Director Rian Johnson presented the new film Wake Up Dead Man on the third day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2025. He described it as a return to the roots of the whodunit genre, invoking gothic elements reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe. Initial impressions suggest that the film has a darker and more spiritual tone than earlier installments while maintaining the series’ signature humor and intricate plot twists.
In addition to Wake Up Dead Man, the festival showcased a diverse range of films, including a German drama exploring the darker side of influencer culture, a Saudi crime thriller with unexpected plot developments, a dark comedy about challenging children, and an action film featuring complex choreography amid intense fight scenes. Specific release dates for many of these films have yet to be announced.
In Wake Up Dead Man, the character Benoit Blanc, portrayed by Daniel Craig, investigates a murder in a small New York church community. Alongside a young priest and the local sheriff, Blanc confronts a case he deems “impossible,” leading to a series of plot twists culminating in an emotionally charged climax.
The film is scheduled to hit select theaters on November 26, followed by streaming on Netflix on December 12.
Additional films worth noting include Bad Apples, featuring a teacher in a humorous narrative about managing a problematic student; Unidentified, a true crime-inspired tale focused on a receptionist who becomes obsessed with a murder case; and other unique narratives that highlight different cultural perspectives on storytelling. As of now, broader release information for these films is forthcoming.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/movie-reviews/773429/tiff-2025-wake-up-dead-man-bad-apples-review