It's a Wonderful Knife is a 2023 American Christmas horror film directed by Tyler MacIntyre, and the cast includes Jane Widdop, Jess McLeod, Joel McHale, Katharine Isabelle, William B. Davis, and Justin Long.
In It's a Wonderful Knife, we have Winnie, the protagonist, who embarks on a journey after saving her town from a psychotic killer on Christmas Eve, and one year later, she finds herself magically transported to a nightmarish parallel universe where the murderous maniac has returned.
Winnie must team up with a misfit to identify the culprit and find a way back to her own reality, and throughout the movie, you are taken on a rollercoaster ride filled with suspense, blood, and gore. What more do you want?
As the movie progresses, you do actually become invested in Winnie's story and without giving away any spoilers, there is a particular turn in the plot that I was hoping for, and I was thrilled when it actually happened.
Winnie's character is fun and compelling, making it very enjoyable to follow her along with the misfit group.
The parallel universe adds an intriguing element as well, as Winnie must navigate this nightmarish world while trying to identify the culprit who has returned and the tension and chemistry between the characters keep the suspense high throughout the movie.
Despite the horror elements, the movie also explores themes of Christmas and the holiday season.
It combines the warmth and joy of the holidays with the thrill and excitement of horror and the result is a delightfully queer and campy holiday horror experience.
The chemistry between the characters, particularly Winnie and Bernie, is a highlight of the movie for me, and the dynamic and interactions between them both add depth to the story and keeps you invested in their journey and I found myself rooting for them and their mission.
I have to give a special mention to Justin Long's performance in the film as well, as he truly stole the scenes he was in, bringing a captivating energy to his character which was both fun and memorable.
It's a Wonderful Knife is a fun and cheesy holiday horror movie that deserves a spot on your annual Christmas horror watchlist.
It offers a different type of twist on a Christmas movie and provides an different kind of entertaining experience for us horror fans.
One minor criticism I have is that I would have liked to see more screen time for the Angel Falls killer.
The all-white costume, set against the snowy background and Christmas decorations, was visually stunning and iconic.
The movie also gives in to another tired trope, although I won't spoil the specifics.
While this didn't ruin the overall experience for me, it was a bit disappointing to see the movie rely on a trope that has been overused in the horror genre, but, the movie does put its own twist on the trope, which adds some freshness to it.
It's A Wonderful Knife is a delightfully queer and campy holiday horror film as said and the movie successfully combines the warmth and joy of the holiday season with the thrill and excitement of horror.
Add this one to your Christmas horror movie viewing list.
I would rate this film 72% on my horror movie nerd-o-meter.
[It's a Wonderful Knife on IMDB] [Where to watch It's a Wonderful Knife]
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