The darkest, deadliest, and undoubtedly best-acted film in the detective series is "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," which premiered on Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival. It begins with a young priest, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), writing a lengthy letter by hand, seeking assistance. A former boxer known for his violent reputation, he recounts how his temper got the best of him, resulting in him striking a fellow priest in the face. During a meeting with his superiors, Jud apologizes for his actions, expressing his belief that his faith is under threat (“A priest is a shepherd, and the world is a wolf”). The other clerics acknowledge his perspective, yet they feel compelled to impose some form of punishment. Consequently, Jud is assigned to a small-town church, Our Lady of Perpetual Grace, which the resident priest, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), has nearly ruined with his fiery sermons. Jud arrives at the church, intent on redeeming himself and finding peace in his faith. However, he soon realizes that Monsignor Wicks's extreme methods have alienated the congregation, leaving Jud to navigate a community in turmoil while striving to restore both the church and his sense of purpose. 

Wicks resents the imposition and attempts to undermine Jud at every point, even forcing him to listen to his progressively graphic confessionals: "At first, I thought it was just weird, but now I realize it was the first punch," he recollects.Wicks has acquired a devoted flock, beginning with the ultra-loyal Martha Delacroix (Glenn Close), who has a unique relationship with the powerful, silent groundskeeper Samson (Thomas Haden Church). In contrast to the first two Knives Out films, the suspects this time are a darker, moodier, and less easily interpretable group: a lawyer with a secret (Kerry Washington), a doctor dealing with marital issues (Jeremy Renner), a disabled concert cellist (Cailee Spaeny), and an author struggling to retain readers (Andrew Scott). Monsignor Wicks' sophistry and powerful bully-pulpit magnetism fascinate them all.

Jud's written testimony contains a significant amount of backstory, including a significant amount of information regarding Monsignor Wicks's mother, a "harlot whore" who allegedly embarked on a destructive spree within the church after her father's death, leaving her destitute. Wicks refuses to replace the centerpiece crucifix, which she had torn down, leaving a powdery outline in its place. The demolition was her most serious transgression. This absence—of God, of love, of simple community spirit—serves as a metaphor for the entire parish, in which each individual is defined by their own deficiencies and shortcomings, which in turn prompt Wicks to despise them and resolve to bring them all down.
After a good while, Daniel Craig eventually makes his grand entrance. As soon as it becomes clear that Jud is writing this mini memoir at Benoit's request, the antics commence. It is revealed that Benoit's fascination with the case was sparked by the discovery of Wicks's stabbed body in an empty sideroom, which was the result of a protracted feud with Jud. This crime is a prime example of a locked-room mystery novel, an art form that the congregation has been studying in their book club, where they have been reading Agatha Christie stories.

It is intriguing that Benoit, an agnostic, acknowledges that his profession is sustained by the inherent "need to know" of individuals, as evidenced by his appearance on The View. In spite of his contempt for organized religion, which he characterizes as "a perfidious bubble of belief," there is a nuanced sense of envy toward Monsignor Wicks.

"Wake Up the Dead" shares characteristics with the first two films but introduces a Father Brown-esque twist, infused with film noir elements. We still get an A-list cast; Ryan didn’t sacrifice humor for the darkness. Johnson clearly drew inspiration from BBC crime dramas and Agatha Christie novels, but he also inserted modern-day inspiration, hence the failed politician turned influencer and the religiously obsessed. It’s the combination of observation mixed in with humor that makes these films such fun and has actors clamoring to be in the films. Glenn Close gives a career-turning performance as Martha in an already stacked resume, and Josh O’Connor is absolutely fantastic as Father Jud, with honorable mention to Josh Brolin for burning down the pulpit as Monsignor Wicks.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is still a fun film, and that type of film is very much needed.

The film comes to select theaters on November 26th and on Netflix on December 12th.