I’m curious to see what Christian writers will have to say about the new Knives Out movie, Wake Up Dead Man.  It’s the find of movie that will likely infuriate one end of the spectrum and bring out some misguided self-righteousness in the other (which might be how all the KO movies work, now that I think about it).

I will say this: the movie presents a beautiful picture of the Gospel of Jesus and the possibilities of Christian vocation.  Don’t get me wrong: the characters in the who-done-it are one and all messes, but something about Josh O’Connor’s Father Jud Duplenticy brings out the struggle for faith in the midst of the mess.  It’s so odd to see a character in a movie who really believes the Gospel, even as he struggles to do what’s right in a difficult situation.  He’s a great foil for Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, who readily admits he has no room in his life for the Story that O’Connor’s character has embraced.  Foil, by the way, is probably the best word: they aren’t enemies, but they are at odds (at least at key moments), and I’d say it falls just short of being a “team up.”  It’s interesting that Father Jud serves as the (questionable?) narrator for the movie.

Beyond that, the movie is great.  The mystery is wonderfully twisty, the acting falls into place nicely (even with some big name performers).  The social commentary flares up a few times (and it interestingly complex in its own way) but isn’t as vital to the end as it is to the middle.  And there are two or three beautiful scenes that are well-lit, well-acted, and well-placed to maintain the core tension of the story.  Definitely a movie I’ll watch again, mostly because it’s a story that points to The Story and that keeps you from falling asleep in more ways than one.

The movie is in a few theaters here and there for a week or two but will officially drop on Netflix on December 12.