Rian Johnson's third release for the eponymously named **KNIVES OUT** franchise -- **WAKE UP DEAD MAN** -- shows no signs of depreciating in quality -- as the latest offering is arguably better than its predecessors, a rare trait of film franchises that tend to degrade with audiences.
But **WAKE UP DEAD MAN** is no slouch -- delivering, yet again, another whip-smart screenplay with compelling, multidimensional characters that will keep viewers guessing in this thrilling whodunnit that tackles theology, and faith in a small, suspicious town after a mysterious murder is committed.
Josh Brolin's austere, fire and brimstone parish priest fires on all cylinders here -- castigating outsiders and insiders with his Bible-thumping speeches; Glenn Close as Brolin's lickspittle assistant, fussing over all the parish's needs and affairs -- is brilliant, as always -- but the arrival of Josh O'Connor as the assistant priest to the parish provides an outsider's glimpse into the very insular and loyal town coterie that sit in the nave and endure Brolin's judgments week after week.
O'Connor gives a master class as a man torn between the parishioner's suspicions and his own spiritual journey towards redemption, as he balances his faith with his pursuit of the truth.
When Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc does arrive to unpack the mystery and put right all that is amiss, how the entanglements get resolved offers another fascinating experience in Craig's performance as he takes us through the labyrinthine connections between the characters, exploring motive, opportunity in this taut mystery thriller.
Johnson has done it again with Craig -- and the incredible supporting cast from O'Connor (tipped to be the next James Bond some say, which I could very well enjoy!), Brolin, Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, Mila Kunis, Jeffrey Wright, Thomas Haden Church and Daryl McCormack capably help carry what is arguable the best of the KNIVES OUT trilogy of films -- leaving fans with only one lingering question:
How long do we need to wait for the next **KNIVES OUT** film?