene where he recounts the murder: “...and then after the homily Monseigneur went into his little secret hiding room AS HE REGULARLY DOES…” The reviewer called O’Connor “excellent,” adding, “that’s not even because I am still incapable of watching Challengers in a normal way.”
Comparisons to previous entries in the trilogy are inevitable. Wake Up Dead Man is seen by some as a corrective to the “downright silly” tone of Glass Onion, opting instead for a more somber and introspective approach. The film’s exploration of faith, doubt, and morality sets it apart from its predecessors, which focused on themes of family inheritance and the corrupting influence of wealth.
With a 4/5 rating from OSV News and a chorus of positive reviews for its thoughtful storytelling and standout performances, Wake Up Dead Man has already staked its claim as a worthy addition to Johnson’s trilogy. Whether it will ultimately be remembered as the best of the three remains to be seen, but its willingness to grapple with weighty themes and its refusal to settle for easy answers ensure it will be discussed for some time to come.
As audiences continue to stream and discuss Wake Up Dead Man, it’s clear that Johnson’s latest whodunit offers more than just a puzzle to be solved—it’s a meditation on the power of belief, the dangers of dogma, and the enduring human search for meaning.
