Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

Score: 8 / 10
Category: Movie
Platform: Netflix

One-line verdict

Smart, twist-heavy mystery that knows exactly how to mess with you — without cheating.

Why I watched this

I went straight into this after Glass Onion, so I was already on alert mode. With a Benoit Blanc movie, you know every line might matter. So I paid attention properly this time.

This round, religion plays a big role in the story. And it’s not just there for decoration. It actually drives the conflict.

Story & structure

The movie starts very clear. We know who the main person is and why he’s in trouble. No confusion. No nonsense setup.

Then the twists start coming.

And I mean layers of them.

A few times I genuinely thought, “Okay this must be the ending.” But nope. Still going. And surprisingly, it doesn’t feel dragged. It feels planned.

Most importantly, the twists make sense. That’s the key. It doesn’t feel like the writer just pulled something out of thin air. The groundwork is there.

That’s what separates good mystery from cheap mystery.

What worked

• The religious theme adds real moral tension.
• The structure is tight.
• The third act expands instead of collapsing.
• It keeps you thinking without insulting you.

And yes, Rian Johnson clearly understands how to play against audience expectations. I still have my Star Wars issues with him, but his mystery writing? Solid.

What keeps it from a 9

Let me be disciplined here.

Emotionally, this almost feels like a 9 because the message of forgiveness and hope hits close to home for me.

But structurally? It’s strong, not perfect.

Some twists feel slightly engineered. Clever — but you can feel the design.

So I’m keeping this at 8 / 10.

Final thought

Engaging. Smart. Layered.
Not flawless — but confident.