A One Mann’s Movies review of “Thanksgiving” (2023).
There is virtually nothing novel about Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving”. We are firmly in teen-slasher territory, with a masked figure terrorising the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. But, that being said, there’s a certain exhuberant energy behind the mayhem that makes the whole thing far more entertaining than most recent horror offerings.
Bob the Movie Man Rating:
Plot Summary:
Thomas Wright (Rick Hoffman) runs the local ‘Right Mart’ supermarket and he is encouraged by his wife Kathleen (Karen Cliche) to open up the store for a Thanksgiving sale. But it turns into a disaster when sale-shoppers stampede for the bargains and people are killed. Now, one year later, a killer dressed as a Pilgrim Father is running rampant in the town with the common link being those identified in a viral video of the event.
Certification:
UK: 18; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong bloody violence, gore”).
Talent:
Starring: Nell Verlaque, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Mika Amonsen, Milo Manheim, Gabriel Davenport, Patrick Dempsey.
Directed by: Eli Roth.
Written by: Jeff Rendell. (Based on a story by Eli Roth & Jeff Rendell).
Twitter Handle: #ThanksgivingMovie.
Running Time: 1h 47m.
Looks like the case is wrapped up early for Sheriff Newlon (Patrick Dempsey). Actually, no… it’s just his deputy Bret Labelle (Jeff Teravainen) having fun. (Source: Sony Pictures).
“Thanksgiving” Review:
Positives:
- What people mainly look for in this type of film are cheesy and familiar characters (tick); ridiculously gory and innovative kills (tick); a ludicrously masked villain that seems to be pretty well invincible and keeps popping up unexpectedly (tick); and a black and macabre sense of humour (tick). Some slasher films (e.g. the recent “Scream VI“) manage to deliver some of these but miss on others. For me, “Thanksgiving” manages to deliver all of them. It’s all a cheesy, fun, ludicrous gore-fest that had me laughing, cringing and wincing multiple times.
- As with all of these “masked killer” films, part of the fun is finding out who the murderer (or murderers) is/are. Pretty soon, you learn that it can’t be our heroine of the piece Jess (Nell Verlaque) or her friend Scuba (Gabriel Davenport). But it’s left delightfully open about who else it might be.
Negatives:
- Logic plays little part in these films. Some of the plot seems to have been made up minutes before the cameras rolled for the sense it makes. But, hey, you’re not here for logic are you?
- Similarly, some of the dialogue between the teens, particularly at the start of the film, is a) unintelligable and b) when you do understand it, you wish you hadn’t bothered. But, hey, you’re not here for witty and urbane repartee are you?
Everyone’s in the town is as safe as a turkey at Thanksgiving! (Source: Sony Pictures)
Summary Thoughts on “Thanksgiving”
The origin of this film was apparently a “parody of holiday slasher movie trailers” filmed by Eli Roth in 2007. The movie version does play out like a parody, but a good parody. It certainly earns its ’18’ certificate! For lovers of this genre, I think it really hits the mark spot-on.
Now, shall I carve the meat or will you?
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Trailer for “Thanksgiving”:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbU50SdL8zA . (Note: this is a very spoilery trailer and gives away the majority of the kills. If you can watch this movie without seeing a trailer – as I for once was able to do – that is far preferable).
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