“Effortlessly embraces both its campiness and heartfelt sincerity”

Christmas films are generally associated with a feeling of warmth and comfort, featuring twinkling lights, crackling fires, and mistletoe kisses. However, there’s an entire subgenre of festive films that includes many of these elements, yet also has much darker undertones— the holiday horror. Krampus, Black Christmas, even last year’s Violent Night are all examples of titles that fall into this specific category, and who could forget The Nightmare Before Christmas? But while the subgenre itself isn’t anything new, this holiday season It’s a Wonderful Knife has come along, attempting to put a unique spin on things and make a mark of its own. 

When audiences are first introduced to Winnie Carruthers (Jane Widdop), she is the very picture of festive cheer, celebrating Christmas Eve with her family at the annual tree lighting ceremony in their town, Angel Falls. Little does she know that this night will forever change her life, thanks to the horrific events that are about to ensue. Eerily cloaked in a white robe and full-face mask, the “Angel” is at large, targeting several of the town’s citizens. While tragically unable to save her best friend Cara (Hana Huggins), Winnie takes matters into her own hands before the Angel can claim the life of her brother Jimmy (Aiden Howard), her quick thinking bringing an end to the night’s violence. 

A year later and Winnie seems to be the only one still reeling from the previous year’s trauma, distraught by the fact that the rest of the town refuses to acknowledge what happened or how it affected her. Not only is she upset by how her family is content to ignore the topic, Winnie experiences a string of events throughout the day that make things go from bad to worse (from a school rejection email to a cheating boyfriend). This causes Winnie to inadvertently wish herself out of existence, thanks to an unexpected natural phenomenon and some Christmas magic. But after she ends up in a version of reality where the killings never stopped and the gentrification of Angel Falls is taken to the extreme—courtesy of the town’s self-appointed savior, mayor Henry Waters (Justin Long)—Winnie begins to wonder if there’s a reason she’s alive.

Marketed to audiences as a thrilling hybrid of It’s a Wonderful Life and Scream, the film pays homage to both of these influences in good measure. Its premise and title are an obvious but clever play on the timeless holiday drama, which its protagonist also happens to be familiar with. “You’re George Bailey!” a character exclaims at one point. “Will you be my Clarence?” Winnie asks in response. Other nods given are more subtle, including a specific moment that brings the second Scream film to mind, and the name of Winnie’s aunt (Katharine Isabelle), Gale Prescott, coming from two of the franchise’s most iconic leading ladies. Rather than feeling like a parody, It’s a Wonderful Knife knows how to have fun with genre conventions while also treating them in earnest. It effortlessly embraces both its campiness and heartfelt sincerity.

The heartwarming, overly saccharine tone established early on is reminiscent of a Hallmark special, while the slasher aspect serves to disrupt this familiar domestic comfort. Brightly lit scenes soundtracked by cheerful Christmas music are interspersed with sequences that are noticeably darker in both lighting and tone, and far more ominous. Some of the Angel’s brutal and bloody kills are simplistic, while others are more inventive in their execution— there’s a particular one early on involving a candy cane that comes to mind. Even the titular weapon takes inspiration from the film’s festive theme, its gleaming blade adorned by a pair of ornamental golden wings.

With a script penned by Michael Kennedy, the writer behind 2020’s body swap horror comedy Freaky, the film feels sharply written and contemporary. In addition to its references to popular social media and use of modern lingo, it is also one of the queerest films in recent memory. There are numerous LGBTQ+ characters—from its protagonist to several of Winnie’s family members and her classmate Bernie (Jess McLeod)—whose sexuality isn’t a punchline or defining trait. This representation also extends beyond the screen; in addition to Kennedy being gay, several of the cast and crew proudly identify as part of the community as well, including Widdop and McLeod, both of whom are non-binary.

Even though it’s not essential for queer characters to be played by actors who are also LGBTQ+, it is still significant when they are given the chance to step into these roles. This is because sharing this lived experience of queerness with their fictional counterparts adds an undeniable authenticity, something which is very much true when it comes to Widdop and McLeod’s respective portrayals of Winnie and Bernie. These are two characters who exist on the fringes of belonging— Winnie feels insignificant within her own life, while Bernie is slapped with the label “weirdo” and harassed by her peers. At one point, the two are even referred to as “a pariah and an outsider,” a snide remark intended to draw attention to their shared status as the ‘other’.

Amidst the horrors that transpire in their small town, Winnie and Bernie manage to find an unexpected solace in each other. Not only does Bernie become Winnie’s closest ally in navigating her unusual situation, Winnie soon discovers she has a key role to play in Bernie’s life as well. Widdop and McLeod have a natural chemistry together, and many of the film’s shining moments come during its more tender beats; the softer scenes that see them share the screen alone are also some of the best. It is a testament to both actors’ moving performances and the strength of the script that viewers are able to become emotionally invested in these two characters, while also rooting for their budding romance.

What is especially striking about It’s a Wonderful Knife is the movie’s takeaway message, which is simple yet crucial. That the lives of young queer people matter, even when they don’t believe this to be true themselves. That even on days when it feels like everything is awful and the entire world seems to be against them, it’s still a better place simply because they exist in it. It also suggests that there’s a ripple effect to their absence, showing how it would have a more significant impact than they could ever have imagined, in both big and small ways.

It’s a Wonderful Knife is a welcome addition to the holiday horror subgenre, giving fans of festive feel-good flicks and slashers alike something new to love. The fact a film like this even gets to exist feels like something of a miracle, not only offering an entertaining watch but a touching, queer-affirming narrative. Its unique blend of Yuletide cheer and fear may not be for everyone, but there’s no doubt that It’s a Wonderful Knife is sure to find its audience, carving out a place in their hearts— and potentially their annual Christmas watchlists.

IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE will be released on Shudder, AMC+, and everywhere you rent movies on December 1st.

Director: Tyler MacIntyre

Producers: Seth Caplan, Michael Kennedy, Daniel Bekerman

Cast: Jane Widdop, Justin Long, Jess McLeod, Katharine Isabelle, Joel McHale, Cassandra Naud

Release Date: 1 December 2023

Trailer:

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