Quick Facts
| Title | It’s a Wonderful Knife |
| Type | Christmas slasher comedy film |
| Director | Tyler MacIntyre |
| Writer | Michael Kennedy |
| Composer | Russ Howard III |
| Release Date | Oct 8, 2023 (Beyond Fest) · Nov 10, 2023 (US theatrical) · Dec 1, 2023 (Shudder) |
| Starring | Jane Widdop, Joel McHale, Justin Long, Jess McLeod, Katharine Isabelle, William B. Davis |
| Box Office | $825,460 worldwide |
| Where to Watch | Shudder; digital rental on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home |
It’s a Wonderful Knife is a 2023 Christmas slasher comedy film directed by Tyler MacIntyre and written by Michael Kennedy — the pair behind Freaky (2020). It’s an original screenplay, not an adaptation of another title, built as a bloody comedic spin on the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life. It was produced by Divide/Conquer and Seth Caplan, in association with Fourth Culture Films, and shot in Vancouver from March 20 to April 14, 2023.
About the Story
Teenager Winnie Carruthers saves her Christmas-obsessed hometown of Angel Falls from a masked killer known as “the Angel,” unmasking the culprit as her father’s business partner, Henry Waters. A year later, still reeling from her best friend Cara’s death and a fresh breakup, Winnie wishes aloud on a bridge that she’d never been born — and wakes up in a nightmare parallel timeline where the Angel never stopped killing and nobody recognizes her. To reclaim her old life, Winnie has to stop the killer all over again, this time with the help of an outcast classmate, Bernie Simon.
Cast
- Jane Widdop as Winnie Carruthers
- Joel McHale as David Carruthers
- Justin Long as Henry Waters
- Jess McLeod as Bernie Simon
- Katharine Isabelle as Gale Prescott
- William B. Davis as Roger Evans
- Aiden Howard as Jimmy Carruthers
- Hana Huggins as Cara Evans
- Erin Boyes as Judy Carruthers
- Sean Depner as Buck Waters
- Zenia Marshall as Darla Berlin
- Cassandra Naud as Karen Simmons
Composer & Soundtrack
Composer Russ Howard III scored the film, but soundtrack hunters had a long wait ahead of them: no album accompanied the movie’s 2023 premiere, which is why earlier coverage of this title got stuck describing the soundtrack as “coming soon.” Howard’s official It’s a Wonderful Knife (Original Score) album didn’t actually arrive until September 16, 2025 — nearly two years later — and runs 25 tracks, with cues like “Christmas Morning Miracles” and “Bloody Hands on the Window.”
Reception
It’s a Wonderful Knife holds a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 80 critics (average 5.6/10) and a 52/100 on Metacritic, both indicating mixed-to-positive reviews. The Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus reads: “It’s a Wonderful Knife takes an enthusiastic stab at holiday-themed horror-comedy, even if it doesn’t cut quite as deep as it should.” The film grossed $825,460 worldwide during its limited 923-theater US release.
Where to Watch It’s a Wonderful Knife
The film streams on Shudder and is available to rent or buy digitally on Prime Video, Apple TV+, and Fandango at Home. The score streams on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed It’s a Wonderful Knife?
Tyler MacIntyre directed the film from a screenplay by Michael Kennedy.
What classic movie does It’s a Wonderful Knife spoof?
It’s a bloody, comedic riff on the 1946 classic It’s a Wonderful Life — instead of an angel showing the hero the good he’s done, protagonist Winnie Carruthers is dropped into a nightmare timeline built from the deaths she prevented.
Is there a soundtrack album for It’s a Wonderful Knife?
Yes, but it arrived late. Composer Russ Howard III’s official It’s a Wonderful Knife (Original Score) wasn’t released until September 16, 2025, nearly two years after the film premiered in 2023.
How was It’s a Wonderful Knife received by critics?
Reviews were mixed-to-positive: 55% on Rotten Tomatoes from 80 critics, and 52/100 on Metacritic.
Where can I stream It’s a Wonderful Knife?
It streams on Shudder and is available to rent or buy digitally on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.
Related reading: Movie Soundtracks | Streaming Hub | Apple TV+