{Movie Review} It’s a Wonderful Knife: A Bloody & Clever Twist on a Holiday Classic

There’s always a need for more holiday horror, for gruesome films to watch to cure the post-Halloween blues. It’s a Wonderful Knife, directed by Tyler MacIntyre and written by Michael Kennedy, is a blood-soaked Christmas slasher that’s a unique twist on, you guessed it, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Set in the town of Angel Falls, the film stars Jane Widdop in the final girl role as Winnie Carruthers. Seemingly, she comes from a perfect, stable family. The only problem is that a killer dressed in flowing white angel robes in on the loose and kills and kills and kills. The first 15 minutes is a high-octane roller coaster ride with jolly old Yule Tide slaughter and a body county, including one of Winnie’s best friends.

A year after the tragedy, Winnie’s family can’t quite understand why she can’t enjoy Christmas. So, in a riff on It’s a Wonderful Life’s narrative, she makes a wish. Only, her wish is that she didn’t exist. This transports her to an alternate universe. There, her family and friends don’t know her and indeed, things are much, much worse. The town is run by the egotistical Mayor Waters, played by Justin Long. Even worse, he gobbles up local businesses and transforms them into real estate and high rises flashing his initials. It’s a decent commentary on small towns trying to fend off overzealous developers that favor strip malls over local merchants. Meanwhile, murder rates skyrocket. Young people party and do drugs to escape reality. If Winnie can’t stop the killer, she’ll be stuck in the horrid universe forever.

Widdop makes for a captivating and resourceful protagonist. Generally, the entire cast is great, especially Joel McHale as Winnie’s dad David, Katharine Isabelle as Gale, Winnie’s aunt, and Jess McLeod as weird girl Bernie Simon. The cast truly elevates this film. Otherwise, this possibly could have edged bland B movie territory. The setting makes for an effective holiday movie, too. The happier reality captures that all-American town at Christmas time, like a Hallmark movie, while the alternative reality is drab and bleak, a clear contrast in tone and style.

In terms of slashers, there are certainly some gnarly deaths here. Whether intentional or not, the Angel’s robe resembles an inverted Ghostface, and seeing the white splashed red makes for one heck of a grisly visual. However, the film isn’t just about the body count. This is still a Christmas movie after all. There’s a message here that people do indeed matter. Yes, it’s a bit cheesy at times, but it never feels overdone or overly sentimental. Another solid element is the film’s blend of comedy and horror. The combo is tough to get right, but this feature succeeds.

While I don’t quite think It’s a Wonderful Knife will reach the status of say Black Christmas or Gremlins, it deserves to find an audience. It’s an enjoyable, murderous holiday romp with a cool killer, great cast, and kickass final girl. It also has something to say, and, despite the gore, it’s not without a few feel good moments and laughs.

It’s a Wonderful Knife hits theaters on November 10 before arriving on Shudder at a later date.