Father Jud’s Hidden Neck Tattoo In Wake Up Dead Man Gets Full Detail From Star Josh O’Connor

by

Be warned, this article contains slight spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Josh O’Connor, star of the new Knives Out mystery, discusses the subtle design and significance of his character’s nearly hidden neck tattoo. Wake Up Dead Man, the third film in Rian Johnson’s popular Knives Out series, is now a big success on Netflix after a limited release in theaters.

Daniel Craig is back as the quirky detective Benoit Blanc, investigating a murder in a small town. A powerful priest has been killed, and the main suspect is another, younger priest named Father Jud (O’Connor). Jud, who used to be a boxer and recently found religion, preaches love and forgiveness – a stark contrast to the fear-based leadership style of the deceased Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin).

In a recent interview with Netflix’s TUDUM, actor O’Connor explained that the tattoo glimpsed on Jud’s neck throughout the movie was actually a devil and angel design. He also shared that the word “Serendipity” was written beneath the images. O’Connor and the director, Johnson, had many conversations about this detail, using it to show how Jud deals with his history.

Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

I was really struck by the image of Father Jud – the formal priest’s outfit and the dog collar were so powerful. It’s fascinating to me that his past isn’t hidden; you can still see the tattoo, hinting at who he used to be. What really gets to me is that anger still simmers beneath the surface, and it flares up whenever he witnesses Wicks hurting others. It’s like he’s trying to be a better man, but can’t quite escape who he was, and Wicks just brings it all back.

In the movie Wake Up Dead Man, Jud carries a heavy past: as a young man, he accidentally killed a boxer during a match. This event deeply affected him, leading him to find faith and attempt to share it with others. However, he often disagrees with fellow religious leaders. Throughout the film, especially in his first scenes with Wicks and a deacon, it’s clear that Jud still possesses the aggressive instincts of a fighter.

TUDUM points out that in the last scene of Wake Up Dead Man, Jud channels all his pent-up energy into a constructive act. Instead of fighting after a long period of hardship, he uses a hammer and tools to build a new crucifix for the church. He had previously offered to do this earlier in the film, but Wicks rejected the idea.

Wicks’ decision to leave the wall bare, except for the faint outline of the old crucifix, represented his feelings about his mother, Grace (played by Annie Hamilton), and her role in the church’s downfall. This choice reflected his overall outlook on life. In contrast, Jud channels any remaining anger positively by reopening the church, aiming to welcome everyone in the final scenes of Wake Up Dead Man.

The crucifix featured in the last scene of Wake Up Dead Man offers one final meaningful detail, reinforcing the film’s ideas about letting go of the past and finding forgiveness.

Read More

2025-12-17 19:31