It’s a Wonderful Knife is a bold new Christmas classic. Starring Justin Long, Joel McHale, and Jane Widdop, the tale follows a young woman named Winnie (Jane Widdop) after she saves her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve. Despite being treated like a hero, Winnie is deeply traumatized from the event and, fed up with everyone around her, she wishes that she had never been born.
As Christmas movie magic would have it, Winnie made this wish underneath the Northern Lights, on Christmas Eve – so naturally, she wakes up in a parallel universe the following morning. A parallel universe where things are much worse than they had been for her and for the rest of the residents of the usually-idyllic Angel Falls. And, since in this universe, Winnie was never born, Winnie was never able to stop the killer — or find out the masked killer’s true identity.
It’s a Wonderful Life obviously serves as the main inspiration for It’s a Wonderful Knife, but the new film isn’t bashful about the influence it’s taken from other movies – it’s full of Easter eggs from other famous Christmas films. While the 1946 black and white film provides the basis for It’s a Wonderful Knife, writer Michael Kennedy (Freaky) puts a comedic and horrific spin on the 75 year old classic tale. In not trying to be original, and being downright cheesy (like, borrowed from made-for-TV Disney-movies-cheesy) , It’s a Wonderful Knife is actually a really original and fun Christmas tale.
RLJE Films and Shudder
The quaint and cheery town of Angel Falls is exactly the sort of town most Christmas movies seem to take place in (think Gilmore Girls). Everyone knows each other and comes together for the annual tree lighting, where we meet Mr. Henry Waters, played gleefully by Justin Long. He’s smarmy and gross, with a fake tan and fake teeth, and he’s ready to buy up property to build a new attraction in Angel Falls. The Carruthers family are the last people standing in his way.
Justin Long has had a really great streak in horror movies. He’s had a long career in horror and in comedy, but the last few years – starring in both Barbarian and House of Darkness – Long has really proven his horror chops. He’s super over-the-top in It’s a Wonderful Knife, but it’s clear that he’s having fun with the role of evil businessman (but did he really need the spray tan, the teeth, and the crazy hair?).
It’s a Wonderful Knife is the sort of movie where you can tell that everyone working on it had fun with it. Joel McHale in particular looks to be having a good time with his role of David Carruthers, father to Winnie Carruthers. Part of the fun of the “parallel universe” aspect of the movie is that in the alternate-world, everyone’s got a bit of a different personality, and Joel McHale gets to show off his range, going far beyond the usual cheery Joel McHale you either love or hate.
Justin Long’s Mr. Waters has become Mayor Waters, and his mark is all over Angel Falls. If he was having fun as the villain in the beginning of the film, he really hams it up for the parallel universe story. Winnie, played by Jane Widdop (Laura Lee!), is excellent. In this movie full of fantasy elements and movie magic, Widdop’s performance is grounded and heartfelt.
I’ve always wondered what the holidays must be like for people who don’t live in a place with clearly defined weather seasons. I’ve lived in New England for my entire life, and there’s no mistaking the difference in the air when the holidays are coming up. There’s a distinct crispness to Halloween, followed by a chill that marks the holiday season. These differences in weather come with other markers of a holiday season. It starts with back to school shopping, and it ends with gyms offering discounted memberships in January (or maybe with Valentine’s Day…).
Along the way, certain channels and streaming services come out with more Christmas movies than most people can keep up with, and most of those movies are of the romantic comedy variety. The last few years, though, there’s been better (and more mainstream) Christmas horror to watch. It’s a Wonderful Knife is a Christmas movie through and through, complete with heartwarming friendships, family drama, and magic. There’s no Santa, but the masked killer is an iconic villain who makes some great (and outlandish) kills along the way. It’s a Wonderful Knife might be a Christmas movie first, but it’s also a fun slasher that you’ll want to add to your Christmas watch list.
‘It’s a Wonderful Knife’ comes to Shudder and AMC+ on December 1, 2023
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