Knives Out 3’s Cinematographer Talks About How They Got Those Epic Church Door Shots

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Director Rian Johnson is known for working in many different kinds of films and TV shows, including the Star Wars film The Last Jedi and the TV series Poker Face (available on Peacock). However, he’s become particularly popular for the Knives Out movies. The newest one, Wake Up Dead Man, is now streaming on Netflix and has a different feel and look than the previous films. Cinematographer Steve Yedlin recently discussed with TopMob how he created the repeated shots of church doors seen throughout the movie.

Michael Yedlin and Rian Johnson have a long-standing working relationship, dating back to their high school years. Yedlin is typically the cinematographer on Johnson’s films, including all three Knives Out movies. I recently spoke with him before the release of Wake Up Dead Man and asked about a recurring visual motif: the absence of a crucifix in a church, followed by scenes of doors opening and shadowy figures. He shared insights into the creative choices behind this element, explaining:

You’re right, there were multiple attempts – possibly two, three, or even four. We didn’t approach each one identically, as they all had unique challenges. It was a very simple setup, intentionally so, as it was meant for the stage. The shadow wouldn’t be accurate to real life – not only is the sun not that low at that time of day, but there are trees in the way. It was more about creating a feeling of scale than perfect realism. We aimed for something that felt big, rather than looked precisely correct.

This particular shot felt significant for Knives Out 3, as it reappears multiple times during the film’s two-and-a-half-hour length. It’s a memorable image, particularly because of the shadows around the space where a crucifix would be in Jefferson Wicks’ church. Josh Brolin’s shadowy presence strongly suggests what’s going on with the church and its followers.

TopMob’s review of Wake Up Dead Man called it the best film in the Knives Out series. A key factor in its success is its distinctive atmosphere and dark, gothic visuals. The film prominently features a striking image – the church doors with a crucifix-shaped shadow – which appears early on and is repeated effectively throughout. Later, in an interview, Steve Yedlin discussed the different ways this impactful image was used, explaining to me:

The scenes look different because they’re filmed at different times of day. For example, the scene with Jud happens right as the sun is rising – we go from darkness to the first light. This creates a strong contrast between warm sunlight and cool sky. Other scenes, filmed later in the day, have much more subtle color differences.

The church plays a significant role as a character in Wake Up Dead Man, and the film’s use of light is particularly striking. Light shifts with the weather within the church, often emphasizing key plot points. This is especially noticeable in the repeated shot of the door opening, which casts a shadow over the wall where a crucifix would be.

I’m really excited – Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is finally on Netflix! It’s part of their 2025 lineup, and honestly, I’m already wondering when Rian Johnson will start working on a fourth movie. He doesn’t seem to plan these out too far in advance, so it could be a while!

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2025-12-16 05:08