Third Knives Out Film Wake Up Dead Man Debuts in Theaters

Daniel Craig reprises his role as the sharp-witted detective Benoit Blanc in "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," the third installment in Rian Johnson's acclaimed whodunit series, which began rolling out in theaters this week. The film, a dark comedy laced with gothic suspense, centers on a baffling murder at a small church in upstate New York, where Blanc unravels an impossible crime amid a tense ensemble of suspects.

Directed and written by Johnson, the movie unfolds as a locked-room mystery. The victim is Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, a stern and combative priest played by Josh Brolin, who delivers a fiery sermon before retreating to a visible alcove in the church, from which he never emerges alive. Assisting in the investigation is Father Jud Duplenticy, a former boxer turned priest portrayed by Josh O'Connor, who arrives at the parish after a prior altercation at his home church. The story probes themes of guilt, faith, and hidden motives, with Blanc entering the scene later to interrogate a diverse group of parishioners and locals.

The cast features a star-studded lineup, including Glenn Close as a devoted churchgoer, Mila Kunis as a local police officer, Jeremy Renner...