Now Showing | Wake Up Dead Man

This week on Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, we're closing out our Benoit Blanc journey with Wake Up Dead Man and we're not alone!

We're joined by a very special guest: Steven Bernstein | Writer, Director, Cinematographer, Author and more!

Is Wake Up Dead Man the Strongest Entry in the Trilogy?

We all agree that Wake Up Dead Man is the strongest film in the Knives Out trilogy. While Butler still holds the original Knives Out as his personal favorite, he argues that Wake Up Dead Man is far more confident in its mystery. The film avoids the distracting mid-film structural twist that plagued Glass Onion and finally allows Benoit Blanc to grow as a character, rather than leaning into caricature.

Character vs. Mystery

Steven praises the film primarily for its character work, even while acknowledging that some performances drift a little too far into farce. The notable exception is Josh O’Connor, whose performance stands out as grounded, compelling, and emotionally honest.

Butler, meanwhile, responds more strongly to the film’s narrative discipline, appreciating how the mystery unfolds organically without relying on gimmicks or artificial misdirection. One thing everyone agrees on: Glass Onion remains the weakest entry in the trilogy by a wide margin.

A Thoughtful End to the Journey

With a guest perspective rooted in filmmaking craft and storytelling discipline, Field and Butler dig deeper into what makes a mystery truly work. Wake Up Dead Man feels like the series finally firing on all cylinders, confident, character-driven, and focused on the fundamentals of great mystery storytelling.

About Our Guest: Steven Bernstein

Steven Bernstein is a writer, director, and cinematographer whose career spans film, television, and literature. As a cinematographer, he has worked on acclaimed films such as Monster, Like Water for Chocolate, and Scary Movie 2, bringing a distinct visual voice to each project. As a director and writer, his work often explores character, atmosphere, and the intersection of genre and humanity.

Beyond film, Bernstein is also an accomplished author, expanding his storytelling into prose and nonfiction. His perspective on Wake Up Dead Man adds a thoughtful, craft-focused layer to the discussion, especially when it comes to character, tone, and narrative confidence.

Catch the full conversation in the latest episode of Forgotten Cinema: Now Showing, available now on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.