‘It’s A Wonderful Knife’ Review – A Holiday Classic Gets A Fun Horror Twist

Spooky season might be over and holiday cheer is just around the corner but It’s A Wonderful Knife gives fans of both a little something to be thankful for. Horror and Christmas have always gone well together with such classics as Black Christmas (the original of course), Silent Night, Deadly Night, and even more recent offerings like Krampus and Better Watch Out. By borrowing a bit from the Frank Capra classic It’s A Wonderful Life, this latest entry blends bloody slasher fun and a surprising amount of heart that is sure to make it seasonal viewing for horror movie fans. Director Tyler MacIntyre and writer Michael Kennedy clearly understood the assignment and you’ll find just enough to enjoy if you understand it too.

It has been a year since Winnie’s (Jane Widdop) best friend was murdered on Christmas Eve and this event has left her feeling particularly lonely. Her parents (played by Joel McHale and Erin Boyes) seem ignorant to her plight which leads her to make a fateful wish that she had never been born. In true Capra fashion, Winne is transported to a parallel universe where she never existed, much like her friend who was slain by a masked assailant. Speaking of murder and mayhem, that masked assailant is back and wreaking havoc, and Winnie and a schoolmate named Bernie must stop the murderer and return her to her own timeline before it’s too late.

Perhaps one of the most brilliant things the film does is make you question whether it’s a horror film or one of those Hallmark holiday features that have become a huge fixture during the Christmas season. It has a fun time towing the line between what it actually is and even begins in a pretty mysterious fashion but things begin to take off in a big way. Once the film really gets going, it never lets up and it’s able to balance humor and horror in equal fashion.

The mystery of the film isn’t who the killer is because that is revealed very early on but more about confronting the monster and then realizing how things can completely fall apart when someone ceases to exist. In this new timeline, even Winnie’s family doesn’t know who she is, and the killer, whose identity we already know, is also still alive with a thirst for blood that has consumed the entire town. The identity of the killer won’t be revealed here but looking down the cast list it’ll be easy for you to figure out and it’s a piece of inspired casting.

Fans of horror will be pleased that the film is bloody in all the right places but it might come up a tad short compared to other slashers taking place during the holiday season. That being said, the movie does come up with some festive death scenes that leave a mark and the killer’s attire is also a nice change of pace. Instead of the dark clothing that is associated with most slasher movie killers, this one dresses in clothes that are as white as the Christmas snow. Even the mask is white which gives the whole image of the killer a faceless creepiness that sticks with you.

Oddly enough, even though the horror is there and it’s a bloody good time, the heart of the film proves to be one of its strongest assets. There is a sense of hope on display here even though it does subvert Capra’s narrative in a pretty interesting way. It does push the horror aside on occasion but it makes Winne a fully realized character. Much like Jimmy Stewart in It’s A Wonderful Life, she has to discover why her existence matters. It’s still all campy and a little quirky but you care for the central character and are fully invested in her making this all right.

What sets the film apart in a pretty significant and refreshing way is that the film is wonderfully queer without the focus being squarely on the sexuality of the characters. The movie makes this a part of their lives and doesn’t make it a grand gesture. The fact that this is approached with normalcy is something we need to see more of in any genre.

As Winnie, Widdop is completely engaging and is able to play all the beats of the film. She makes you believe Winnie’s discovery of her self-worth and she proves to be a capable lead. She shares solid chemistry with Jess McLeod, who plays the outsider Bernie. In her normal timeline, Winnie is pretty terrible to Bernie but they find some common ground as she’s the only one who believes her story about being from a parallel universe. As they attempt to undo the wish, both characters see something new in each other and both actresses sell the progression of the relationship well.

Justin Long is also on display here as the town’s mayor and boy does he have a good time playing someone completely vile. Long has an inherently nice persona in real life so it’s fun to watch him turn that on its head here a bit. It’s kind of a caricature but he’s fully in on the joke and that’s what makes the performance work. He certainly steals every scene he’s in and this is just yet another horror genre entry that goes a long way to prove his Scream King status.

It’s A Wonderful Knife does everything it needs to do to be included as a new holiday horror mainstay. Through a clever script and inspired performances, the film becomes more than just a title that is an amusing play on words. While all the campy horror ingredients are there, the movie can also make your heart grow three sizes while watching it. It’s Christmas horror that supplies the thrills and good cheer in equal measure.

It’s A Wonderful Knife is currently playing in theaters courtesy of RLJE Films and Shudder.