Entertainment Blog #190 | Thanksgiving [2023] - A Thanksgiving Day Slasher...

This is Christmas season but still, it feels like Halloween Season yet. Usually, movies released these days are Christmas stories with a bit of rom-com. But this time, it's not like that. There've been a ton of Christmas horror movies released these days. And this is about the newest add to the collection..

"Thanksgiving" is a 2023 slasher film directed by Eli Roth that is based on a fictitious trailer from "Grindhouse." The film is set in a small Massachusetts town during the Thanksgiving holiday, when a killer dressed in a John Carver mask terrorizes the residents. TriStar Pictures released the film on November 17, 2023, starring Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, and Milo Manheim.

In "Thanksgiving," a small town in Massachusetts prepares for another Black Friday sale at RightMart, a local superstore. Jessica, the store's owner's daughter, becomes involved in a tragic event from the previous year's sale, in which several people died, including Amanda Collins, the wife of the store manager Mitch. Tensions rise a year later as the town prepares for another sale, and rumors circulate that those involved in the previous incident are being hunted down by a mysterious figure wearing a John Carver mask.

Jessica and her friends are targeted after being tagged in a disturbing social media post showing a Thanksgiving table with their names written around it. As the holiday approaches, the town is terrorized by a series of brutal killings, with the attacker wearing the iconic John Carver mask. Lizzie, a local waitress, becomes the first victim, cultivating fear in the community, and police suspect that anyone present at the previous year's violent Black Friday incident may be in danger.

As the body count rises, so do tensions and the sense of increasing danger. Suspicions and anxiety spread throughout the community, and the killer continued to strike, creating fear and uncertainty. As Jessica and her friends deal with the growing danger posed by the relentless, masked murderer, the story unfolds against the setting of a small town gripped by terror.

"Thanksgiving" stands out from the crowd primarily because of its homage to the grindhouse genre. This genre is known for its exploitation, extreme violence, and dark humor, and "Thanksgiving" illustrates these characteristics. The film does not shy away from violence, which adds to the audience's fear factor. The intentional inclusion of these elements, combined with a plot centered on a masked killer during a holiday, results in a unique viewing experience that meets specifically with fans of Grindhouse cinema. This intentional merging of extreme violence and dark humor separates "Thanksgiving" from more traditional horror or slasher films.

"Thanksgiving" received mostly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The film received an 84% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its blend of humor and over-the-top gore and hailing it as a treat for fans of grindhouse cinema. The bold fusion of dark comedy and exaggerated violence in the film stood out, contributing to its positive reception. The film received a Metacritic score of 63%, indicating generally positive reviews. The audience's reaction, as measured by CinemaScore, averaged a "B-" on a scale of A+ to F, while PostTrak polls revealed an overall positive score of 73%. These reactions emphasized the film's appeal to audiences looking for a balance of humor, gore, and thrilling tension, making it an engaging experience within its genre.

"Thanksgiving" stands out as a unique addition to the horror genre, combining outrageous comedy with brutal violence to create an experience that both shocks and entertains. Eli Roth's direction creates a thrilling yet comedic story that transports audiences on a wild and gruesome journey. While the film's extreme nature may not be for everyone, its unique blend of dark humor and over-the-top horror provides a unique viewing experience that caters to fans looking for an uncommon and daring take on the slasher genre. Overall, "Thanksgiving" stands out as a bold and unapologetic holiday-themed horror film.