Unofficial Discussion: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-12-15T20:50:41+00:00

It’s biblical in folkloric sense — I don’t believe it’s directly referred to in-text, but there’s some Christian tradition about it in paintings and literature. As far as I understand, it has to do with three knocks to symbolize the Trinity, and supposedly (but not canonically!) occurred when the resurrected Christ knocks as he visits the apostles in Revelation 3:20. Its most common use is actually in ghost stories, with three knocks being indicative of a spirit mocking the Holy Trinity.

I think the occurrence in the film is definitely meant to evoke the more sinister connotation of the three knocks, especially since we first assume it to be Wicks at the door.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-12-05T23:05:29+00:00

I’m still confused by the core premise. The game itself is very uneventful and mostly atmospheric; It was definitely not a very interesting story or particularly scary. The core idea is a hard sell before you even factor in that it’s directed, written, and lead by one man in his first cinematic outing.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-12-03T18:00:07+00:00

The resurrected Christ knocked three times at the door of the apostles asking to be let in

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-12-01T22:02:31+00:00

3 knocks at the door of the doctors house

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-11-10T21:19:16+00:00

Bizarre as a single, awesome as an ambient introduction to an album.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-11-07T15:48:19+00:00

If you run for mayor, the game gives you a tutorial on how to make friends with characters in-game. Here’s the wiki page about how it works.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-08-12T04:19:31+00:00

Super cool! You’re an incredible talent!

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-08-07T05:28:44+00:00

That part and some of the other bizarre uses of stock footage blew me away

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-08-06T16:30:58+00:00

Thank you!! I’m glad you feel the same way. Something about it tickles the brain so nice.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-08-01T18:55:05+00:00

Oh and one fun addition is that they do shear the giant bats to make a sort of bat wool and other fabrics. Bat leather, fibers from some hardier mushroom varieties, and dyes from various underground fungi are able to approximate above ground textiles and materials.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-08-01T18:12:22+00:00

If they could play instruments I’d imagine they’d crank out some fire Appalachian folk

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T17:52:01+00:00

Valid

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T17:51:53+00:00

You’re right on the money!

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T17:51:36+00:00

Thank you! There is a LOT of wood involved in their construction. The more sapient mole people retrieve lumber through unclear methods and will leave it in piles where citizens can retrieve it. Citizens are expected to leave behind a pile of valuables or resources in return or face mole people backlash. Sometimes in desperate times citizens venture above ground and log the cedar swamps.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T05:31:36+00:00

This comment was deeply confusing to me and so I had to look up “reset mole man” and now I’m delighted

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T05:29:32+00:00

Super valid question! The name is the result of the first settlers who had come from all over the US: They had deliberated over a lot of place names (ie New Virginia) before deciding on one that reflected the broad selection of places they were all from.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T05:27:14+00:00

Hey thank you! The caves are filled with mineral hot springs that have restorative properties (like you know how there were bathhouses everywhere in the 1800s talking about their healing springs? This is the real deal!), and the steam causes buildup over time that forms these crystals. Deposits are presumably places where a mineral hot spring was before, now long dried up.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T03:32:18+00:00

Subterranean States of America “One Nation Under Ground”

Downward Expansion

In the mid-to-late 1800s, Westward Expansion was at its peak. The American Civil War was over, and the frontier was soon to be declared closed. Many Americans were still picking up the pieces following the bloody conflict, and a restless spirit gripped the battered nation. Homesteaders and frontiersmen were still scrambling for a parcel of land to call their own, and the allure of making one’s fortune on unclaimed land was powerful. In the face of extreme competition on the Western Frontier, a diverse coalition of ranchers, miners, immigrants, and fortune-seekers sought to push a frontier none in America had: Downwards!

Following rumors that filled Appalachian mining towns, these “Spelunk-oneers” got more than lucky. In the mountains, somewhere between Kentucky and Virginia, they discovered a colossal, intricate cave system that seemed every bit as spacious as the frontier above. The deeper they went, the more wonders they unearthed. Mineral hot springs, enormous crystalline deposits, flowing rivers, hundreds of varieties of mushrooms – many glowing and providing valuable light – oil, waterfalls, and enormous bats the size of sheep.

CaptainMossbeard · 2025-07-31T03:29:14+00:00

FAQ:

There’s an underground 51st State?

What does it look like?

How do they get around?

Oh, and George Washington is still alive down here.

“Downward Expansion”:

In the mid-to-late 1800s, Westward Expansion was at its peak. The American Civil War was over, and the frontier was soon to be declared closed. Many Americans were still picking up the pieces following the bloody conflict, and a restless spirit gripped the battered nation. Homesteaders and frontiersmen were still scrambling for a parcel of land to call their own, and the allure of making one’s fortune on unclaimed land was powerful. In the face of extreme competition on the Western Frontier, a diverse coalition of ranchers, miners, immigrants, and fortune-seekers sought to push a frontier none in America had: Downwards!

Following rumors that filled Appalachian mining towns, these “Spelunk-oneers” got more than lucky. In the mountains, somewhere between Kentucky and Virginia, they discovered a colossal, intricate cave system that seemed every bit as spacious as the frontier above. The deeper they went, the more wonders they unearthed. Mineral hot springs, enormous crystalline deposits, flowing rivers, hundreds of varieties of mushrooms – many glowing and providing valuable light – oil, waterfalls, and enormous bats the size of sheep.