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How capitalism warps personal value

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Photo courtesy of Sarah Rice from The New York Times) “Charles Meynier’s painting cycle ‘Apollo and the Muses,’ 1798-1800, in the neoclassical gallery at the Cleveland Museum of Art

Jesse Nguyen and Olivia O’Sullivan
Connector Editor and Connector Staff

Have you ever felt guilty about having a hobby? Or do you ever get that weird feeling when someone sees your creative work and their first response is “Oh nice! Have you been selling any of this?”  

Well, what you might be feeling is the depressing effects of capitalism. In America, capitalism leads to efficiency and innovation, but it also diminishes creativity and wonder, and undermines the passion you may feel if what you love doesn’t produce tangible results. Capitalism transforms art into a commodity. Whatever value art has is reduced to its monetary value rather than any actual meaning it has. This leads to art being seen as a luxury for the wealthy, even though artists themselves still struggle to earn a livable wage.  

When it comes to making art, it’s a significant time investment. Nobody is born so talented that they immediately know how to create art; it’s a skill that has to be honed for many years. “Hustle culture” has created an environment in which you must always be working towards the next accomplishment, where one success is merely a steppingstone for the next, and where we are shamed for having passions that fulfill us. 

This unending race for tangible success can be seen in every aspect of our culture, even with changes to how business operates and the architecture that surrounds us. A lot of coffee shops nowadays have policies where you aren’t able to sit and socialize for long, even if you paid for a meal. This speaks to how building relationships, human meaningful connections, and human principles like empathy are also cast aside to prioritize financial gain. Sacrificing your wellbeing for financial success is a reality that disproportionately benefits the system rather than you as an individual.  

In education, for example, STEM degrees are much more valued than art and humanities degrees. It’s quite simple as to why, really, as art is priceless in its understanding of what it means to be human. Because it’s so intangible, a price tag cannot be attached to it, deeming it practically worthless in a money-driven society. Meanwhile, an engineer can easily craft a missile, or a biologist can manufacture a cure that can be sold to hospitals. The STEM side leads to tangible results, and art’s main purpose, which is to synthesize the human experience into visual and auditory works, is often seen as an unproductive contribution to our society. 

I recently saw a Tik Tok video of @dadmodeindarkmode, a 40-year-old man, expressing how he’s felt like he’s wasted his life. He goes on to talk about how he’s got nothing to show for it, no house, no savings, no career he’s proud of. He ushers his viewers, especially if they’re in their early 20s or 30s; they have no time. He recalls his experiences in his 20s, where he had tattoos and played drums, but felt like he wasn’t “building anything real.” This is incredibly sad to me because what he describes sounds like a fun life. But because it didn’t lead to economic growth, what capitalism promotes, he feels like his value is tied to his productivity and not his personhood.  

This is not just an unfortunate consequence of capitalism, but an intentional building of its structure to promote tangible economic gain over the enrichment of human experience. This is not to dismiss STEM and praise the arts – in reality, humanity needs both to survive, innovate, and flourish. The problem presents itself with how our current society skews the value of the two concepts so greatly. 

To quote John Keating from the Dead Poet’s society, “And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, and love are what we stay alive for.”  

 

The societal implications of piracy in today’s modern age

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Image courtesy of Aurich Lawson) “‘Shiver me Timbers”

Alyssa Mascarenhas
Connector Contributor

I have no issues with piracy.   

Media piracy is generally used to get around the price of access and has been around in one form or another for centuries. Manuscripts and books were historically largely produced by the state and church for a high price but were copied and sold illegally as a means of broadening access and revenue for the trader. Burning CDs, downloading files, and accessing torrent sites offer much of the same for similar purposes and follow a known trend. When access is constrained and artificial scarcity becomes apparent, people turn away from formal vendors and search for an alternative. I believe the presence of an alternative is central to providing competition against mainstream markets and, with the selection of online hubs and archives, preserving media that is vulnerable to being lost or destroyed.  

From books, to music, to games and movies, piracy has been there, offering a secondary point of play when primary means fail to be in reach. Yes, there are plenty of people who have the means to pay and do choose not to pirate games, but modern media piracy holds more to it than simply penny-pinching. There’s a code of ethics behind it because of its nature as a reactionary act than a malicious one.  

I’ve seen people using piracy as a means of solidarity with striking actors, freedom from exploitation or corrupt business models, and resistance against censorship. The modern pirating community will discourage piracy of media from fair indie productions. “Hollow Knight: Silksong”, a highly anticipated platform and combat game sequel to “Hollow Knight”, was put on market for $20 in 2025—a sharp contrast to the average 70–80-dollar price tag expected of a game with a sizeable fan base—and resulted in a push against bootlegging the game. It may come as a surprise to some, but piracy has less to do with saving and more to do with consumer choice and satisfaction. People are willing to express support when it feels worthwhile and turn to piracy in droves when it’s not.   

I feel now a need to clarify what counts as piracy; it’s specifically creating a copy of a work that is not your own and distributing it or with the intent of distribution. Using a website that features pirated content technically is not piracy unless you stream it to others. The legality surrounding it can get somewhat muddled, hence the general advice to avoid partaking in the practice. The major appeal of true piracy was that you had a copy of the original that was entirely in your possession. Sharing pirated copies was a way to get around the cost and have access to media for cheap—if you kept the file.   

Subscription streaming services function by selling access to a wide range of content. In its early days, their main appeal was the lack of commercial segments and increase in control for the user, so, while a subscriber had no ownership of content, it was an upgrade from cable and torrent sites because it was succinct and easy. It was almost a perfect system that worked well in the face of its competition because of the focus on user experience.  Cable fell as streaming became the new frontier, and developments began on the budding landscape that later came to tear it apart.  Shows produced by streaming platforms began to be confined to them indefinitely; indie projects were subject to be abandoned, older or lesser-known media were shuffled off, while advertisements moved onto the scene. Torrent sites grew as well, developing a user interface that allows for free or cheap viewership with advertisements and slight risk of device corruption. In the current landscape, piracy is a reliable—but occasionally risky—alternative.  

It is in this area where you can find “lost media,” content that at one point was openly available but has since been pulled or barred from the public market. There are entire communities and organizations that exist with the goal of creating copies, so they are accessible and not lost to time, one of the most well-known being the Internet Archive.   

Given the state of the world, I developed the taste of reading banned books. More specifically, I seek out books banned in various parts of the US and buy physical copies. An alternative for those who cannot buy but still want to engage would be piracy, and that is not something I am willing to hold against them. 

“Zootopia 2” is an action-packed film about cultural erasure

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Photo courtesy of IMDb.com) Left to right, Nick Wilde, Gary De’Snake, Judy Hopps

Jesse Nguyen
Connector Editor

Crafty fox Nick Wilde and determined rabbit Judy Hopps make their box office shattering return to the big screen in “Zootopia 2,” released Nov. 26th, 2025, almost 9 years after the first Zootopia released in 2016. In its first weekend, the film earned over $550 million worldwide.  

The film starts off with Nick and Judy’s new lives as police officers in Zootopia. Unsatisfied with how they’re still treated like rookies, they go against orders and in their undercover endeavors, they are led to an interesting case about the reptilians of the “Zootopia” world, a notably missing species from the first film. During the case, however, cracks in Nick and Judy’s relationship begin to show itself due to their conflicting ideals. 

Nick and Judy’s relationship is explored in high depth in “Zootopia 2,” highlighting how Nicks childhood experience of alienation and stereotyping have led to a lack of emotional intelligence, and how Judy’s determination to prove herself can cost the health of her relationships. It’s nicely crafted and feels natural, because even though Nick and Judy’s chemistry was off the rails in the first film, their lived experiences would eventually catch up to them as soon as they started caring about each other. Despite their difficulties, the film makes it incredibly clear how precious they are to each other, and the movie never falters in showcasing their affection. Jason Bateman in particular gives an absolutely incredible performance as a nonchalant fox finally opening up his emotions.  

In terms of action, plot and pacing, the film is just as colorful and bombastic as the first, with high stakes action moments paced nicely with impactful emotional beats. It’s paced in a way where viewers are able to admire and laugh at action sequences, but also cooldown and process emotional scenes in their sincerity. Its action scenes are reminiscent of the fast paced, disastrous and genuinely humorous scenes of “The Bad Guys 2,” which is an incredible feat.  

The social allegories that made “Zootopia” so brilliant the first time around are present in “Zootopia 2” with even more nuance. The first “Zootopia” explores themes of racial injustice and stereotyping in its diverse world of anthropomorphized characters, offering a unique perspective on how discrimination is formed and carried out. These societal themes persist in “Zootopia 2,” but the film explores a more detailed social issue, generational colonization, forced migration and expansionism. This theme is a nice natural expansion from the simple predator vs. prey dynamic in the first film which, at times, felt oversimplified. It also helps further develop the endlessly fascinating world of “Zootopia” by providing a realistic yet touching historical perspective to its universe and is also relevant to humanities’ modern-day politics. 

The handful of new characters and species serve as the center of this theme. Gary De’Snake, voice performed by Ke Huy Quan, represents the reptilians of the “Zootopia” universe, who similarly to foxes, are feared by pretty much everyone. It is revealed later in the film that reptilians played a significant part in Zootopia city’s history, alongside the Lynxley family, with estranged son Pawbert voiced by Andy Samberg taking center stage. 

Instead of opting for a predator perspective for the villains of “Zootopia 2,” the film showcases territorial animals, which provides a natural, logical direction for the conflict of the film. It further highlights that, while “Zootopia” mirrors some of humanities’ societal issues, “Zootopia” is ultimately comprised of animals of different species, something that is not applicable to humans. The film takes this philosophy and expertly crafts nuanced themes and ideas enjoyable for adults, but also digestible for any children watching the film.  

In an age of half-rushed sequels, “Zootopia 2” was pleasantly surprising in how after 9 years, it still managed to carry the same meaningful message that the first film did while simultaneously shining newfound light on its beloved cast.  


Grade: A

 

Lowell unable to keep up with Boston College, lose 3-1 on home ice

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics) “Freshman Mirko Buttazzoni skates between two Boston College defenders, entering the zone with the puck.”

Jake Messer

Connector Editor

On Friday, Dec. 5, the River Hawks lost 3-1 to the no. 14/15 Boston College Eagles in a dominant showing from the Eagles, as they have now won seven out of eight of their last games.

Lowell, who were in search of their first win against BC at home since Nov. 13, 2021, unfortunately, the River Hawks were unable to generate the offensive needed to beta one of the best teams in the nation. 

“Well, we certainly came up short tonight,” said UMass Lowell Head Coach Norm Bazin. “Obviously, I liked the third period. I thought there was a little bit more urgency, but it was too little, too late.”

The puck dropped in front of 6,143 fans who braved an abundantly cold night to watch their River Hawks, and for the first three minutes, the game remained cold, almost a feeling out period. It would take three minutes for a shot on goal to be registered, coming by way of a wicked wrist shot from senior Jack Collins of Lowell. 

Halfway through the first, BC outshot Lowell 4-2, but other than some big hits and some solid forecheck on both sides, no jump out of your seats had happened, almost as if both teams had tremendous respect for the other’s offense, playing back and being selective with their passes and their shots.

With nine minutes left in the first, Boston College superstar freshman James Hagens dashed by the River Hawk defense on a quick breakaway, going forehand to back hand to try and swipe the puck in past freshman goalie Austin Elliott, who was able to stick out the left pad to deny the Bruins seventh overall pick in this year’s NHL Draft of a nifty goal. 

With roughly five minutes left in the first frame, senior TJ Schweighardt would commit a hooking penalty, putting Lowell a man down and giving BC their first opportunity on the powerplay, which would be capitalized on immediately after the penalty came to an end.

BC’s Dean Letourneau would tap the puck into the back of the net off a slick feed from Will Vote  as the two were able to get behind the River Hawks defense, an easy goal putting the Eagles up 1-0. 

Lowell would get a chance to redeem themselves, as BC would get chippy, resulting in a roughing penalty and putting the River Hawks on their first powerplay of the evening. Some good looks would appear, but none would find the back of the net, marking the end of the first period as the Eagles led 1-0.

Two minutes into the period, graduate captain Jay Ahearn took a questionable roughing penalty right in front of the BC net, putting the Eagles right back on the powerplay. The man advantage would be thwarted by Elliot, who made three saves in route to killing off the penalty.

BC would continue to pour it on, but would also continue the extra curricular activity after the whistle, which would give the River Hawks a powerplay seven minutes into the second, their second opportunity of the night

Once again, it amounted to none on the scoreboard of the shot chart, as BC killed it off quite efficiently, as 10 minutes in, Lowell was only able to generate one shot on goal.

Mere seconds after the powerplay, off a faceoff win and off a hard slap shot from the point, Hagens was able to redirect the puck past Elliott for his tenth of the year, making it 2-0 in favor of the visitors. 

The difference between the two was apparent at the end of the second period, speed. Boston College was faster than Lowell, staying in front and keeping the puck moving, hence why Lowell was only able to generate two measly shots in the period. If Lowell was going to get back into this game, they were going to have to have to put some pep to generate some offense. 

This they would not, as Lowell would commit a costly penalty to start the final period and BC would cash in once more, as Letourneau redirected his second of the night past Elliott, making it 3-0 with 15 minutes left in the contest. Great passing and net front presence has propelled BC in the dominant showing.

Lowell would show a pulse as with just under 12 minutes remaining freshman Mirko Buttazzoni would smash in a loose puck into the back of the net to cut the deficit to two and inject life back into the Tsongas Center. 

With chances a plenty, a golden opportunity would drop into their laps, as BC defender Aram Minnetian would trip a River Hawk behind the net, sending them to the powerplay with five minutes left, down two goals.

Lowell would not capitalize once again, their third powerplay that didn’t end in a goal. 

The game would end soon thereafter by a score of 3-1, as BC outshot Lowell 29-16. Lowell came out hard in the third, but were simply unable to overcome Boston College’s stout defense and exquisite speed. A tough night for the River Hawks as they were playing behind in many ways, all night. 

“I thought the effort was there in the third, ” coach Bazin said. “We were chasing it a little bit in the first two periods, you’re not going to be successful in this league doing that, you have to initiate, and I thought the guys started making some plays in the third and having a little more puck poise. Hopefully that [energy] comes from the start tomorrow.”

Women’s basketball continues to impress, surpassing last seasons win total

December 9, 2025 by with comment off
(Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell Athletics) “Junior Maddie Rice walks off the bench during player introductions.”
By Jason Cooke
Connector Editor
America East play has not yet started.
But the UMass Lowell women’s basketball team is already off to a much-improved start.
After sliding to a lowly 3-25 record last season, the River Hawks have already mustered three wins to match that win total just eight games into their season under first-year head coach Jon Plefka.
UML has played a competitive non-conference schedule to open the season and has competed in just about every matchup, including a pair of tight losses against Boston University (50-47) and Northeastern (51-46).
The River Hawks’ latest game yielded a 67-56 loss to a talented Iona team.
“Tough result for us on the road,” Plefka said. “We battled especially our guards but unfortunately ran out of gas at the end. Little things doomed us so we will definitely work to correct those these next days in preparation for New Haven on Saturday.”
Jaini Edmonds has impressed for UMass Lowell, leading the team with 10.6 points per game. She filled the box score against Iona, recording 16 points while posting three assists and four rebounds.
The River Hawks were in a tie game in the second half, but Iona was able to execute a run in the fourth to pull out the win.
UML had three players in double figures, including Edmonds, Klimentina Modeva (13 points) and Tyanna Medina (11 points).
Medina, a freshman from Lawrence, Mass., has immediately stepped into a key role for UMass Lowell. She netted a career-high 16 points in the team’s 70-54 win over Central Connecticut State after notching 10 points in an 82-53 loss to a high-powered Boston College team.
Modeva, meanwhile, has posted consecutive 13-point outings and is a transfer from Weatherford College. She is one of seven newcomers to Plefka’s roster.
Paris Gilmore, a transfer from Detroit Mercy, has also made her mark. The guard already has four outings in double digits and is second on the team in points per game (9.5). She garnered Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors last season.
Sabrina Larsson, another transfer, ranks fifth on the team in points per game (7.6). She broke out for 19 points against Boston University and most recently played at Hofstra.
Returner Maddie Rice has supplemented UMass Lowell’s early contributions from its fresh faces. Rice was a stalwart on last year’s team, averaging 6.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, and has averaged 9.2 points so far this season. She broke out for a 23-point effort against CCSU.
A roster balanced with new faces and returning talent has worked in UMass Lowell’s favor thus far in the year, and it is a promising sign to see UML’s recruits hit the ground running.
But conference play will answer a lot more questions about the state of UML’s rebuild. The River Hawks were just 1-15 in the America East last season and kick off their conference schedule on Jan. 1 against the University of Maine at the Kennedy Family Athletic Complex before hitting the road against Albany on Jan. 3.

Patriots win big on Monday Night Football, extending their win streak to 10 games

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Photo courtesy of usatoday.com) “Patriots quarterback Drake Maye looks to pass the football down field against the Giants.”

Jake Messer

Connector Editor

The New England Patriots beat the New York Giants by a score of 33-15, improving their record to 11-2 on the year, the best in the NFL as they finally enter their bye week, which is much deserved for a team that has shattered all expectations placed upon them entering the season. 

With just four games left, there is still a lot at hand, the division, the one seed, the playoffs, but one thing is for sure, the New England Patriots are back to their old winning ways. Officially moved on from the Brady-Belichick era, the Patriots are now in the Maye-Vrabel era.

In his first year as Head Coach, Mike Vrabel has completely turned around this team and has made them whole. Gone are the old school days of never good enough and self reflection, in its place Vrabel has brought an immense amount of compassion and comradery to the team this season.

Everyone matters, regardless of any status, and it has allowed everyone to play their best football. They don’t rely on quarterback Drake Maye to win every game, they don’t rely on a stout defense, they rely on each other to win football games. Hence why this group of players comes across as a family, rather than a team. 

Furthermore, when a player goes down with an injury, regardless of his position on the field or depth chart, Vrabel runs out and kneels beside the player reassuring them that everything will be alright, something not seen in New England for a very long time.

The players have gravitated and bought into Vrabel’s plan and system for this season and it really does show, not only in wins, but in performance.

Drake Maye looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the world this season. His inhuman accuracy combined with sound decision making, has helped raise his game to heights unimaginable in a year two QB. 

Maye leads the league in passing yards with 3,412, despite not having a 300 yard passing game, 23 touchdowns which is fourth most and leads the league in completion percentage with 71.5%. A QB that is right by his wideouts as Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Hunter Henry are all having phenomenal years, especially when compared to last season.

Maye has been playing so well that he has been in talks to win the league’s MVP award, bestowed to the league’s best player. If Maye were to win it, he would become the eight player in league history to win the award in his second season. Even with this success, Maye is staying humble and grounded.

“I think we have been giving something for these fans to cheer for,” Maye said. “10 [wins] in a row, but we still got more to do. I’m so proud of this team and these fans have been awesome.”

“I would love for him to be MVP in his second year in the league,” Diggs said. “He’s an amazing quarterback but that ain’t up to us. I think what we’re chasing is going to be a little more important.” 

The defense is not to be outdone as well, as players like linemen Milton Williams, linebacker Harold Landry III and cornerback Christian Gonzalez have led the way, establishing one of the best run defenses in the league, only allowing opponents to average 89.5 rushing yards a game, the third best mark in the league. 

Looking ahead, the patriots will have different scenarios every week moving forward for the playoffs 1 seed, etc. However, there is one simple scenario that fans need to pay attention to, the path towards winning the AFC East.

Regardless if the Buffalo Bills win or lose their week 14 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the New England Patriots will have a chance to clinch the division at home, in week 15 against the Bills, something they have not done since 2019.

There are still a lot of games to be played and a lot could change during that time, but the future could not be any bright in Foxborough.

They have the most cap space in the NFL by a wide margin and hold 11 draft picks in next year’s draft. This young and hungry team should only get better next season. 

With copious amounts of cap space, a plethora of draft picks, a franchise head coach and a franchise quarterback, the New England Patriots are back as Super Bowl contenders in the NFL. 

Boston Fleet off to perfect start

December 9, 2025 by with comment off
(Photo courtesy of Boston Fleet Athletics) “The Boston Fleet celebrate a goal at home against the Minnesota Frost.”
Jason Cooke
Connector Editor
So far, so good for the Boston Fleet.
Uncertainty clouded over the Professional Women’s Hockey League team ahead of its third campaign. An expansion process stripped its roster of franchise mainstays and future stars while a new coach took over at the helm.
There were more questions than answers before the puck dropped on the 2025-26 season. But any woes about Boston have been quickly put to rest.
The Fleet — which calls UMass Lowell’s Tsongas Center home — is the only team in the PWHL to start with a 3-0-0-0 record and has done so in impressive fashion. It is just the second team in the three-year history of the league to start the season with three straight regulation victories.
Boston’s latest triumph — a 2-0 decision over the Vancouver Goldeneyes at Agganis Arena on Wednesday — was perhaps the team’s best effort yet. The Fleet outshot Vancouver 19-2 in the first period and never looked back to stymie one of the league’s new expansion clubs.
The Fleet met the Minnesota Frost on Sunday for a 3 p.m. puck drop at Agganis, but the results were not known as of press time. Boston returns to the Tsongas Center on Jan. 14 and plays seven games in between, including a third matchup at Agganis.
Here are three takeaways from Boston’s hot start.
Frankel exceptional in net
If Boston was going to make any noise this season with a retooled roster and a lot of new faces, it was surely going to need the help from its franchise goaltender.
Aerin Frankel has delivered, relinquishing only one goal on 71 shots while posting two shutouts.
“I’m just really excited for our team’s success,” Frankel said. “Being 3-0 is incredible and obviously it’s a really long season, but if you like how you’re playing at the beginning of the year, it’s a pretty good indication of what this group is capable of. Anytime we can get a win, especially at home, is really exciting. We had such great support from our fans and we’ll be back here on the weekend. We’re all looking forward to keeping things rolling.”
Stars showing out
Frankel standing on her head is only one side of the equation, however. Boston’s top-end talent was under a lot of pressure in the preseason to carry the offensive workload as a large class of rookies acclimated themselves to the PWHL.
Led by Susanna Tapani (2-1-3), Megan Keller (1-1-2) and Alina Müller (1-1-2), Boston’s stars have done just that. Receiving contributions from your best players is always a sign of a winning hockey team. And the Fleet is certainly benefiting from it.
Keller, who was named captain in the preseason, leads the team in time on ice (83:17) and has been everything the Fleet needs her to be thus far.
Newhook, rookies settling in 
While Boston’s top scoring brigade is leading the way, it’s opened the door for some newcomers to make their mark. Rookies Abby Newhook and Haley Winn have been key pieces to Boston’s success out of the gate.
Newhook has scored in the last two games and opened the scoring on Wednesday to provide the Fleet with an early lead. She has impressed head coach Kris Sparre and earned a spot in the top six.
On the backend, Winn has already emerged as one of the league’s best defenders just three games into her young career. While she has been held off the scoresheet, she has logged 82:19 of ice time and has checked every box between her elite offensive capabilities and her lockdown defense. Winn is a great skater and has excelled with Keller as Boston’s top defensive pairing.

“Wake Up Dead Man” delivers mystery

December 9, 2025 by with comment off

(Image courtesy of IMDB. “Wake Up Dead Man embodies the mystery genre with excellence.”)

Rosalie Pineda
Connector Staff

Director Rian Johnson is back again with another installment in the Knives Out franchise. “Wake Up Dead Man” has released in select theaters throughout the U.S., to critical acclaim. While the discussion for how it holds up compared to its predecessors is still ongoing, this gothic-style murder mystery is an excellent addition to the adventures of Benoit Blanc.

As with every film in the franchise (otherwise coined “Benoit Blanc Mysteries” by fans and Johnson alike), it features a totally fresh all-star cast, including Jeremy Renner, Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott and Daryl McCormack. Josh O’Connor also performs as a former boxer turned priest, Jud Duplenticy, who at one point is described, as per Jud’s own words, “young, dumb, and full of Christ.”

Topping off the cast list is Daniel Craig, back as the lovable, perceptive Southern detective, Benoit Blanc. This time sporting long graying hair and a beard, a world-weary and atheistic Blanc has to team up with Reverend Duplenticy in order to solve a seemingly impossible locked-room murder.

The tone is almost completely different from the first two films. While “Knives Out” felt like an Agatha Christie mystery, and “Glass Onion” was a laugh-out-loud, summery spectacle of a mystery, the vibes of “Wake Up Dead Man” are quieter and darker, more inspired by the likes of Edgar Allen Poe. It also delves more into examinations of faith, specifically how it manifests in the Catholic church.

On that end, the film does wonderfully. Characters have compelling relationships with religion, with varying degrees of positive and negative experiences. This, in turn, contributes to the nature of the impossible crime.

The film also has comedic moments that fit right in with the previous movies. It’s also notably scarier at points, keeping viewers on their toes as they wonder what’s going to happen next. The mystery is indeed ambitious, with a satisfying payoff.

The cinematography is also notably stunning. The lighting in this film could be considered its own character with how thoughtfully it is utilized. Johnson has always been heavy with visual storytelling in these movies, and this one is no exception. The orchestral music is also a great companion.

However, despite the strong casting and performances, some ensemble characters suffered from a lack of screen time. In particular, Simone (Cailee Spaeney) felt left out in terms of plot and character depth. In comparison, so much of the story is told through Jud’s eyes that he even outshines Blanc himself.

Some fans may be disappointed with the lack of character exploration in favor of the bigger story. That said, each character still stands out in their own ways, and the little details we get about Blanc’s backstory in this film add complexity to his character.

“Wake Up Dead Man” is notably the last “Knives Out” movie released by Netflix, per its contract. Johnson has expressed interest in making future installments, with Craig reprising his role every time. Craig has also voiced the same opinion; so long as Johnson keeps writing Benoit Blanc mysteries, he’ll keep coming back to them.

Following the movie’s limited theater release, it will be available to stream on Netflix on Dec. 12. Hopefully this series continues to whet the appetites of mystery fans far into the future.

Grade: A