Our take
Wake Up Dead Man is a PG-13 Netflix whodunit set in a church community. Expect murder scenes with blood, stabbings, slapstick-adjacent violence, and frequent strong language. Crude sexual references and smoking appear. The tone mixes satire with genuine peril. Best for teens who enjoy puzzle mysteries
Uplifting themes
Truth-seeking and accountability amid satire
Story (may spoil tone)
When young priest Jud Duplenticy is sent to assist charismatic firebrand Monsignor Jefferson Wicks, it’s clear that all is not well in the pews. After a sudden and seemingly impossible murder rocks the town, the lack of an obvious suspect prompts local police chief Geraldine Scott to join forces with renowned detective Benoit Blanc to unravel a mystery that defies all logic.
What we flagged
Scores are 0–5: 0 means none; 5 means the strongest we flagged in that category.
Details
Violence Murders, stabbings with blood, punches, and slapstick church scuffles
Murders, stabbings with blood, punches, and slapstick church scuffles
Language Frequent f-word and crude insults during interrogations
Frequent f-word and crude insults during interrogations
Sex / nudity Crude sexual references and affair talk; no explicit nudity
Crude sexual references and affair talk; no explicit nudity
Drugs / alcohol Drinking and smoking in the parish setting
Drinking and smoking in the parish setting
Frightening Sudden deaths and claustrophobic church dread
Sudden deaths and claustrophobic church dread
Self-harm / suicide No self-harm found in this title
No self-harm found in this title
Sexual violence No sexual violence found in this title
No sexual violence found in this title
Child peril / abuse An adult slaps and pins down a child in one brief sequence
An adult slaps and pins down a child in one brief sequence
Bullying / discrimination No bullying found in this title
No bullying found in this title
Gore / death / weapons Murders and stabbings with blood appear in the church mystery
Murders and stabbings with blood appear in the church mystery
Dangerous behaviour No dangerous behavior found in this title
No dangerous behavior found in this title
Eating disorders / body image No eating found in this title
No eating found in this title
Mental health No mental health found in this title
No mental health found in this title
Gambling No gambling found in this title
No gambling found in this title
Grief / bereavement No grief found in this title
No grief found in this title
Talk after watching
- Blanc investigates a religious community. How do secrets hide in plain sight?
- The film pokes at church hypocrisy. How can families discuss faith and flaws?