Thanksgiving Review: A Gory, Fun, Holiday Slasher

Introduction

What started as a fleeting, fake trailer within the cult classic Grindhouse double feature has finally arrived as a full-length cinematic offering. After years of anticipation, Thanksgiving carves its way onto screens, promising a return to the bloody, no-holds-barred slasher flicks of yesteryear. The film kicks off with a truly brilliant sequence: a Black Friday riot that captures the absolute chaos of consumerism gone wild. This opening act, depicting hordes of shoppers trampling each other in a desperate dash for deals, is so enthralling it could have been a standalone horror film—a Black Friday zombie apocalypse from the perspective of beleaguered customer service employees. It's a visceral, hellish vision of humanity at its worst, setting a high bar for the mayhem to follow.

The Lead Dynamic & The Action

Once the initial Black Friday frenzy subsides, Thanksgiving settles into a more traditional slasher rhythm, with a mysterious, axe-wielding killer targeting the residents of Plymouth, Massachusetts, one year after the riot. The film leans heavily into the post-Scream '90s teen slasher vibe, and in this regard, it largely succeeds. The kills are undeniably awesome—gory, bloody, and executed with a fun, almost gleeful inventiveness reminiscent of Final Destination deaths. These are the kind of memorable, cringe-inducing demises that stick with you long after the credits roll. However, the film struggles to make its characters anything more than mere cannon fodder. Viewers are given little reason to care about the victims beyond their impending, often spectacular, deaths. The most engaging moments involving the cast are when the audience is left guessing who the killer might be, turning every interaction into a potential clue rather than a character beat.

Cameos, Nostalgia & Narrative Stakes

While Thanksgiving embraces its slasher roots, it occasionally misses opportunities to fully lean into the nostalgic aesthetic that birthed it. The film possesses a certain "cheese factor" in its dialogue and overall presentation that would have been perfectly complemented by the grainy, distorted, beat-up 35mm print look of the original Grindhouse trailers. Without that visual filter, some of the campier elements feel less like an intentional throwback and more like a slight misstep. The narrative, while delivering on the slasher promise, doesn't quite manage to elevate its stakes beyond the immediate hunt. The focus remains squarely on the inventive kills rather than deep character arcs or intricate plot twists, which can leave some viewers wishing for a bit more substance beneath the stylish gore.

Tone, Direction & Creative Freedom

Director Eli Roth takes the reins, and his signature style becomes particularly evident as the film progresses. While the first two acts deliver a genuinely fun and bloody slasher experience, the third act shifts dramatically, becoming increasingly ridiculous and gross. This tonal pivot, while perhaps a nod to Roth's earlier, more extreme works like Hostel, feels somewhat out of place and overstays its welcome. The reviewer, not typically a fan of Roth's filmography, found the initial segments surprisingly enjoyable, marking this as the most engaging Roth film in two decades. However, the extended, gratuitous nature of the finale detracts from the overall pacing, leaving the impression that the film could have benefited from a tighter 90-minute runtime. It's a clear demonstration of Roth's creative freedom, for better or worse, pushing boundaries in a way that will undoubtedly appeal to his dedicated fanbase.

The Final Verdict

Thanksgiving is a surprisingly enjoyable slasher flick that delivers on its promise of inventive, gory kills and a genuinely thrilling opening sequence. While the characters are largely forgettable and the third act veers into an overlong, excessively gross territory that might not be for everyone, the film's first two acts offer a bloody good time. Fans of classic '90s slashers and Eli Roth's distinct brand of horror will find plenty to appreciate here. It's a fun, albeit flawed, ride that proves some fake trailers are indeed worth turning into real movies. Grab some friends and prepare for a surprisingly bloody good time—no alcohol required, but it probably wouldn't hurt.