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THANKSGIVING - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: TriStar Pictures

SYNOPSIS: After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the holiday. The killer dons a pilgrim outfit and a John Carver mask as he begins picking off residents one by one. What begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan. Will the police or a local high school group of friends uncover the identity of the killer or become guests at his twisted holiday dinner table?

REVIEW: What started as one of the fake trailers created for Quintin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s Grindhouse Double Feature in 2007 comes to realization this 2023 holiday season. From the genre aficionado Eli Roth, THANKSGIVING embraces the vast history of slasher films to deliver a near perfect take on a killer infused holiday tradition.

The narrative never takes itself too seriously as it pulls out all the stops when it comes to slasher films. There are some corny, but not cliched, one liners that are served up as the relationship between the high school friends and the adults feels like a “Scream” film. The film is all about the ride, so you never fully empathize with the characters but there is enough there to hook the viewer. Roth and Rendell weave a fair number of misdirections and red-herrings to keep the viewer guessing, and their reveal features a montage to help the viewer connect their dots. I will say that I thought that there might have been two killers and looking back on the timing after the reveal seems a bit problematic. However, that is probably more a result of the editing than the narrative. The plot is filled with references to many classic slasher films and is sure to have fans comparing notes afterwards.

I enjoyed the film’s production values. Roth is a master of the genre and knows how to craft an energetic film and craft killer effect sequences. He excels at misdirection and plays on the viewer’s expectations like a skilled poker player. Given Roth’s past films, the deaths feel more like gags. There are WTF moments and somewhat gory scenes, but the filmmaker seems to have toned down the blood without compromising on the gore. In contrast to the film’s opening sequence at the “Right Mart,” the parade scene looks a little thin and not as tightly shot, but it is a small town and what floats there are in the sequence look great. I enjoyed Brandon Roberts’s score. There are movements that sound like homages to other films, but plenty of original material to set a unique tone for the film. The production designs are costumes that create cinematic magic to fully immerse the viewer for the entire ride.

I like the cast. Clearly everyone is in for the ride as well and balances the dark comedy and horror with exceptional results. Veteran actors Dempsey, Gershon and Hoffman are excellent and their younger cast members are splendid. It’s a great ensemble cast.

If you’re a fan of slasher films, THANKSGIVING is sure to leave you satisfied. There are some gags that should transcend your expectations, and several surprises along the way. Some are simple, others complex and gorey, and there will be blood but, again, not as much as you might expect from a Eli Roth genre film. Many of the deaths are served up with satire, but I wouldn’t expect less from a killer dressed up like a pilgrim.

THANKSGIVING is well with the wait of these past 16 years since the grindhouse trailer. Roth embraces the current state of the genre as the film focuses on the story and satire without any of the teen sex scenes in some of the classic slasher films. Teen relationships figure in, as does an excellent rave scene. It’s a wickedly delightful film that is sure to be a crowd pleaser and seems destined for a sequel that could only be “Black Friday,” with maybe a third film, “Cyber Monday.” Eli, let's talk!

CAST: Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Rick Hoffman and Gina Gershon. CREW: Director/Screenplay/Producer - Eli Roth; Screenplay/Producer - Jeff Rendell; Producer - Roger Birnbaum; Cinematographer - Milan Chadima; Score - Brandon Roberts; Editors - Michel Aller & Michele Conroy; Production Designer - Peter Mihaichuk; Costume Designer - Leslie Kavanagh; Special Makeup Effects Artists - Joe Badiali, Jason Detheridge & Adrian Stansfield; Prosthetics Designers - Adrien Morot & Steve Newburn; Special Effects Supervisor - Andrew Verhoeven; Visual Effects Supervisor - Berj Bannayan; OFFICIAL: www.thanksgiving.movie FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/tgivingmovie TWITTER: twitter.com/tgivingmovie TRAILER: https://youtu.be/KbU50SdL8zA?si=-vMIK75E0pFP4at- RELEASE DATE: In Theaters Nov 17th, 2023

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #thanksgiving #ThanksgivingMovie #thejohncarver #TriStar Pictures #eli roth #Jeff Rendell #patrick dempsey #addison rae #rick hoffman #gina gershon #horror #slasher #holiday #joseph b mauceri #joseph mauceri

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