The ‘Knives’ are out once again, and this time, it’s a dark mystery that challenges us to keep the ‘Faith’ as we struggle to navigate ‘who did it’ in between layers of truth and deception that have everyone confused – even detective Benoit Blanc.
Daniel Craig makes a comeback as Detective Benoit Blanc, working ‘in cahoots’ with Father Judd (Josh O’Connor) in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man to find out who really killed Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, the former church leader – a diabolical figure. This, in itself, offset against the conflicted humanity of Father Judd, channels a reawakening of the Faith Benoit failed to feel… or just maybe, he did, but failed to voice it.
Knives Out 3 is far from the comedic flair that underlined The Glass Onion. And yet, the makers do not shy away from a dark plot that turns darker – from planned resurrections to an evil hand guiding the call of Faith in a village where everyone hides a secret, a guilt that, once revealed, would leave them damned in the church of God – precisely what Monsignor Jefferson Wicks planned for them all. That poses multiple suspects for the murder of the one man loathed by many, who had towered over the Church of Lady of Perpetual Fortitude for a lifetime. At the heart of it all lies an unclaimed diamond, hidden like a curse, buried deep inside the entrails of the grounds beneath… but no more spoilers.
What makes Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man a gripping watch is the connection between Father Judd and Benoit Blanc. Daniel Craig reinvents himself in a waistcoat-clad suit with a sun-kissed hairdo – a far cry from the sleek Glass Onion. More vintage than modern, but equally charming. This Benoit appears as a coming-of-age figure and gels in well with the period frames, church grounds, and Father Judd’s priest suit. Let alone Martha’s conservative, almost forbidding attire, essayed by none other than Glenn Close – always one to watch for her screen presence and intense characterizations, Martha does not fail to impress. With a cast that spells trouble in murder land, Josh Brolin as Wicks positively sparks both charisma and evil – always an attractive blend onscreen.
The script has viewers guessing till the last minute – did she or did he, can he solve it or is he the one? That is, after all, the litmus test for a murder mystery one can seriously get one’s teeth into: that it should remain unsolvable to the last detail, which it does, nearly, right to the end. And as we see the minutes speed by, we wonder if Blanc will ever really get to the point. But then again, the game isn’t over till it’s over, and it is in the way the grand finale shapes up that the high point of the tale is marked – a reveal before a reveal and then, drum roll… for the final reveal, in caps!
Yes, that’s how anti-climactic it is right to the end, and Knives Out fans get everything they signed up for.
But beyond the mystery lies a deeper narrative. One that pushes Knives Out from a murder mystery thriller into a surprisingly spiritual realm – into conversations about Faith, its relevance in today’s world, and why the torch needs to be carried by the right hearts. Father Judd, with all his moral conflicts, anger issues, and raw honesty, stands out as a priest fleshed out in human contradictions – one who wishes death upon the evil, yet seeks to ease a fellow human’s pain, freeing them of their suffering and, in doing so, hoping to redeem himself of his own guilt. Priesthood was a clear calling for Father Judd; his youth a silent nod to the audience of today grappling with the gatekeepers of their faith, trying hard to find a place to bank their heavy souls in a world that is crowded with many. Father Judd essays a solution against all the Monsignor Jefferson Wicks of the world who have used, exploited, and shaped Faith according to a narcissistic will to survive and hold on to power through invoking guilt and oppression among followers.
Even Detective Benoit Blanc, a confirmed non-believer, comes to respect Father Judd’s position. Does Blanc signify the dubious of Faith among us? Certainly, and what a subtle, yet respectful figure he cuts. But will the Blancs of this world might cave in eventually? The narrative nudges gently but never pushes us to believe. There is a moment in the final reveal where the blinding rays of the sun, beaming down upon Benoit and Martha, offer him a moment’s revelation — one that saves and solves the case? But it is not up to the Benoits among us to credit that moment to divine intervention – though the smile says it all as he walks away, declining Father Judd’s invitation to attend church – a smile that possibly knew more than the person who smiled it – even the doubters do not know they believe?
And on that note, we have a hunch you will be back, Benoit Blanc – so keep the Faith while we resurrect ours.
Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man brings Daniel Craig back as Benoit Blanc, joined by an ensemble cast that includes Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner and Mila Kunis. Written and directed by Rian Johnson, the film is produced by Ram Bergman and Rian Johnson, with Tom Karnowski serving as executive producer.
