Father Scott Bailey Reflects on Faith, Film and Mystery in "Knives Out" Movie

The film's Catholic Technical Consultant reacts to "Wake Up Dead Man" and some of the online reception.

When faith shows up in popular culture, it often sparks curiosity — and sometimes controversy. But for Catholics in Northern Colorado, the conversation around Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery feels a little closer to home.

That’s because Father Scott Bailey, pastor of Risen Christ Parish in Denver, recently shared his reflections on the film in a new YouTube video. The video offers viewers a thoughtful, approachable look at how Catholic faith and priestly life are portrayed in a major Hollywood production — and why those portrayals matter.

Wake Up Dead Man, the third installment in the popular Knives Out franchise, weaves a mystery narrative around a Catholic parish and two priests at the center of the story. While the film remains firmly in the whodunit genre, its setting and characters touch on real elements of Catholic life — from parish dynamics to the spiritual weight carried by priests.

Since its premiere, the film has been met with mixed reviews, with some praising the film's beautiful scenes of grace and others objecting to the mature themes and inaccurate representation.

For Father Bailey, who served as a Catholic technical consultant on the film, the conversation isn’t about critiquing cinema for cinema’s sake. Instead, his reaction video invites Catholics to engage culture thoughtfully, asking what a film gets right, what it misses and how stories told on screen can open doors to deeper reflection on faith, vocation and discipleship.

The video also offers a glimpse into how Catholic identity can be represented with greater authenticity when people of faith are willing to step into cultural conversations. For local Catholics, it’s a reminder that evangelization doesn’t only happen in church pews — sometimes it happens through film, storytelling and thoughtful dialogue.

Whether you’ve already watched Wake Up Dead Man, plan to see it or are simply curious about how Catholic themes surface in popular media, Father Bailey’s video is an engaging starting point.

To watch the full video, visit: https://youtu.be/-WqmDamwFGw