6th November 2023
Listen
Listen
The film will be available to stream on Netflix on the 12th December, but as an avid cinema fan (especially with the news of Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros.), I’m glad I got to catch the film on the big screen.
My sister and I have been looking forward for Wake Up Dead Man for some time now, particularly due to the cast of the film. For me, not only was I excited to see Josh O’Connor in the leading role, but also Cailee Spaeny in a supporting role. Having seen the actress first in Priscilla (2023, dir. Sofia Coppola) and later Alien: Romulus (2024, dir. Fede Álvarez), Spaeny quickly became one of my favourite current actresses.
Perhaps this was to my own fault, but amidst all the marketing of cast members such as O’Connor, Spaeny, and Andrew Scott, I hadn’t heard anything of Glenn Close being in the film, who actually arguably had a leading role and delivered a great performance. That being said I was a little disappointed at the screentime and writing of Spaeny, Scott, and the ensemble cast. However I acknowledge this may have been due not to a fault of the film, but rather my own expectations; having rewatched the original Knives Out and being reminded of how high the bar was set.
Before I go into my criticism, I will say that I did really enjoy the film, and I had a good viewing experience. The film generally had a good story, decent pacing, and lovely cinematography and editing. The cinematography particularly stood out for me, much like the other films in the series, with some really creative shots of O’Connor, the church, and the setting of fictional Chimney Rock.
As I said, the story was generally good. It was a solid, watchable narrative, and kept me hooked for the most part. However, the film’s signature reveal and break down fell somewhat flat for me, and I wasn’t entirely convinced. The film currently sits at an average 4.0-star rating on Letterboxd, which is slightly higher than my rating, putting it at 3.5-stars. I won’t say much more as to avoid spoilers, but do go and see this in cinemas and support the industry!
Read our other reviews here: https://www.liverpoolguildstudentmedia.co.uk/category/reviews/
