With Halloween being over, the last thing I expected to do over my Thanksgiving Break was watch a scary movie. Yet “Thanksgiving,” directed by Eli Roth has been on my must-watch movie list since I heard about it.
Horror movies aren’t typically my go-to, but I was curious to see if “Thanksgiving,” could live up to the social media hype. I was also excited because Thanksgiving movies hardly get the attention that Christmas or Halloween movies do, each with its own set of classics. It feels like Thanksgiving often gets overlooked in the movie world.
Unlike trailers that are sometimes misleading, I witnessed the exact plot from the trailer unfold in theaters. The film is entirely centered around a Black Friday gone wrong. Customers, consumed by greed, trigger a chain of events where they become targets for a revenge-seeking killer. The escalating chaos reveals an even larger plan, specifically targeting a group of teenagers.
What caught my attention wasn’t the scary scenes but the surprise lineup of familiar faces- actors I never expected to see together. Initially, I was caught off guard to see Addison Rae, a viral TikToker, take on a lead role alongside the widely familiar face of Patrick Dempsey, from Grey’s Anatomy. With these popular figures known to both younger and older generations, I was intrigued to see how this unexpected pairing would play out on screen.
Thanksgiving also stays true to its name by integrating Thanksgiving themes throughout. Set in Plymouth, Massachusetts the birthplace of Thanksgiving, and with the killer dressed as a Pilgrim, the movie captures all the famous aspects of the holiday. The murders themselves are linked to Thanksgiving such as being carried out with holiday props which added to the holiday vibe.
In terms of scare factor, Thanksgiving doesn’t match the expectations promised in the trailer as it’s hyped to be scarier than it actually delivers. While a few unexpected jump-scares do pop up throughout the movie, it leans heavily on gross scenery over genuine scares, filling the screen with bloody, gory moments that make you want to look away. One recurring element revolves around the killer’s creative use of Thanksgiving-themed elements to take out his victims in unique ways. So, be prepared to be grossed out for most of the movie because they’re a big part of the movie.
Despite the repetitiveness of the gruesome scenes, the movie’s saving grace is its humor. It doesn’t try to be taken so seriously and some scenes are just too ridiculous to take seriously like the battles and killings over waffle makers. Plus, the corny jokes and pop culture references lighten up the whole experience.
Although it did not deliver as many jump scares as anticipated, it did make up for it with a lot of suspense and mystery. The ongoing guessing game around the killer’s identity kept me engaged, wondering whether they were someone hidden in plain sight among all the other characters or completely unexpected. The final plot twist, especially, took me completely by surprise and had me questioning the entire timeline of the movie.
This scary movie won’t have you jumping out of your seat, but if you’re looking for something interesting, it’s worth a shot. Overall, while the film lacked in some areas, its unique creativity earns it a 6.5/10 for me. Catch it before all the holiday and upcoming seasonal films steal the spotlight.
