Photo Creds: Stephanie McCabe, Unsplash
Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving" is one of the most versatile horror films to hit the screen this year. Posing itself as another run-of-the-mill Slasher movie, “Thanksgiving” uses the traditional cliche tropes of its 1980s ancestors to create a uniquely entertaining horror movie.
The production of “Thanksgiving” began in 2007, when director Eli Roth created a fictitious trailer as a bonus feature in the film “Grindhouse.” By 2010, Roth had already begun making plans for a feature-length film. With a completed script and screenplay by 2019, the plans for “Thanksgiving” could not be stopped.
When “Thanksgiving” was released to the box office on November 17, 2023, it opened to a humble 3.8 Million dollars, grossing over 42 Million dollars overall and scoring an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes, there is no doubt that “Thanksgiving” was no flop. Fans and critics alike seem to agree that “Thanksgiving” meets the mark as an above-average modern slasher.
“Thanksgiving” earns that achievement by catering to the classic slasher cliches while mixing in elements of its original charm. A notable feat of “Thanksgiving” is managing to keep its killer, John Carver, feeling mysterious and threatening throughout the film’s entire runtime. “Thanksgiving” never fails to capture the right feeling before a scare. This is not to say that the movie is without flaws: “Thanksgiving” often cares a little too much about providing backstory, offering many details that end up feeling unnecessary.
Overall, “Thanksgiving” is nothing meant to be taken too seriously. However, this does not detract from its value as a slasher movie. Its scares often land well, and it has a decent roster of characters for viewers to follow along. “Thanksgiving” meets most requirements and checks most boxes viewers could ask for, establishing it as an above-average slasher film.
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