It’s A Wonderful Knife Film (2023)

 

"It's A Wonderful Knife" is a holiday horror comedy set in the fictional town of Angel Falls. With a name like that, what could go wrong? Except everything. 

Winnie Carruthers (Jane Widdop) has her world turned upside down when everything she knew, everything she loved was taken from her. Her life just got a little more complicated. 

Angels are known for their spiritual presence. They're supposed to protect you, keep you out of harms way. This angel must have missed the memo because they've gone bad. 

There is universal question that everyone asks themselves from time to time. What would life be like if I was never born? Would everyone around me better off? This film answers that question. This story gives you a glimpse into what life would look like without one on our main characters and I’ll let you in on a little secret. It isn’t good. 

One of my favorite characters is Bernie Simon (Jess McLeod). Bernie is a nerdy, misunderstood character that is incorporated into the story in a meaningful, thought out way, and is given a genuine reason to be there. This is rather rare in cinema these days. More often than not, these characters are added strictly for comedic relief or to over exaggerate the actions of the typical “bully” character. 

Justin Long has made a name for himself within the Horror genre. I hadn’t seen a film of his that I didn't like. Until now. His portrayal of Mayor Henry Waters is very strange and rather uncomfortable to watch. I'm not sure if it was the Ross Gellar - like self tanner, the blinding white teeth, or the fake, over the top accent but it just didn’t work for me. His acting was very cartoon like. It felt like he was trying too hard and although I tried to overlook it, it was very distracting and seemed so out of sync with the rest of the story.  

Jane Widdop shines as the likeable Winnie Carruthers. You may be familiar with her work on the popular Showtime series "Yellowjackets". Without her stellar performance in this film I don't think I would have found it as enjoyable. She has the ability to express her emotions in a way that is realistic and relatable. I find myself having trouble connecting with characters in modern Horror cinema but she reeled me in. 

Katharine Isabelle is an actress I have been a fan of for years. I first discovered her when she played trouble teen turned werewolf in 2001's "Ginger Snaps". She may have a smaller role as Winnie's loveable aunt, Gale, but she makes every second count when she's on screen. She's a great addition to the story. 

Joel McHale is an incredibly talented actor. Best known for his role as Jeff Winger in the Dan Harmon Television series, Community, Joel plays David Carruthers. Winnie's father and a beloved member of Angel Falls. It's great to see him in a role so far removed from what he's best known as it really shows his abilities as an actor.

Overall, I enjoyed "It's A Wonderful Knife". Despite a few minor hiccups here and there it was an entertaining watch. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, I didn't. Holiday Horror films tend to get silly. Fast. It's so easy to get lost in the theme and forget about the plot. I'm happy to say that is not the case here. Writer Michael Kennedy (Freaky) knows how to create an enjoyable watching experience for his viewers, while Director Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls) has a knack for helping actors express their deepest fears in a believable way. 

"It's A Wonderful Knife" is available on Shudder on AMC+ and all movie rental platforms starting December 1, 2023. I highly suggest you tune in for a little holiday fright. 

What Lies Below Film Review

 

A 16 year old returns from camp to discover her mother has welcomed a new man into her life. This unconventional story of love and suspense takes the genre in a fresh, new direction with Braden R. Duemmler’s mystery thriller, “What Lies Below”. 

I thought I knew how this film was going to end. I did not. I was way off and that makes me happy. I really enjoyed this story. My only complaint is I want more. I want a back story on John (Trey Tucker), the love interest. His character is so multidimensional that I had a hard time figuring him out, which I think works really well here. Who is he? Where does he come from? I have so many questions. At the same time, I do think that him being so mysterious adds to the unsettling feeling I had each time he was on screen. Trey played the good, bad guy so well. He’s so believable. When I first saw him on screen my initial thought was “this man is far too good looking to be this nice”. 

It was strange yet refreshing to see Mina Suvari playing the roll of a mother. I grew up watching her in classic 90’s films from “American Beauty” to “American Pie”. She’s a natural. She’s a great actress at any age and I think this is a testament to her acting style as well as her talent as a performer. The character of Michelle is very relatable in many ways. One of which being her estranged relationship with her deceased father. She wanted to be loved by someone who put the needs of her sibling first. I think this is something a lot of viewers can relate to. I interpreted her need for love as her reasoning for falling for John so quickly. She’s vulnerable and unfortunately she was the perfect prey and an easy target. 

Ema Horvath is an up and coming actress who showcased her talent when she portrayed 16 year old Liberty. She’s shy, introverted, and a little awkward. Her relationship with her mother appears to be somewhat strained. Perhaps this is due to her inheritance from Michelle’s father. He left her a cabin in his will which has led her mother to feel as though he loved her child more than his own daughter. The mother / daughter bond is quickly tested when John starts exhibiting strange behavior.

Overall I think “What Lies Below” is a fantastic genre piece. The ending is unique and not what I expected, especially with the tone of the film during the first two acts. The story is aware but doesn’t take itself seriously. The characters aren’t overly simplistic or unintelligent. They’re a family just like you and I. They’re a little broken, a little damaged, and this lead to what unfolds during the third act. Everything flows perfectly with no feelings of forced chemistry or interactions. I suggest watching this film if you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers. The ending is a complete surprise up until the last shot which I think many of you will enjoy. “What Lies Below” is being released through Vertical Entertainment on Demand and Digital December 4, 2020. 

Swallow Film Review - Final Girls Film Festival

Hunter, an expectant mother begins her journey down a dangerous path to self destruction. Can she find a better way to cope with her loneliness or will she let it consume her? It becomes obvious very early on that although Hunter loves her husband their marriage isn’t ideal. She is constantly trying to be the perfect wife for Richie and in doing so she loses a part of herself. She lacks the ability to control her life and in an effort to gain back that control she starts experimenting by swallowing small objects. It seems perfectly harmless at first but as we dig deeper we start to realize that this has become a dangerous obsession.

Swallow is a great example of a film that concentrates on the darker side of marriage. It explains in detail what can happen when you marry someone and you spend that entire relationship not being yourself but trying to be someone else for the one you love. It’s a great way to look into a relationship without rose tinted glasses. Few films are able to do this in a way that is truly relatable.

Haley Bennett’s portrayal of Hunter is fantastic. She is able to make her character seem both relatable and detached all at the same time. It’s almost as if she’s playing two separate characters that merge together seamlessly and I applaud her for her abilities. After seeing this film I cannot imagine anyone else playing the role of Hunter.

Denis O’Hare plays the pivotal role of Irwin in this story. Sometimes it’s the characters who provide the backstory that are the important ones. They tell us about who the main character is and what they’ve gone through to lead up to the moment when we meet them. I have been a big fan of Denis’s work and I think he really shines here.

If you are a fan of strong female characters I urge you to check out Swallow. It gives a real, heartfelt look into life and shows that no one is perfect even if it appears so from the outside. I give Swallow a 10/10. The directing, writing, acting, cinematography, and music are all brilliant. It all comes together to tell the story of a perfectly imperfect housewife. Swallow debuts in select theaters and on demand on March 6, 2020 and is currently being shown at Final Girls Film Festival in Berlin, Germany.