Rian Johnson Dives Deep: Unpacking the Faith, Mystery, and Biblical Intrigue of ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’
Prepare yourselves, mystery aficionados! Acclaimed writer-director Rian Johnson is set to take audiences on his most personal and intricate journey yet with Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Following the phenomenal success of Knives Out and Glass Onion, Daniel Craig’s beloved Southern detective, Benoit Blanc, is back to unravel a new, complex whodunnit steeped in themes of faith, corruption, and profound human fallibility. This isn’t just another case for Blanc; it’s a deep dive into the soul of its creator.
The Genesis of a Faith-Fueled Mystery
The inspiration for this latest chapter struck Rian Johnson during a late-night chat with Daniel Craig. Johnson revealed a desire to ground the third installment by exploring something deeply personal: faith and the church. “I want to make a movie about faith. I want to make a movie about the church,” Johnson shared. Growing up in a devout Christian household, Johnson carries “complicated feelings” about his past, making Wake Up Dead Man not just a film, but a profound reflection of his own journey.
This personal connection translated into the “hardest script” Rian Johnson has ever penned. More than just the intricate puzzles of a locked-door mystery, the emotional weight and personal significance made it a monumental writing challenge. Viewers can expect a narrative that pushes even Benoit Blanc to his limits, as he confronts a crime that defies conventional logic amidst a deeply spiritual backdrop.
A Parish Under Siege: Characters and Conflict
The stage for this biblical whodunnit is a small, upstate New York parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude. Here, we meet the formidable Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, brought to life by the intense performance of Josh Brolin. Wicks, a charismatic yet morally ambiguous figure, thrives on exploiting the weaknesses of his scared and angry flock, including characters played by an all-star cast featuring Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
Into this volatile mix arrives Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), sent to the parish as punishment. His arrival ignites a fundamental clash with Wicks over the true purpose of faith in the community. While Jud strives for Christ-like service, Wicks advocates a combative, “us-versus-them” approach to religion. This ideological battle forms the beating heart of the story, setting the stage for the unthinkable.
The Impossible Crime and Biblical Echoes
When Monsignor Wicks is found dead in his own church closet over Easter Weekend, Chief of Police Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) and Benoit Blanc are called in. What unfolds is a crime that stretches beyond mere human understanding, hinting at a deeper, almost divine, logic at play.
Rian Johnson’s deep familiarity with Christian scripture permeates every aspect of Wake Up Dead Man. The film is “rife with Biblical references,” from character names like Martha (Glenn Close’s devoted servant, echoing the Gospel story) to locations such as the local pizzeria, “Il Diavolo” (The Devil). Even the narrative structure weaves in parables, with critical set pieces inspired by Lazarus’s tomb, a David and Goliath-esque confrontation between Jud and Wicks, and the symbolic “Eve’s apple” at its core. Johnson himself declares, “Throw a stone in this movie, you’re going to hit a Biblical reference.”
Homage and Subversion: The Whodunnit Masterclass
True to the Knives Out Mystery tradition, Rian Johnson simultaneously pays homage to and masterfully subverts the whodunnit genre. For Wake Up Dead Man, Johnson drew significant inspiration from clerical mysteries, notably G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown stories. He admires Father Brown’s empathetic insight into human corruption, a quality Blanc will surely need as he navigates themes of guilt, morality, and fallible humanity within the church’s sacred walls.
Johnson’s goal was to explore these weighty themes with honesty and humor, avoiding didacticism. The film becomes a canvas for him to “wrestle with these things,” allowing characters to embody different perspectives on faith – a deeply human, often humorous, endeavor. This approach promises a mystery that is both thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining, inviting audiences to ponder complex questions without being preached to.
The Ship of Faith: Production Design and Symbolism
The film’s visual narrative is as rich as its thematic one. Production designer Rick Heinrichs and his team meticulously crafted the entire church interior, including its centerpiece: the ambo (Catholic pulpit). Inspired by Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, the ambo in Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude resembles a ship’s prow. This design choice powerfully symbolizes the guiding hand of faith through life’s storms, with inscriptions like “Beat on, thou noble ship” etched into its base.
Further enhancing the symbolism, Heinrichs incorporated eagles, America’s national bird and a reference to St. John the Evangelist, representing the spread of the Christian message. This attention to detail ensures that every element of the production design reinforces the film’s core themes.
The Road to Damascus: Revelations Await
A recurring archetype in Wake Up Dead Man is the “Road to Damascus,” a biblical metaphor for blinding revelations. Both Benoit Blanc and Father Jud will experience pivotal moments of insight, where scales metaphorically fall from their eyes, altering their understanding of the case and their own roles within it. This narrative device promises intense character development and surprising twists, making the journey of discovery as personal for the characters as the story is for its director, Rian Johnson.
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery promises to be a complex, emotionally resonant, and utterly captivating addition to the whodunnit canon. With Rian Johnson’s unique vision, Daniel Craig’s iconic detective, and a mystery steeped in profound personal and spiritual questions, audiences are in for an unforgettable cinematic experience. Prepare to have your faith, and your detective skills, tested.
For more details on the upcoming Knives Out Mystery films and Rian Johnson’s creative process, visit Netflix’s Tudum or IMDb for Rian Johnson.
