The Deeper Meaning Behind ‘Wake Up Dead Man,’ Explained

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More often than not, whether it is his foray into a Galaxy Far, Far, Away with Star Wars or his original sci-fi movie Looper, writer and director Rian Johnson is trying to convey a greater message with his films. That is especially the case with his Knives Out mystery series, in which detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) finds himself surrounded by an ensemble cast in a unique setting, and must figure out one grisly murder or another. On top of being entertaining mysteries with incredible performances, these films also bear some significant commentary or another. His latest Benoit Blanc Mystery, Wake Up Dead Man, is no exception.

Telling the story of the seemingly impossible murder of Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin) and the main suspect, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), a young priest who had only recently joined Wicks’ church and had been having a theological and moral clash with the victim. Along for the ride is the usual ensemble, this time taking the form of the church congregants and devout followers of Wicks. While the first Knives Out focused on the dynamics of a rich white upper-class family and elements of class warfare, and Glass Onion served as commentary on the unoriginality and unchecked power of billionaires, Wake Up Dead Man is a much more intimate study of faith, the power of belief, and grace.

‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Puts Greater Emphasis on Introspection

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The structure of Wake Up Dead Man is slightly more unconventional than what was seen in the previous two films, with a much heavier focus on the lead character, Jud. Much like Ana de Armas’ Marta and Janelle Monáe’s Helen, Jud is the lens through which the story is told, and audiences are given his perspective on the eclectic cast of characters. Most importantly, the examination of religious institutions and their potential for both harm and good is displayed by Jud and Wicks, who serve as a dichotomy of each other. Wicks is a character who exploits the faith and grace of others, while Jud has a genuine love for congregants and wants to connect with them on a deeper level. It’s a clash of beliefs and a striking commentary on ideological divides not just in religious institutions, but the greater cultural struggle that is ever-present in politics and social media.

The spectrum of belief is at the heart of Wake Up Dead Man, and each individual character is looking for different kinds of closure and acceptance. Glenn Close’s character, Martha Delacroix, is extremely devout towards the church, raised since she was a child in the faith, and even knew Wicks’ father. Martha is someone who represents the closed-off nature of some people within Western religion, intolerant of newcomers and extremely judgmental. Moreover, the characters played by Kerry Washington, Jeremy Renner, Cailee Spaeny, Andrew Scott, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church all work in unison to make the Parish at the heart of the story feel incredibly toxic and manipulative.

Wicks’s embodiment of performative religion is also what makes the character so integral to the story, and he feels omnipresent even after the character’s grisly death. Jud’s past issues with anger and violence are what end up making him the prime suspect in Wicks’ death, and it’s the very late (nearly 40 minutes into the film) arrival of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc that kicks Wake Up Dead Man into high gear. Blanc’s late addition to the film, paired with the narration we’d received from O’Connor’s Jud up until this point, immediately reframes the story. With heavy emphasis on Jud’s struggles with his personal demons, his worldview on faith, and the fact that he is a main suspect in a murder, Rian Johnson’s latest film positions itself as more than just a traditional whodunit. Instead, it emerges as a religiously informed mystery, one that avoids easy criticism of faith and the church while also taking seriously those who genuinely believe.

Benoit Blanc Gets a Different Kind of Intellectual Foil in ‘Wake Up Dead Man’

Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man

The dynamic between Blanc and Jud as investigative partners (akin to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson) also creates interesting parallels between the two characters. As Blanc does what he has become so well-known for in these films, Jud too showcases his own impressive instincts and investigative ability. However, whereas Blanc’s come from skepticism and even borderline nihilism, Jud’s own observations and discoveries come from his empathetic nature and inherent kindness and understanding of others. Wake Up Dead Man makes it clear from the first scene that the two characters share that they couldn’t be further apart in their belief systems. Thankfully, there’s a mutual respect between the two, which allows for a healthy dialogue and partnership that balances the other other out.

It’s all an impressive tightrope balance of murder mystery investigation and commentary on faith. For every instance that Blanc wants to make angry and broken people just pieces of a puzzle in his grand game, Jud is there to remind him that there are people’s lives and beliefs at stake. To that same end, Jud’s overextension of his empathy is halted by Blanc in order to bring a real killer with malicious intent to justice. Rian Johnson has expressed in several interviews that his upbringing in religion had influenced the script for the film, with Blanc and Jud’s dialogue with each other about truth and faith not being a feud or rivalry, but instead is practically Johnson’s own internal debate within himself about what these beliefs mean to him all these years later.

Benoit Blanc’s final dramatic monologue that lifts the veil on the killer is what ties the themes of Wake Up Dead Man together. Rather than reveal the killer in front of the congregants, the character decides to follow Jud’s example of empathy and grace and let Martha confess of her own free will, respecting her faith while still bringing her to justice. It’s not just about specific religious institutions, but basic humanity and kindness that don’t need a label or a faith behind it. Most importantly, Blanc does this so that Jud can do what he does best as a Priest.

Fundamental Kindness and Respect are at the Heart of ‘Wake Up Dead Man’

Father Duplenticy meets Martha in Wake Up Dead Man

In Wake Up Dead Man, Rian Johnson creates his most personal and introspective Knives Out Mystery yet. There’s plenty to be said about the way each surviving character finds their closure, but what’s most important is that most, if not all, the characters decide not to let fear or anger rule their lives any longer. Wicks’ weaponization of belief, anger, outrage, and religion holds up an ugly reflection of the current sociopolitical climate. Thankfully, Jud’s character is representative of a solution: forgiveness and compassion in an angry world.

The deeper meaning is less about giving a definitive answer to the debate about higher powers that has gone on forever, and more about showing a better path forward, one built on mutual respect and understanding. It’s with several intricate moving pieces and one of the kindest characters Johnson has written in Jud that Wake Up Dead Man thrives.