“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” (2025) is the third in the “Knives Out” franchise with Daniel Craig playing private detective Benoit Blanc (“BB”). Set in Chimney Stone, New York, BB is out to save an earnest priest, Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), accused of killing the controversial, polemic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin). With all the clues pointing to Jud, even Jud starts to doubt his innocence, and he is the only true believer who can tend to this flock. Who will save him? BB and Jesus Christ. No, seriously. While the weakest entry in a strong franchise for its well-intentioned, but heavy-handed moral, an easily solved mystery and thin character development for the supporting cast, it is nevertheless a delightful and entertaining crowd pleaser thanks to the superb ensemble cast and the message though it is more text than subtext, which may be necessary considering humanity’s rapid decline in empathy, common sense and understanding of the heart of Christ.

Immigrants are taking American jobs, specifically Brits like O’Connor in a plethora of American roles (“The History of Sound,” “The Mastermind” and the “Rebuilding”). O’Connor is a talented, versatile actor who fits any era, place, class, so the decision to have him lead the latest cast of suspects is a credible though a huge shift for the franchise that women (of color?) normally helm such as Ana De Armas and Janelle Monáe. He delivers a plucky, energetic and wide-eyed performance of a younger man as Jud, a former boxer turned true believer who wants to compel his parisioners with the love of Christ, not beating people senseless. Did the vigilante Daredevil inspire Johnson? In one sequence when Jud and BB are on the verge of solving the crime, the use of editing, the chemistry and timing between O’Connor and Craig, and Bridget Everett’s straight man and poignant affect converts “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” from an ordinary mystery to the true spirit of Jud’s calling and the point of the parish church, as a ministry to lost souls, not a bully pulpit. It is the best scene of the film, and the reprise during the denouement does not capture that simple beauty.

The real point of “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” is to illustrate how the wrong church leader could make people stray from the path of righteousness. Brolin does a mean opposite-in-attitude Kris Kristofferson impression as this installment’s villain and victim. He demonizes the usual demographics though even this bad guy has limits and seems not to go after people for their race thus proving that fiction is better than reality. If you do not get the point that Johnson is making, congratulations for somehow missing the most recent highlights of the worst timeline. It so lacks subtlety that explaining it seems insulting. It is not subtext if a character with political demagogue ambitions, Cy Draven (Daryl McCormack, who recently appeared in “Anniversary”), spells it out periodically.

The Monsignor’s terror tactics have the effect of keeping the regular parishioners in line and fear that they are too scared to attend an unauthorized prayer meeting but are encouraged to have a murder mystery book club. The Monsignor is possessive of the church because his grandfather, Rev. Prentice Wicks (James Faulkner), was the priest there and let him and his mother, Grace (Annie Hamilton), live there. It would have been nice if Johnson had done the slightest research about the Catholic Church before making this movie. I’m not a Catholic, but I knew that many plot points would not happen. In the story, there is hidden wealth, but no one knows where to find it. Let’s say that grandpa kept the stash a secret. Priests do not get to keep their money. There is concern that the Monsignor could do what he wants with the parish church, including close it, which a Monsignor has no authority to do single handedly. Little slip ups could take people out of the story.

Unlike the first installment, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” gives Craig more screentime, makes his character more competent and hotter, and recruits him into being the secular partner to poor Jud to save the parish and the nation’s soul. Is Craig’s accent better or have we collectively signed a waiver? I suspect the latter. There is always more margin if we are enjoying ourselves, and the sight of Jud and BB scrambling to prevent Cy from fulfilling his plans for world domination is delicious.

The list of supporting actors in “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” have resumes that speak to their unquestionable talents so the only one to blame if it falls short is Johnson. Thomas Haden Church is barely given anything to do except to occasionally resemble the slasher killer in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2025), which just no. Andrew Scott was a scene stealer in “Blue Moon” (2025), but here he is wasted as an eccentric author who is only slightly amusing because of the props. Chameleon character actor Cailee Spaeny’s character’s storyline emotionally and personally resonates but is so underdeveloped that it destroys the impact. Jeremy Renner’s return to the big screen was inert as a sad sack doctor and considering how many times he stole scenes from Academy Award recipient Tom Cruise in his “Mission: Impossible” appearances, it is a damn shame not to have that gift showcased here.

Besides McCormack as craven Cy, there are a handful of actors who make a meal out of a morsel. Jeffrey Wright as Bishop Langstrom only appears in three scenes in “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” but if he appeared anymore, he would be the star. Mila Kunis as Chief Geraldine Scott has moments, and if the character was written a little sharper and tighter, she would have made a terrific third wheel on O’Connor and Craig’s partnership. Kerry Washington managed to create a character arc out of her crumbs and tropes, which made her the most relatable supporting character along with Everett’s character. Glenn Close stands out. Johnson wrote her character, Martha, to give Close more scenery to chew on and chew she does. The world loves watching a stern church lady who moves like a ninja and is a one-woman band.

I’m not good at solving movie mysteries, but with “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” I mostly guessed the overall framework though not the exact logistics. When Jud arrives, it is practically spelled out in the dialogue among other places, including the title. It is a heavy lift to ignore it. It is very silly, but fun. It is a shame that it is not getting released Easter weekend or at least Holy Week which is when the events transpire within the movie’s mythos.

“Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery” will be fun for some to watch, but a hit dog will holler so if you hear howling, assume that they are on the Monsignor’s side and ignore any fear of blasphemy. If this timeline hopefully improves, this film’s punch will get stale and seem less timeless. It is great to have a moral, but when it is no longer subtext, it will just leave some viewers waiting for Keenan Ivory Wayans to appear dressed as a US postman so he can scream, “Message!”