‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Trailer Teases the Darkest ‘Knives Out’ Yet

Over the weekend, the third “Knives Out” mystery penned by writer/director Rian Johnson made its world debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. So far, the response has been generally favorable; as of now, “Wake Up Dead Man” boasts a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 early reviews. The original “Knives Out” and its first sequel, “Glass Onion,” currently hold scores of 97% and 91%, respectively, on the same platform. Thus, it appears that Rian Johnson and leading actor Daniel Craig have outdone themselves once more – you’ve got that right!

Once again, Craig’s enigmatic detective Benoit Blanc faces an intricate case that seems unsolvable. A star-studded ensemble portrays the numerous suspects, featuring the crème de la crème of Hollywood talent such as Jeremy Renner, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, and Andrew Scott.

You can check out the first trailer for the film below:

Here is the film’s official synopsis:

In this new installment, the third and darkest chapter of Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series, Daniel Craig reprises his role as Benoit Blanc, who faces his most perilous case yet. A young priest named Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) arrives to aid Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), but it quickly becomes apparent that something is amiss within the church congregation.

The faithful group consists of Glenn Close as devout church lady Martha Delacroix, Thomas Haden Church as circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt, Kerry Washington as tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Esq., Daryl McCormack as aspiring politician Cy Draven, Jeremy Renner as town doctor Nat Sharp, Andrew Scott as best-selling author Lee Ross, and Cailee Spaeny as concert cellist Simone Vivane. When an unexpected and seemingly impossible murder shocks the town, the absence of a clear suspect leads local police chief Geraldine Scott (Mila Kunis) to collaborate with detective Benoit Blanc in untangling a mystery that defies all rational explanation.

The movie titled “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will be released in cinemas on November 26, and it will become available on Netflix starting December 12.

10 Great HBO Miniseries You Totally Forgot About

1. Generation Kill (2008)

Perhaps the reason why

Generation Kill

is often overlooked as one of HBO’s greatest miniseries could be due to the fact that many of its cast members didn’t achieve the same level of fame as some actors from shows like Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Nevertheless, this series, based on the book by Evan Wright during his embedding with the U.S. Marines in the 2003 Iraq invasion, overseen by David Simon and Ed Burns of The Wire, offers a raw and largely unbiased portrayal of the early stages of the war. Starring an emerging Alexander Skarsgard as the eerily calm and composed Staff Sergeant Brad “Iceman” Colbert, it is intense, brutal, and unflinching, making it one of the most authentic and impactful media productions about that time in recent decades.

2. Show Me a Hero (2015)

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, let me share with you an often-overlooked gem from Oscar Isaac’s early days in Hollywood. In the early 2000s, before he became a household name, he shone brightly in films like Drive, Inside Llewyn Davis, and A Most Violent Year. However, one of his lesser-known roles was in the HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero, based on Lisa Belkin’s book about Yonkers, New York mayor Nick Wasicsko and the racial tension that erupted over a federally mandated public housing development.

Co-written by David Simon, renowned for The Wire, and William F. Zorzi, a reporter, this series was masterfully directed by Paul Haggis, an Oscar winner. The series received critical acclaim but sadly remains underrated. It was praised not only for Isaac’s compelling performance as Wasicsko but also for its fearless examination of modern racism and systemic bias, making it a must-watch for anyone seeking insightful and powerful storytelling.

3. The Night Of (2016)

If you recall, that hot summer saw the airing of the captivating miniseries, “The Night Of,” a top-notch mystery series. This production starred Riz Ahmed as a Pakistani-American college student implicated in the murder of a woman from New York’s Upper East Side, and John Turturro as his shrewd yet fatigued attorney. For years, plans for “The Night Of” had been in the works, with both James Gandolfini and Robert De Niro considering Turturro’s role at different times. The final product is a classic case of a prime suspect suffering from amnesia about the crime scene, which lends an unsettling sense of anxiety to every nerve-wracking episode. With standout performances by Ahmed, Turturro, and Michael Kenneth Williams (we assure you, we’ll stop referencing “The Wire” soon), it’s no surprise that “The Night Of” ranks among the greatest crime dramas ever created.

4.The Young Pope (2016)

In “The Young Pope,” I found myself intrigued by the thought-provoking premise: what if the Pope were young? This captivating HBO miniseries, despite being one of their more absurd productions, was surprisingly hard to look away from. So engrossing, in fact, that they followed it up with a sequel miniseries titled “The New Pope.” Jude Law takes on the role of Lenny Belardo, a relatively young New York cardinal who assumes the name Pius XIII upon his shocking election as the Pope. He must navigate the complexities of the Vatican’s intrigues while aiming to revolutionize the church itself. Pius XIII is brash, flippant, and self-indulgent, but beneath this façade lies a profound pain that only his mentor, Sister Mary, portrayed by Diane Keaton, can perceive.

5. Mosaic (2018)

As a passionate film enthusiast, I fondly recall the era when numerous platforms were experimenting with bringing “interactive television” to life. Among these pioneers was HBO, who took a bold step by greenlighting Steven Soderbergh’s intriguing murder mystery miniseries titled “Mosaic”. Starring the iconic Sharon Stone as Olivia Lake, a children’s book author who meets an untimely demise, the series follows her sister and friends as they embark on a quest to unravel the mystery of her killer.

At the time, viewers could either watch it like a conventional TV show or download an app that offered a more immersive experience. This innovative application allowed you to navigate through a maze of dialogue trees, disjointed scenes, and background documents, all in an attempt to solve the case yourself. Unfortunately, the interactive elements of the app have been retired, leaving us with only the television broadcast for enjoyment.

The unique interactivity of “Mosaic” was a testament to Soderbergh’s and writer Ed Solomon’s vision for the show, which aimed to present a multifaceted narrative without clear heroes or villains, allowing viewers to piece together the story from various perspectives.

6. Sharp Objects (2018)

Initially gaining acclaim with her novel ‘Sharp Objects’, Gillian Flynn later stunned audiences worldwide with ‘Gone Girl’. This captivating story first appeared as a Southern gothic noir, centering around a journalist, portrayed by Amy Adams in HBO’s miniseries adaptation, who returns to her hometown amidst a series of baffling killings. Camille Preaker, a troubled woman battling depression and alcoholism, is haunted by her past and the town she once called home, as well as her mother, played by Patricia Clarkson. In this chilling atmosphere, she tries to unravel the murder mystery while reconnecting with her enigmatic teenage half-sister (Eliza Scanlen). The show is permeated with a somber, foreboding tone and the oppressive summer heat of Missouri that can influence people in unexpected ways. Notably, it was also the last work of director Jean-Marc Vallée before his passing in 2021.

7. Watchmen (2019)

In case there was another adaptation of “Watchmen,” it was certainly executed in an eccentric manner. The HBO series is set in a contemporary world reflecting what the “Watchmen” universe might resemble if the masked vigilante movement persisted beyond the comic’s conclusion. Co-created by Damon Lindelof, who also worked on “Lost” and “The Leftovers,” this show carries the peculiar narrative and tonal elements that are characteristic of a series helmed by someone like him. The storyline unfolds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Regina King portrays a masked hero investigating the murder of the police chief amidst a backdrop of white supremacist violence. As she delves deeper, she uncovers secrets linking current events to the “Watchmen” of yesteryears.

8. I May Destroy You (2020)

In the creative realm, Michaela Coel from “Chewing Gum” is responsible for creating, writing, co-directing, and producing the television series titled “I May Destroy You.” This exceptional program embodies a single person’s distinct artistic vision. Michaela Coel portrays Arabella, a writer who rose to fame through social media and published her first book – a modern-day manifesto. However, her life takes an unexpected turn when she is raped at a party one night. The series then chronicles her pursuit of identifying the culprit and uncovering additional events from that fateful evening. Meanwhile, her friends, predominantly played by Black British actors, grapple with their own life struggles in London.

9. We Are Who We Are (2020)

Luca Guadagnino, renowned for his numerous influential films, directs HBO’s lesser-known series, “We Are Who We Are.” This teenage coming-of-age drama, set on an imaginary Italian military base in 2016, revolves around two fourteen-year-olds (Jack Dylan Grazer and Jordan Christine Seamón) navigating the complexities of adolescence, friendships, first loves, and self-discovery regarding personal and gender identity. The show subtly explores the significance of ordinary moments in life, making each second seem crucial.

10. Irma Vep (2022)

In my opinion, as a fervent admirer, I’d like to highlight HBO’s bold innovation, “Irma Vep.” This TV series, masterfully directed by Olivier Assayas, is nothing short of a Möbius strip in the realm of television. It serves as both a reimagined adaptation and a continuation of Assayas’ earlier film of the same name, playfully skewering the culture of sequels while redefining the boundaries of what a sequel or reboot truly entails.

Starring the talented Alicia Vikander as an American actress who trades big-budget blockbusters for a move to France to star in a remake of an old silent film serial, the show follows her journey as the lines between herself and her character (and all the intrigue and mystery that ensue) gradually blur.

2025-09-08 16:59