SPOILERS for Wake Up Dead Man are below!
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery brings detective Benoit Blanc back for another murder investigation. This time around, he takes his talents to a small town church following the murder of Monsignor Wicks, played by Josh Brolin. The list of suspects is long, embracing the franchise’s ensemble cast motif, including Glenn Close as Martha, Josh O’Connor as Father Jud Duplenticy, Andrew Scott as Lee Ross, Jeremy Renner as Dr Nat Sharp, Kerry Washington as Vera Draven, Cailee Spaeny as Simone, and Thomas Haden Church as Samson.
As with any Knives Out film, Rian Johnson has laid clues throughout his classically inspired murder mystery, giving audiences the chance to play along, and maybe even solve the case for themselves. Wake Up Dead Man took an interesting approach, as it features more than one killer for the first time in the series. It is ultimately revealed that those behind Wicks’ demise were Martha, Nat, and Samson, and there were plenty of unique clues hidden in plain sight.
Martha Is Very Sneaky
Martha is first introduced by sneaking up on Father Duplenticy, startling him as he is meeting Wicks for the first time. It’s a funny moment, but it also presents her as a silent, sneaky person, whether she states it verbally or not. From the moment audiences meet Martha, she is seen as someone who can hide in plain sight among Wake Up Dead Man‘s characters.
This also continues when Father Duplenticy is at the graffiti-covered grave site later, where Martha again sneaks up behind him, startling the priest. This time, Martha is also seen holding a hatchet, which makes her look odd and plays well for the laugh at the moment. Still, it continues to paint her as someone who will be skulking around, and even with sharp objects. This is also the moment when she and Samson use the graffiti as an excuse to install security cameras, which play a part in the later resurrection ploy.
Martha Frames the Church’s Backstory
By the time Martha tells Duplenticy the backstory of the church, she has already been presented as sneaky, which should factor into how audiences hear her story. With the aid of visual flashbacks, Martha tells the story of her upbringing at the church where she has spent her entire life. She also fills viewers in on Wicks’ mother, who had been referred to as a harlot and whore, with the story playing into that description.
While audiences won’t know the truth yet, the way Martha was presented should indicate that her account can’t be trusted. It is later revealed that she altered details of the story to protect the family’s fortune from Wicks’ mother. It’s also around this time that Duplenticy’s narration tells the audience that “Martha does it all,” hinting at her access to the items needed later for the murder, such as laundering Wicks’ robes and knowing where his flask is stashed. Her access even plays into the red thread Blanc finds, as Martha handled Wicks’ robes.
Martha’s Confession
After Father Duplenticy’s failed prayer meeting, he challenges Martha to take confession, which she does with Wicks. Viewers see her leaving the confessional in the church, with Wicks walking out shortly after, looking visibly shaken. What Martha ultimately told Wicks isn’t revealed until late in Wake Up Dead Man, but Wicks’ noticeable reaction to what he’s heard hints at a significant revelation, and Martha’s guilt.
Wicks’ Sermon Being Intercut with His Funeral Preparation
Wake Up Dead Man intercuts Wicks’ funeral preparation with his fiery sermon about being betrayed. The way the scene is cut hits eagle-eyed detectives with a clue to Martha’s guilt. As Wicks says he was betrayed by his Judas, much like Jesus, Martha is seen entering the area where his casket is laid out. It’s a quick moment, but hearing Judas as Martha is seen lays guilt at her feet, and the scene later becomes integral to the body-swapping plot.
Samson Is Missing From Wicks’ Funeral
Samson is the church’s groundskeeper and even lives on the property. He’s a noted friend of Wicks, as the movie makes a point to tell viewers that the monsignor helped him quit drinking, saving his life. So when the funeral takes place, seeing the members of the church’s congregation carrying Wicks’ casket, it is odd that Samson is missing.
Some may not have noticed, given that so many characters were present at the time. Still, Samson, being the one to later emerge from the grave, is hidden in his absence from the funeral. Missing his friend’s burial already feels odd, and being the groundskeeper, it’s even more weird that he’s not there to help tend to the event.
The Bar Photo Has More Than One Clue
When Benoit Blanc is looking at the photo of the bar with Chief Scott and Father Duplenticy, there is more than one clue to pick up on. Wake Up Dead Man cleverly directs the audience to Nat’s bag as the clue, which spawns a chat with the doctor. However, it is later revealed that the bag wasn’t what Blanc was looking at.
The murder weapon was a blade attached to a devil’s head, which came from a lamp at the bar. Blanc noticed that there were two missing when audiences had only been shown one. The one Duplenticy threw through the church window was also found by Martha and Samson, suggesting they possessed the item.
Apples
The apple from the story of Adam and Eve plays a role. Audiences are shown a jewel box that reads “L’Eveil Appel,” which, to American audiences, resembles the words “evil apple” but actually means “the awakening call.” This foreshadows the Damascus epiphany felt later in the movie by Blanc and Father Jud. The French meaning also hints at a resurrection plot, which Martha leans into, allowing for a double meaning.
However, the evil apple narrative does play into the symbolism of what is unfolding, with Wicks and Cy both seen eating apples, suggesting they will be tempted by the family’s wealth, with Wake Up Dead Man layering the symbol throughout.
Seating in the Church During the Murder
The day Wicks dies, there is a subtle visual clue in the church’s seating arrangement. The guilty parties, Martha, Samson, and Nat, are all seated on the same side of the church, while the other potential suspects are sitting on the opposite side. The moment offers a small detail, but those on the hunt for clues may note the split among suspects that later takes on more profound meaning.
Nat Attempts to Hide at the Bar
When the bar photo comes into play, audiences are directed to Nat’s presence, as he is hiding in a back booth. He attempts to play it off as just getting some lunch, though his drinking has become noticeable. However, his apparent attempt to hide from law enforcement indicates his guilt. While he can be seen as simply not wanting to talk with them, Nat knows that he could be arrested if the truth comes out, making his attempt to hide speak volumes.
Martha’s Book Club Selections
The church’s book club list is full of classic murder mysteries, including the works of Agatha Christie and Edgar Allan Poe. Blanc calls the list of books a “syllabus” for committing the murder, and it is revealed that Martha made those selections. The list paints Martha as someone who was potentially planning the murder, or at least knew how to pull off such an elaborate plan, thanks to the books.
Selections like John Dickson Carr’s The Hollow Man also play a significant role in how the murder in Wake Up Dead Man was pulled off, as the book deals with body swapping and a locked-room mystery akin to the Knives Out sequel. Each book on the list, even if just a minor detail, contains a hint toward Martha’s plan for those familiar with each title.
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