Review - Thanksgiving (2023)

        Hey guys, Chuck here. Well, it's almost Thanksgiving, and I can't think of a more interesting movie to watch than the new movie Thanksgiving. Directed by Eli Roth, Thanksgiving is a new slasher movie that is based on his 2007 fake trailer from the movie Grindhouse, being the fourth film based on one of the Grindhouse fake trailers after such films as Machete, Hobo with a Shotgun, and Machete Kills. The movie Thanksgiving stars Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Gina Gershon, Milo Manheim, Ty Olsson, and Rick Hoffman. 

         So, the movie is set in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the birthplace of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, and it's been about a year since a brutal tragedy involving Black Friday. And, now, on Thanksgiving Day, a killer dressed as a pilgrim and wearing a John Carver mask is going around seeking retribution for the tragic incident one year prior, and is utilizing the typical tools and cutlery found at the Thanksgiving dinner table. And this year, there will be no leftovers. 

         Now, despite the more polished look, something like films seen today should be, make no mistake. Thanksgiving, just like the fake trailer it was based on, is very much a grindhouse film. From the ridiculousness of the concept, to the insane and over-the-top nature of the brutal deaths committed throughout the movie, everything about this movie just screams, well, grindhouse. And, yes some key moments from the fake trailer in Grindhouse are in the movie, like the turkey parade mascot getting beheaded, the cheerleader on the trampoline getting stabbed repeatedly THROUGH the trampoline, and so on. 

         Many of the performances, especially from the teen actors like Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Jenna Warren, and so forth were all fantastic. You really see the fear on display as they all wonder which of them will be the next victim of the killer. Other great veteran actors like Ty Olsson, Karen Cliche, and Gina Gershon were also fantastic, and really added to the gravitas of the situation the movie presents to the viewers. But, in all honesty, it's Patrick Dempsey as the sheriff of Plymouth and Rick Hoffman as the owner of a local superstore that really steal the the show in this movie. 

        Now, while the fake trailer in Grindhouse showcased the brutal murders for sheer shock value, what the movie does well to give the killer motivation is by making it a revenge story. The start of the movie showcases a brutal incident involving a Black Friday shopping spree gone wrong, and many people end up dead because of the sheer insanity of the Black Friday shoppers. So, for the killer to do what he does to get revenge the following Thanksgiving season is actually intriguing, and adds more depth to the movie that sheer exploitation shock value. But, make no mistake, it's still a grindhouse flick. 

        Honestly, this was a long time passion project for director Eli Roth, and he really put his all into making this a new Thanksgiving holiday tradition of people popping this movie on at Thanksgiving. Roth and screenwriter Jeff Rendell made easily one fantastic movie, and easily the best film based on a Grindhouse fake trailer since the first Machete back in 2010. Now, unlike the highly successful Five Nights at Freddy's, this is definitely going to appeal to a more niche audience who enjoys movies like Grindhouse and Machete. But, I do love those movies, so I'm giving Eli Roth's Thanksgiving a rating of 5/5. 

       This is Chuck signing off, and I hope you and yours enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday (if you're celebrating it), and I'll see you guys next time.