‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ Ending Explained

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Since 2019’s Knives Out, Rian Johnson has become known for crafting captivating murder mysteries. He continues to deliver intriguing, relevant, and layered stories, all centered around the investigations of Daniel Craig’s character, Benoit Blanc. Each new installment features Blanc alongside a fresh and diverse group of suspects, giving the Knives Out series on Netflix a seemingly endless potential. Now, Blanc returns to tackle another puzzling case in Wake Up Dead Man.

Following the themes of family and wealth explored in Knives Out and Glass Onion, the newest Benoit Blanc mystery, Wake Up Dead Man, delves into the complex topic of faith. The story centers around Reverend Jud Duplenticy, a young priest who arrives at a church where the congregation is more devoted to their charismatic leader, Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), than to God himself. When Wicks is murdered, suspicion immediately falls on Jud and his close relationship with the Monsignor. The film unfolds as a seemingly unsolvable crime, ultimately prompting questions about belief and the power of stories.

‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Is a Testament to the Power of Storytelling


Netflix

I was really intrigued to hear Rian Johnson talk about what sparked Wake Up Dead Man. He’s been open about the influences on Knives Out and Glass Onion, but this one seems particularly driven by the classic “locked room mystery” – you know, a crime that appears impossible because it happened somewhere no one could have gotten to the victim. He combined that setup with this incredibly dark backstory about Wicks’ mother, Grace – they call her “the Scarlet woman” in the film – who basically went wild and wrecked a church after being denied the inheritance she felt she deserved. The result is a seriously twisty story, honestly the most complex mystery Rian’s ever created, in my opinion.

The central mystery is so baffling that it compels the characters to question their own beliefs – or lack of them. While all the Knives Out movies have unique structures, Wake Up Dead Man is particularly clever. It doesn’t introduce Detective Blanc until after the first act. Instead, the film opens with O’Connor’s character, Duplenticy, explaining the events leading up to the murder (which happened on Palm Sunday) and the days that followed, as well as introducing Wicks’ inner circle. Through Duplenticy’s written account to Blanc, viewers are led to suspect someone within the church committed the seemingly impossible crime.

What really unlocked the mystery for me in Wake Up Dead Man was how the film tackled storytelling. There’s a fantastic conversation early on between Blanc and Duplenticy about religion – Blanc is pretty critical of organized religion and its flaws. But O’Connor’s character offers a really interesting counterpoint, suggesting that faith is essentially a story we tell ourselves, something we choose to believe in for comfort and hope. It’s a clever idea, and it’s that shift in perspective that ultimately helps Blanc piece everything together.

The reveal of who killed Wicks—and brought him back to life—shows it was all part of a story concocted by another character. This character desperately tried to maintain the appearance of a strong church and leader.

The Abuse of Power in Religious Institutions Is at the Heart of ‘Wake Up Dead Man’


Netflix

The person responsible for Wicks’ death and the elaborate scheme to make it look like he came back to life was actually Martha Delacroix, played by Glenn Close. Detective Blanc pretends he can’t solve the case in front of everyone, but this is a tactic to allow Delacroix a chance to confess privately to Duplenticy. She reveals herself as the killer and explains her motive: she wasn’t motivated by religious hatred when she damaged the church, but by a search for a promised inheritance – a jewel known as Eve’s apple – which she believed was hidden inside.

Only Delacroix is aware that Father Wicks hid the diamond by swallowing it, hoping to protect his daughter from its influence. She reveals this to Delacroix, trying to convince him that Wicks genuinely cared for her. When she learns he intends to rob the tomb, she decides to kill him, believing it’s the only way to maintain his good reputation before greed takes over. She enlists her husband, Samson, the groundskeeper, and a parishioner, Dr. Nat Sharp, to carry out the murder. Their plan involves Samson disguising himself as a resurrected Wicks, and Sharp replacing a harmless knife (placed by Delacroix) with a real one, making the murder seem impossible. However, Sharp becomes consumed by greed and kills Samson to steal the diamond. Ultimately, Delacroix poisons and kills Sharp as well.

Following her confession, it’s revealed that Delacroix consumed the remaining poison she originally gave to Sharp. Duplenticy embraces her as she seeks forgiveness, ultimately letting go of her resentment towards Grace and understanding her experiences. The film, Wake Up Dead Man, concludes with Duplenticy assuming control of the church and concealing the diamond Delacroix entrusted to him within a newly constructed wooden cross—a feature that was notably missing throughout the entire story. This signifies a resurgence of true faith in the church, replacing the corruption of Wicks and bringing the movie to a hopeful conclusion.

‘Wake Up Dead Man’ Challenges Viewers To Examine What Stories and Beliefs They Put Stock In


Netflix

Rian Johnson has called Wake Up Dead Man the most unsettling Benoit Blanc mystery so far, and it’s easy to see why – the film has the highest death count of the three movies. It also tackles a difficult topic: the damage caused when religious organizations misuse their power and betray the trust of their followers. The movie shows that while belief can be a positive force, it can also be incredibly dangerous, as seen with characters like Samson, who trusted his wife Delacroix without question. However, the film doesn’t entirely condemn religion, as Duplenticy’s sincere faith and dedication to his community ultimately lead to Delacroix revealing the truth.

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2025-11-28 02:04