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Benoit Blanc Unmasks a Deadly Conspiracy in Netflix’s ‘Wake Up Dead Man’
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Netflix’s latest installment in the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man, delivers a complex and captivating mystery that delves into the heart of faith, greed, and deception. The film,now streaming after a limited theatrical run,presents a “perfectly impractical” crime – the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) – and tasks renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) with unraveling the truth alongside an unlikely ally,Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor).
Rian Johnson, writer and director of the Knives Out franchise, intentionally steered Wake up Dead Man away from the direct Agatha Christie adaptations of its predecessors.As Johnson explained to Gold Derby, the film originated from a desire to explore the role of faith in contemporary America: “The reality is that this film did not start with a mystery book at all. It was the idea of, ‘Can I make a fun Benoit Blanc murder mystery that examines the issue of faith in America right now?'” Johnson, who grew up in a Christian household, aimed to tackle the subject with nuance, avoiding both simplistic condemnation and hesitant avoidance.
While not directly inspired by Christie, Johnson did draw parallels to the work of John Dickson Carr, a contemporary of Christie known for his “locked-door mysteries” and gothic tone. “He specialized in the locked-door mystery, and his books all had more of an Edgar Allen Poe-style gothic tone to them,” Johnson noted, adding that Carr’s 1935 novel The Hollow Man (also published as The Three Coffins) served as a key influence.
A Locked-Room Mystery unfolds
The central puzzle of Wake Up Dead Man revolves around the seemingly impossible resurrection of Wicks,who is found alive in his mausoleum after being declared dead. Blanc quickly determines that Wicks was, in fact, murdered, and the resurrection was a meticulously staged illusion. The initial suspects include Wicks’s enterprising aide, Nat Levasseur (Jeremy Allen White), and the enigmatic Cy Wicks (Austin Butler), who claims to be a distant relative.
The investigation reveals a web of secrets and hidden motives. Nat, initially appearing as a devoted follower, is discovered to have been manipulating Wicks for personal gain, using a concealed knife. However, Nat’s plan was nearly derailed by Jud, who unknowingly hid the crucial drug-laced flask, believing he was protecting the congregation from Wicks’s alcoholism.
A Mastermind Revealed: martha Delacroix’s Confession
however, the story doesn’t end with Nat’s exposure. Blanc soon realizes that Nat was merely a pawn in a far more elaborate scheme orchestrated by Martha Delacroix. martha, deeply connected to the church’s history, possessed a secret entrusted to her by the founder of Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude: the location of the legendary Eve’s Apple diamond, hidden within his stomach.
Following the founder’s death, Martha’s mother, Grace, desperately searched for the diamond, ultimately perishing in the attempt. Inspired by Jud’s arrival, Martha initially intended to reveal the diamond’s location to Wicks, only to discover his plan to desecrate his grandfather’s remains and exploit the fortune alongside Cy – revealed to be Wicks’s illegitimate son.
This revelation prompted Martha to devise a plan with Nat and Samson to kill Wicks and stage his resurrection, restoring faith in the church and securing the diamond. The plan involved Samson emerging from the mausoleum with the diamond, witnessed by Nat, while posing as the resurrected Wicks. Though, Jud’s unexpected presence and Nat’s overwhelming greed disrupted the scheme. Nat murdered samson and stole the diamond, leaving Jud to believe he was responsible for the groundskeeper’s death.
Martha, suspicious of Nat’s motives, confronted him at his home, where they were preparing to dispose of Wicks’s body. After narrowly avoiding being poisoned, Martha cleverly switched the teacups, ensuring Nat consumed the poison himself and seemingly died while attempting to dispose of the evidence.
A Final Act of Redemption
Following her confession,Martha collapses into Jud’s arms,revealing she had also ingested the poison. In her final moments, she seeks forgiveness, including for her actions against her desperate mother, Grace.Jud and blanc ultimately secure the Eve’s Apple diamond, preventing it from falling into Cy’s hands. Jud than conceals the diamond within a newly constructed crucifix, symbolizing a renewed faith for the church
