An axe-wielding maniac terrorizes residents of Plymouth, Mass., after a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy. Picking off victims one by one, the seemingly random revenge killings soon become part of a larger, sinister plan.
Directed by Eli Roth and scripted by Jeff Rendell and Roth himself Thanksgiving breaks away from the Halloween-centric horror trend, presenting a Kiwi audience with a cast featuring Rick Hoffman, Gina Gershon, and Patrick Dempsey. The film injects a dose of horror into the Thanksgiving holiday, embracing shocks and thrills over conventional scares.
Thanksgiving courageously steps into the spotlight, steering away from the Halloween-dominated horror scene. It takes inspiration from the Scream franchise, prioritizing shocks and thrills.
The story kicks off in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with a prologue that sets the scene for a revenge-seeking killer clad in pilgrim garb and a plastic John Carver mask. A year after a tragic Black Friday incident, this mysterious murderer embarks on a spree, concocting inventive and grotesque demise.
The story kicks off in Plymouth, Massachusetts, with a prologue that sets the scene for a revenge-seeking killer clad in pilgrim garb and a plastic John Carver mask. A year after a tragic Black Friday incident, this mysterious murderer embarks on a spree, concocting inventive and grotesque demise.
Thanksgiving doesn't shy away from gratuitous violence, delivering an unrelenting display of gore and blood, reminiscent of the Saw and Hostel franchises. The film's brutality is a spectacle, featuring practical effects that showcase stomach-ripping and face-splitting moments that are both imaginative and cringe-worthy.
While the mystery isn't overly intricate, Roth defies expectations by infusing self-aware humour and unexpected twists into the narrative. The characters, although stereotypical and irritating, serve as victims, keeping the audience on edge as they face the killer's wrath.
Thanksgiving emerges as a clever and humorous critique of American consumerism, using the holiday season as a backdrop to explore the darker side of greed. Roth's screenplay, co-written with Jeff Rendell, cleverly weaves satire into the fabric of the horror, ensuring the film doesn't take itself too seriously.
The standout feature of Thanksgiving is its gore. The killings, executed with gleeful practical effects, showcase a level of inventiveness that sets the film apart. From eye-averting gore to axe beheadings, the movie caters to those who relish the visceral elements of horror.
Roth's distinctive style, blending humour and exaggerated gore, provides an unexpected rhythm to Thanksgiving. The film fluctuates between a brutal first act, a relatively tamer second act, and a high-octane, gory main course. The kills, both gut-busting and gut-wrenching, keep the audience engaged.
The characters in Thanksgiving are a mix of obnoxious caricatures, intentionally crafted to be unlikable. Roth and Rendell's script makes a bold choice by not aiming for sympathy, allowing the maniacal serial killer to take centre stage without reservations.
Unapologetically indulging in R-rated content, Thanksgiving pushes the boundaries of what the genre allows. Roth's direction takes the film to the edge, delivering a level of nastiness that horror enthusiasts crave.
While the script follows a straightforward path, it takes a backseat to the real stars of the show—the kills. Thanksgiving prioritizes its gruesome spectacle over intricate storytelling, offering a feast for fans of eye-popping horror.
Thanksgiving, under Eli Roth's direction, carves its niche in the horror landscape. It's not a flawless film, but it doesn't strive to be. Instead, it revels in its imperfections, delivering a visceral and satirical experience that leaves an indelible mark on the Thanksgiving horror subgenre.
Thanksgiving is in cinemas from November 16, 2023