Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Ending Explained: Who Dies, Who’s The Murderer, And Why They Did It

Be warned: this contains spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. The latest film from director Rian Johnson, starring detective Benoit Blanc, is a complex mystery that explores themes of faith and understanding. Wake Up Dead Man shifts the setting to a quiet, deeply religious town, adding another layer of intrigue to the story.

Okay, so I just finished watching Wake Up Dead Man, and honestly, it’s amazing! Going in knowing as little as possible is definitely the way to go – the story unfolds beautifully, and all the twists really hit hard. I think it’s actually the best Knives Out movie so far, and it’s got so much going on thematically. It’s begging to be discussed! Let me break down what happens in Wake Up Dead Man and what it all means.

The Central Mystery In Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, Explained

“Wake Up Dead Man” is the most intriguing film in the Knives Out series so far, featuring a complex mystery that gradually unfolds. The story centers around the murder of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, and at first appears to be a revenge killing committed by someone from his church, despite seemingly impossible odds.

Jud Duplenticy seems like the most likely suspect because he had disagreements with Wicks and resented the passionate way Wicks preached. When the congregation challenged Wicks about being Cy Draven’s father, Wicks retaliated by threatening to reveal their personal secrets, which gave everyone a reason to want him silenced.

At first, viewers think Wicks has come back to life, but he’s actually found dead in Nat Sharp’s basement, along with Sharp’s melted remains. However, the story is much more complicated than it seems. Wicks was deliberately killed by Sharp, a church member named Martha Delacroix, and her partner, Samson.

Once Martha confessed the truth about Wilcox’s grandfather and the precious diamond, she was stunned to learn Wilcox planned to rob his father’s tomb to steal it. Deeply upset that the diamond had led someone else to do wrong, Martha hired Nicks and Samson to murder Wicks in an attempt to protect the diamond.

I always understood Martha’s dedication to the church, but I didn’t realize it went so deep. Years ago, Wicks’ grandfather asked her to protect this incredible diamond, to keep it out of the wrong hands – people who’d only use it for themselves. That’s what drove her, really. She truly believed in the priest and his vision, and that belief fueled decades of unwavering service. It’s just… shocking to think that commitment ultimately led to something as terrible as murder.

Instead of letting the diamond resurface, Martha decides she’d rather kill Wicks. She believes she can stage his death as a miraculous resurrection, using it to inspire religious passion and falsely attribute it to his teachings – all while keeping the diamond safe and fulfilling her vow to hide it.

Wake Up Dead Man Kills More Characters Than Any Other Knives Out Film

In “Wake Up Dead Man,” four characters die in the present, and the deaths of Wicks’s grandfather and mother are central to the story. It’s eventually revealed that Nicks directly killed Wicks, apparently to protect his medical career from being ruined by the exposure of Nicks’s own alcoholism and a potential conspiracy.

Martha secretly sewed a fake knife into Wicks’ clothing and slipped a drug into his drink. Once Wicks was unconscious, Nicks went to check on him, allowing Wicks a moment to retrieve the hidden real knife and stab himself to death. During Wicks’ funeral, Nicks stole the body and Samson quietly took its place in the coffin.

When it was time for Wicks to supposedly come back to life, Samson emerged from the tomb pretending to be him. The plan was for this fake resurrection to explain Wicks’ harsh preaching, and to create a distraction so Martha could find the diamond and hide it. However, Nicks changed the plan, stole the diamond, and killed Samson.

Devastated by Samson’s death, Martha confronted Nicks and, in a shocking turn, used his own overdose of medication against him. Overwhelmed with remorse, she then went back to the church for a final sermon. Having also taken a fatal dose of the drug, Martha lived just long enough to confess everything and receive last rites from Jud.

Although someone always dies in the Knives Out movies, Wake Up Dead Man features a significantly higher body count. Beyond the deaths of Wicks, Nicks, Samson, and Martha, the film also reveals deaths in the characters’ pasts – Wicks’ grandfather and daughter, and a man Jud killed years before.

Death plays a significant role in Wake Up Dead Man, featuring planned murders, sudden killings, and suicides. Despite the violence, these deaths are generally portrayed as sad events. Even Nick’s death, which could have been a victory in a different story, deeply upsets Martha, leaving her feeling empty and devastated.

How Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery Teases Benoit Blanc’s Backstory

A fascinating part of Wake Up Dead Man is the glimpse it gives into Benoit Blanc’s past. During a conversation about religion, Blanc reveals he doesn’t believe in God. This highlights his preference for facts and rational thinking. However, the scene suggests there’s also a deeper, more personal reason behind his feelings about religion.

Blanc subtly shares with Jud that his mother was deeply religious and he attended church with her when he was young. They later had a disagreement, and Blanc harshly criticized her, quickly diverting the conversation. This reveals a surprising new side to the detective played by Daniel Craig.

Blanc’s strong desire to find the truth likely stemmed from being raised in a religious home. Though he respects genuinely good priests like Jud and the positive impact they can have, he’s realistic about the potential for the church to be corrupted by greed, power, and control.

The movie hints that Benoit Blanc’s negative feelings towards religion might come from a difficult relationship with his mother, who was very religious. We also learn that Blanc is gay, and it’s possible his mother disapproved of his sexuality, causing a strain between them. The film doesn’t state this directly, but it’s a plausible explanation for his views.

The True Meaning Behind “The Scarlet Woman”

A central idea in Wake Up Dead Man revolves around Grace Wicks, often referred to as the “Scarlet Woman.” Both Martha’s stories and Wicks’ own sermons depict her mother as a cold, calculating woman motivated solely by her father’s money. After her father died, she caused significant problems for the church and eventually passed away herself.

After the diamond is found, it becomes clear that Grace destroyed parts of the church while looking for the treasure. While these actions show her as ruthless, Jud, Vera, and Blanc surprisingly feel sorry for her. Grace was rejected by her family and, after she dies, is unfairly portrayed as evil by her son, who blames her for everything.

Even Martha realizes she’s been wrongly holding onto her anger towards Grace. As she’s dying and seeking forgiveness, Jud points out that she must also forgive Grace. It’s only then that Martha finds true peace before passing away. This moment highlights a central message of the film.

Wicks only saw Grace as a representation of everything wrong with the world and constantly used her story to criticize others. But Jud believes that faith is about offering and receiving forgiveness. By showing compassion for Grace, Jud demonstrates his own goodness and finally brings Martha some peace.

How Wake Up Dead Man’s Ending Could Impact Future Knives Out Films

A key reason people enjoy the Knives Out movies is that each one tells a complete, self-contained mystery. While the detective Benoit Blanc appears in every film, each case is separate and new. But that could be changing with the upcoming third movie.

At the height of the movie’s drama, Benoit Blanc starts revealing the truth, but then surprisingly claims he can’t solve the mystery. Cy and Lee immediately seize on this, telling the press it proves miracles are more powerful than even the world’s best detective. However, Blanc had actually solved the case – he simply allowed Martha to pass away peacefully.

He chose not to reveal her involvement, letting her confess privately to Jud and Geraldine rather than causing a public scandal. The story ends by showing that some people still believe the false accusations, even after the truth about the crime came out following Martha’s death. This lingering belief could create problems for Blanc when he investigates future cases, making people question his judgment.

The True Meaning Of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

At its heart, Wake Up Dead Man explores themes of faith and finding forgiveness. For some, faith is a tool for control or a way to protect themselves. Characters like Wicks weaponize faith to manipulate others, while Martha uses it to reinforce her own beliefs. Cy and Lee see faith as a way to make money, and Simone hopes it will help her heal.

Blanc and Vera are both very critical of the church, and Vera especially feels stifled by it, which is why she understands Grace so well. Nicks, meanwhile, seems to attend more out of routine, finding a strange comfort in Wicks’ passionate sermons as he struggles with his wife’s departure and his own anger.

Only Jud and Samson truly have faith. This explains why Jud accidentally made things more difficult by concealing the flask used to poison Wicks. He didn’t realize the flask contained drugs, but worried about how Samson – who was recovering from alcoholism and greatly trusted Wicks – would react if he found it.

Samson is truly innocent, and his decision to help with Wicks stems solely from his deep love for Martha. That’s why his unexpected and violent death at the hands of Nicks is so shockingly sad, and it’s what truly launches the film into its dramatic climax.

Jud’s faith is a beautiful example of what the church should be. Unlike those who use religion to feel superior or to get rich, Jud simply has a sincere belief in the power of faith. He wasn’t seeking forgiveness for his past actions because he felt sorry, but because he truly believes Jesus loves and forgives him.

Jud and Wicks clashed so often because Jud is naturally empathetic, while Wicks holds much harsher beliefs. This empathy also explains why Jud repeatedly tries to take the blame for things he didn’t do – he hates causing others pain. Even after everything that’s happened, it shows his character that he still performs the last rites for Martha.

This film echoes the themes of the first Knives Out, particularly the way a plan to frame someone falls apart because of compassion. Just like in the first movie, someone’s empathy—in this case, for Fran—leads them to risk everything to save a life. Jud’s inherent goodness influences those around him, and ultimately, that belief in humanity is shared by others at the film’s climax.

Although Blanc isn’t religious, he has strong faith in people. His dedication to helping Jud—and those who enlist his help—shows the same compassion that motivates Jud himself. This shared empathy gives Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery a powerful emotional center and adds depth to the film’s themes.

2025-11-27 03:22