Faith, False Prophets, and Fool’s Gold in Wake Up Dead Man

What happens when a miracle involves a murder — and who benefits when the truth stays buried? In this spoiler-filled episode of PopTorah, we dive into Wake Up Dead Man, the darkest and most theologically charged entry in Rian Johnson’s whodunit series. Set inside a fractured church community obsessed with power, purity, and control, the film exposes how faith can be manipulated, righteousness performed, and belief turned into a cover for ambition and greed. Join Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky to explore how Wake Up Dead Man takes aim at false piety, moral certainty, and the dangerous stories people tell to justify harm.

Rabbis Michael Knopf and Jesse Olitzky are lifelong friends, pop culture fanboys, and lovers of all things Jewish. Join them every other week for a conversation about what’s going on in pop culture from a Jewish perspective and about Judaism through the lens of pop culture.

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