The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery with Rian Johnson and Jon Watts (Ep. 594)
Dec 31, 2025
Rian Johnson, the acclaimed director behind Knives Out and Glass Onion, chats with fellow filmmaker Jon Watts about his new film, Wake Up Dead Man. They dive into Johnson's personal themes, particularly the role of faith in storytelling, and how it shaped the narrative. The conversation also explores casting choices, notably Josh O'Connor, and Johnson’s unique approach to merging drama with mystery. Insights into on-set dynamics, lighting as a storytelling tool, and respectful representations of faith add depth to their engaging discussion.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Genre Meets Personal Inquiry
- Rian Johnson fused personal experience with genre by pairing faith with locked-room mystery conventions.
- He used John Dickson Carr's gothic locked-room style to explore belief and the impossible.
Build The Dramatic Spine First
- Start with the protagonist's dramatic spine, not just puzzle mechanics.
- Build mystery elements around that arc so the story retains emotional momentum.
Clues Aren't Climaxes
- Revealing new information isn’t the same as providing a dramatic climax.
- Johnson warns against mistaking info-twists for true emotional turning points.