In the fashion of 1980s and late '90s slasher films, "Thanksgiving" focuses on a group of teenagers who are stalked and slashed by a pilgrim-masked murderer in Plymouth, Massachusetts, one year after a Black Friday shopping tragedy occurs.
As someone who saw "Grindhouse" in the theater back in 2007 and loved Eli Roth's mock concept trailer for "Thanksgiving", I was among many fans who long-anticipated a proper feature film adaptation. Where the 2007 mock trailer leaned heavily on early '80s grindhouse aesthetics, this film more takes on the shape of a robust post-"Scream" '90s slasher film in that it is fast-paced, gory, and has a streak of cynical black humor running through it. It also updates the '80s slasher template for contemporary teenagers, folding social media into its screenplay as a plot device which surprisingly doesn't feel terribly shoehorned.
Admittedly, "Thanksgiving" is entertaining. However, the film is conceptually by-the-books and falters in some of its own trite dialogue and exposition; at times, it borders on mechanical in feel. It also suffers from a clunky last act that fumbles the film's momentum. Still, when the film gets it right, particularly in some of its audacious murder sequences and classic scare set-ups, it is recklessly fun. There is a large cast here of young actors who handle the material well enough, with a number of screen veterans appearing in supporting roles to varying degrees, namely Patrick Dempsey, Gina Gershon, and even "Black Christmas"'s Lynne Griffin in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it part.
All in all, "Thanksgiving" is worth viewing for fans who prefer slashers that don't take themselves too seriously. In many ways, the film plays like a late '90s "I Know What You Did Last Summer"-esque revenge tale, both in its narrative construction and the ways in which it leans into its own outlandishness. Riveting it is not, but it is no less a tasteless and bloody meal of a film. 7/10.
As someone who saw "Grindhouse" in the theater back in 2007 and loved Eli Roth's mock concept trailer for "Thanksgiving", I was among many fans who long-anticipated a proper feature film adaptation. Where the 2007 mock trailer leaned heavily on early '80s grindhouse aesthetics, this film more takes on the shape of a robust post-"Scream" '90s slasher film in that it is fast-paced, gory, and has a streak of cynical black humor running through it. It also updates the '80s slasher template for contemporary teenagers, folding social media into its screenplay as a plot device which surprisingly doesn't feel terribly shoehorned.
Admittedly, "Thanksgiving" is entertaining. However, the film is conceptually by-the-books and falters in some of its own trite dialogue and exposition; at times, it borders on mechanical in feel. It also suffers from a clunky last act that fumbles the film's momentum. Still, when the film gets it right, particularly in some of its audacious murder sequences and classic scare set-ups, it is recklessly fun. There is a large cast here of young actors who handle the material well enough, with a number of screen veterans appearing in supporting roles to varying degrees, namely Patrick Dempsey, Gina Gershon, and even "Black Christmas"'s Lynne Griffin in a blink-or-you'll-miss-it part.
All in all, "Thanksgiving" is worth viewing for fans who prefer slashers that don't take themselves too seriously. In many ways, the film plays like a late '90s "I Know What You Did Last Summer"-esque revenge tale, both in its narrative construction and the ways in which it leans into its own outlandishness. Riveting it is not, but it is no less a tasteless and bloody meal of a film. 7/10.