With the holiday season in full swing, many of us are craving a good Christmas movie to get us into the spirit of things. While classic holiday movies may be the go-to for many, others prefer something a bit more unconventional. Enter It’s A Wonderful Knife, a horror movie that roughly takes the premise of It’s A Wonderful Life and puts a dark twist on it.
It’s A Wonderful Knife follows Winnie Carruthers, who saved her town from a killer on Christmas Eve the previous year. While she may have expected to live a peaceful life after that, things are far from great for Winnie. One day, after she wishes she had never been born, she finds herself in an alternate reality that is far worse than what she had left behind. Someone is killing people in her town once again, and unless she finds out who it is and returns to her original reality, she may never exist again.
The film was directed by Tyler MacIntyre and written by Michael Kennedy. It stars Jane Widdop, Jess McLeod, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle, William B. Davis, and Justin Long.
One of the standout performances in It’s A Wonderful Knife comes from none other than Justin Long, who plays Henry Waters. Long’s performance is impactful, and he manages to steal the show even though he is not the leading character. While the rest of the cast is wonderful, Long really steals the show.
While It’s A Wonderful Knife may not be a perfect film, it is still enjoyable to watch. The movie knows what homage it’s trying to pay, and it does so wholeheartedly. There are moments where the execution may falter, but for the most part, it succeeds in being an entertaining horror movie.
It’s A Wonderful Knife may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking for a heartwarming holiday movie, this is not it. However, if you’re a fan of horror films, you’ll likely appreciate this film’s twist on a classic Christmas movie. The gore may be a bit much for some viewers, but that’s par for the course in horror movies who the film is ultimately made for in the first place.
All in all, It’s A Wonderful Knife is an entertaining addition to the Christmas horror film genre. It has its flaws, but it’s still a worth a watch for those looking for a holiday horror movie. The performance by Justin Long is impressive. If you’re a fan of horror movies and you’re willing to give non-traditional Christmas movies a try, then It’s A Wonderful Knife may be just the film for you.
It’s A Wonderful Knife hit theaters on November 10, 2023 and is now available on Shudder.
