Critics react to Wake Up Dead Man after Toronto premiere: “The allure—that was the story”
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, written and directed by Rian Johnson, premiered Saturday night on the third day of the Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. Critics praised the film’s gothic, mournful tone, comparing it to the artificial setting of Glass Onion.
Detective Benoit Blanc, played by Daniel Craig, faces “the most dangerous case” of his career in this sequel. The ensemble cast includes Mila Kunis, Josh O’Connor, Cailee Spaeny, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.
IndieWire wrote: “It works—and precisely because there isn’t some grand puzzle at its core. Johnson knows his form and format, he delivers on expectations, plays with tone and message, but never loses sight of why watching and solving these damn stories is so entertaining.”
Deadline noted that Benoit Blanc and the other characters keep the project engaging, cautioning viewers not to worry about the genre shift: “Don’t assume all the fun is gone—it absolutely isn’t. As one character says: ‘Clearly, we’re in a Scooby-Doo caper here.’”
A critic for The Wrap praised Josh O’Connor’s performance: “The multi-hyphenate newcomer not only brings standout comedic timing, but infuses the film with immense charm—which is exactly what it’s about. This is Johnson’s most masterful and most emotional murder mystery yet.”
Variety described Wake Up Dead Man as “witty and absurd,” a mystery with an almost pitch-perfect tone: “A detective story that fulfills the expectations set six years ago by the first Knives Out, reviving its Agatha Christie spirit with a knowingly bold, playful flair.”
The third installment of Knives Out will have a limited theatrical release on November 26, followed by a Netflix debut on December 12.
