Directed by Tyler MacIntyre and written by Michael Kennedy, It’s A Wonderful Knife is a slasher spin on the much beloved Christmas classic It’s A Wonderful Life from 1946. Featuring a strong supporting cast of Justin Long, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle and Cassandra Naud, It’s A Wonderful Knife centers on idyllic small town Angel Falls and its impending doom due to the smarmy Henry Waters who is hoping to force residents out of their homes and businesses in order to develop the town. One night at a highschool christmas party, a masked murderer goes on a bloody rampage in which local teen Winnie Cruthers (Jane Widdop) kills the assailant. A year later, after everyone has moved on from the tragedy, Winnie is still suffering from the trauma of losing her best friend and also having to take a life. One night as a freak sighting of the Northern Lights soars over the town, Winnie wishes she was never born and is soon transported into an alternative Angel Falls where she never existed.
Much in the similar vein of films like Freaky (2020), Happy Death Day (2017) and (which Macintryre also directed) Tragedy Girls (2017), It’s A Wonderful Knife is a surface level teen slasher with a smattering of a festive morality tale. Whilst its subversion of stereotypical teenage character tropes is commendable, at times the film feels very light on the slasher aspect. If a slasher film is to be set at christmas, it feels intrinsic to the audience’s enjoyment to amp up the festive related modes of murder. The film’s younger lead cast are certainly likeable and provide much of the festive fuzzy warmth one would expect from a christmas film, but it is the supporting actors of Justin Long, Joel McHale and Katherine Isabelle who make the film palatable for an audience beyond their teens. Long revels in his role as seedy capitalist parasite, complete with perma-tan and obnoxious toothy grin, and Katherine Isabelle’s turn as the effortlessly cool queer aunt is perhaps the most affable character whose fate audiences would have a genuine interest in.
It’s A Wonderful Knife is a competent gateway horror film for teenagers looking to dip their toes into the genre, with enough heart and warmth to satiate those looking for a little more festive feelings in their holiday slashers.
It’s a Wonderful Knife is out now on Shudder
