Yes, horror fans and general moviegoers seeking a thrilling slasher with dark humor will find Thanksgiving (2023) worth watching, as it delivers a fresh and gory take on the holiday season. This cinematic feast offers more than just jump scares; it carves out a space in the slasher genre by blending holiday cheer with chilling thrills, making it a culturally relevant and entertaining watch.
Carving into Thanksgiving (2023): Why This Slasher Is Worth Your Holiday Watch
“Thanksgiving” (2023) isn’t just another slasher film; it’s a darkly comedic and suspenseful ride that cleverly uses the festive backdrop of Thanksgiving to amplify its horror. Directed by Eli Roth, this movie, born from a faux trailer in Quentin Tarantino’s “Grindhouse,” has evolved into a full-fledged feature that’s surprisingly sharp and self-aware. It taps into the chaotic energy of Black Friday consumerism and the often-overlooked darker side of holiday traditions, offering a timely and terrifying reflection of contemporary culture.
A Black Friday Massacre with a Side of Slasher Fun
The film wastes no time setting the stage for its gruesome holiday horror. The inciting incident, a Black Friday stampede at a RightMart store in Plymouth, Massachusetts, is both terrifying and darkly satirical. This chaotic scene, triggered by the promise of a waffle maker and fueled by consumer frenzy, immediately establishes the film’s tone. We see the desperation and sometimes violent nature of consumerism as shoppers trample each other, resulting in multiple deaths. This opening sequence is not just a setup for the plot; it’s a commentary on the excesses of holiday shopping and the potential for societal breakdown when commercialism runs rampant. The scene is visceral and disturbing, effectively using practical effects to showcase the brutality of the stampede, setting a high bar for the gore and suspense that follows.
“John Carver” – A Pilgrim-Clad Killer with a Modern Motive
Enter “John Carver,” the film’s antagonist, a mysterious killer clad in a pilgrim outfit, terrorizing Plymouth one year after the Black Friday tragedy. Unlike typical masked slashers with supernatural or purely psychopathic motivations, John Carver’s actions are rooted in revenge for the Black Friday incident. This gives the killer a tangible, albeit twisted, motive that resonates with the film’s themes of consumerism and accountability. His methods are brutal and theatrical, each kill themed around Thanksgiving traditions – from stuffing a victim in an oven to using a corn cob holder in a particularly gruesome manner. These creatively macabre kills are a hallmark of Eli Roth’s style, blending horror with a dark sense of humor that keeps the audience engaged, even as the body count rises. The film cleverly uses Plymouth’s historical backdrop, the site of the first Thanksgiving, to amplify the irony and horror of the holiday-themed killings.
A Cast of Characters Ripe for the Slicing
The ensemble cast of “Thanksgiving” populates Plymouth with a mix of teenagers and adults, each connected to the Black Friday tragedy in some way, making them potential targets for John Carver. Jessica, played by Nell Verlaque, is the central protagonist, grappling with guilt and trauma from the Black Friday event. Her father, RightMart owner Thomas, portrayed by Rick Hoffman, represents the corporate greed indirectly responsible for the initial chaos. Dylan, Jessica’s ex-boyfriend played by Jalen Thomas Brooks, and her friends, including Scuba (Gabriel Davenport) and Gabby (Addison Rae), add to the youthful ensemble facing the pilgrim killer. Patrick Dempsey as Sheriff Eric Newlon provides the law enforcement perspective, trying to unravel the mystery while battling his own personal connections to the unfolding horror. The characters, while archetypal of the slasher genre, are given enough depth to make the audience care, or at least be invested in their gruesome fates. Addison Rae’s casting, initially met with skepticism, proves to be a savvy choice, bringing a recognizable face to the ensemble and holding her own within the horror setting.
Beyond the Gore: Themes of Guilt, Greed, and Social Media Scrutiny
While “Thanksgiving” certainly delivers on the gore and slasher elements expected from an Eli Roth film, it also subtly layers in social commentary. The film explores themes of guilt and responsibility, particularly in the aftermath of the Black Friday disaster. Jessica and her friends are haunted by their roles in the tragedy, and John Carver’s revenge plot forces them to confront their past actions. The movie also critiques consumer culture, showcasing the dark side of holiday commercialism and the frenzy it can induce. Furthermore, “Thanksgiving” touches upon the pervasive nature of social media and its impact on modern life. The characters are constantly filming and posting, documenting their experiences, even amidst the horror. This reflects a contemporary reality where social media presence often intertwines with real-life events, sometimes to a disturbing degree. The film uses these thematic elements to elevate itself beyond a simple bloodbath, providing a slightly more nuanced, albeit still very gory, viewing experience.
Directorial Flair and Slasher Genre Homage
Eli Roth’s direction in “Thanksgiving” is a clear homage to classic slashers while maintaining his signature style of graphic horror. The film nods to iconic movies like “Halloween” and “Scream,” particularly in its suspenseful build-up and the mystery surrounding the killer’s identity. Roth masterfully uses tension and release, balancing moments of genuine scares with dark humor and over-the-top gore. The pacing is tight, keeping the audience on edge as the body count rises and the mystery deepens. The cinematography effectively captures the festive yet eerie atmosphere of a small town during Thanksgiving, contrasting the holiday cheer with the encroaching horror. The practical effects, a Roth staple, are particularly impressive, adding a visceral and realistic quality to the gruesome kills, which are both shocking and darkly entertaining. For fans of the slasher genre, “Thanksgiving” provides a satisfying blend of familiar tropes with fresh, contemporary twists.
Final Verdict: A Deliciously Dark Holiday Slasher
In conclusion, “Thanksgiving” (2023) is indeed worth watching, especially for fans of the slasher genre and those with a taste for dark humor and holiday horror. It successfully expands upon its “Grindhouse” trailer origins to deliver a feature-length film that is both thrilling and thematically relevant. While the gore is plentiful and not for the faint of heart, it’s balanced with a self-aware script, a compelling villain, and a timely critique of consumer culture. “Thanksgiving” (2023) is a bloody good time, offering a darkly entertaining and culturally resonant slasher that carves out its own space in the holiday horror subgenre. If you’re looking for a holiday movie that’s more screams than sentiment, then gather your bravest friends, grab the popcorn, and prepare to be served a Thanksgiving feast of fear.