even I was surprised. This is for the most part a damn fine movie. A from a director who was known for making B-grade horror movies almost an A effort. Likes The plot is very original and relevant. It may not have been very unique but its really a very original story and very relevant as. The slasher genre has been trivialized by choosing wafer thin plots and completely irrelevant plots. But this is plot with a solid background and origin. And the set up, the characters and the connection to the mystery is very tight and grounded. The kills are very impressive. Now I am not somebody who cares much about the nature of the kills. There are people who like the process of actual killing. The gore and extremely graphic depiction may impress. Not me. But you have to appreciate the set up and the placement of the kills in the story. And Thanksgiving does that with almost perfection. Never do you feel that the kills are just for the sake for visual delight. They are really connected to the plot. Dislikes There are no dislikes as such. But this is movie which needed better plot development. There are definitely times when you feel that more logic and realism was needed in the plot. Also the entire plot becomes sort of tied to the main lead. I understand there has to be a final girl and people round her must die. But still the support cast definitely needed better story arcs. It seems there are just there to be killed one by one when all of them are unique characters and very well connected to the origins. The pre-climax is a let down. The whole act leading to the killer is smart and tight. But just when you get close to the killer the movie seems to be short of ideas. the whole pre-finale act seems just a excuse to reveal the killer's identity than to actually build up the narrative. I must say the actual identity reveal or deduction is very intelligent. That is very convincing and good. But by then the audience would have figured the killer. And that really takes away the surprise the plot twist away from the plot. The acting too is rather ordinary. Overall I give Thanksgiving a 7. Its original and its intelligent. Probably just a little more effort on character development. logic, and some better dramatization would have made this another Scream. But its still a pretty enjoyable movie.
The opening scene at the store cracked me up. During the buildup I was thinking this is going to go bad for a whole lot of people and it delivered. Really fun movie with a low budget vibe what’s not to like?
The lightsaber looks really cool and all but you keep mentioning Nick? Why wasn’t he in the video ad, because all I see is a strapping grown up young man!? Is Nick off screen? 😜 Always amazes me how fast kids grow!❤
Surprisingly enjoyable! It was quite a month for Milo Manheim (Camryn's son) in this and in Journey to Bethlehem as Joseph. And I am a former Masshole so that Methuen joke was a nice chuckle.
I’m so glad you reviewed this. I wasn’t sure if I should wait for stream but now I’ll head out and see it. I love 80s horror movies and I remember this from Grindhouse. I’m in lol
I finally watched this, loved it, best Eli Roth movie in awhile. I did guess the killer, but I followed the Law and Order rule (that’s all I’ll say, no spoilers)
This is the first movie from Eli Roth as a director that I did enjoy. In my opinion, I just did not like his movies because they were just torture porn without much substance. Here, the violence has a point in lieu of the associations with consumerism and social media.
4/5 for me. Saw with a bunch of coworkers after work last week and thought it was such a blast!!! Definitely a rewatch for next Thanksgiving!!!! Was mildly disappointed tho when there wasn’t a severed head stuffed into a 🦃 or someone’s 🦴 broken in half like a wishbone 😂
When I reviewed this movie, I gave it a 7/10, this was a decent movie. A lot of people are saying this was the best slasher movie this year, I still think Scream 6 was the best slasher this year.
What ruined Thanksgiving for me were all the kills looking so cartoonishly fake/cheap that it took away any tension I felt. Anyhow, as far as comedy slashers goes I still haven’t found something as funny as Club Dread.
It felt very sanded down and somewhat tasteful. When you watch the original trailer, the trampolining cheerleader got stabbed in the crotch which doesn't happen in this new film. Unlike the original trailer, the new film's dinner-table scene doesn't have the killer actually fornicating a turkey which has a severed head attached to it in front of two children. It seems like Eli Roth doesn't have much enthusiasm for sleaze anymore.
The movie wasn't nearly as good as the trailer. It could have had more of the grindhouse asthetic, especially the damaged film. Also, the movie didn't need to be gory to be an effective slasher. But I think I was most disappointed with the fact that it looked too modern.
I love slashers, love camp, love gore… but this one missed the mark for me. Unless there was mutilation on screen (which was admittedly incredible) i found Eli to have 0 energy behind the camera. Maybe a rewatch will help me like it more!
Trying to catch up on movies that I missed from 2023, and this was one of them. OKAY, I would give this 3/4 stars, a low 3 stars, "a marginal thumbs up" as At The Movies used to say. I don't like to judge a movie on what it's not, but I must say, this doesn't really have the look and feel of an old grindhouse movie like the original fake trailer that was made. The kills here were good, but toned down A LOT in terms of taste. It felt very modern, and if that is what Roth was going for, then okay, but dammit his over-use of CGI for the kills felt very...."not Roth". I have to quibble with Christy here (for once) in stating that to me the casting felt boring and bland. If Roth was going for realism in portraying everyday teens, he succeeded. But honestly, a day after watching this movie, I can't really remember one of the characters, and that was due to the casting. None of these kids stick in my mind like Drew Barrymore, Neve Cambell, Rose McGowen, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, or Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, or Freddie Prinze Jr. Now we are not talking wonderful thespians here, but I can remember all of their faces and all of their characters, because, damn it all, they have great screen presence. All that being, said, it was well executed and the opening shopping scene was worth the rental price alone.
Fully disagree here. Modern horror just doesn't seem to know how to induce horror. It's all just slash and grab, very in your face, but no tension. I was almost nervous in the oven sequence, but that just went nowhere. The violence was so unbelievable that I think it's intended as slapstick set pieces, but they just don't know how to make any humor out of it. And the Scream gimmick was a total failure. You're not surprised in the least when the perpetrator's identity was revealed, cuz you've expected it (unless you're not familiar with this kind of gimmick). Is it better than a lot of contemporary horror? Sure, but that's just such a low bar it's a scandal to even mention it. Appreciate the review though!
It should’ve had t & a like a classic &0s horror movie. but things are so PC nowadays you’d rather have a decapitation in a movie than e nude female body
Too many characters, and too busy for my taste. A simpler story would have worked better. And Eli goes too far with the torture porn. Doesn't belong in an 80s-style slasher movie.
I was one of the extras in the movie, I was part of the stampede! haven't seen it yet, I honestly didn't expect it to get such good reviews!
Our friend Sivert, good to see you out there! How fun that you're in this movie. You'll have to let us know if you can see yourself in that scene.
This is the only Eli Roth movie I’ve actually enjoyed. It’s so fun and creative I was surprised. 8/10
I never thought I'd see the day Christy and Alonso would like an Eli Roth movie. Good for him, guess I'll check it out.
even I was surprised. This is for the most part a damn fine movie. A from a director who was known for making B-grade horror movies almost an A effort.
Likes
The plot is very original and relevant. It may not have been very unique but its really a very original story and very relevant as. The slasher genre has been trivialized by choosing wafer thin plots and completely irrelevant plots. But this is plot with a solid background and origin. And the set up, the characters and the connection to the mystery is very tight and grounded.
The kills are very impressive. Now I am not somebody who cares much about the nature of the kills. There are people who like the process of actual killing. The gore and extremely graphic depiction may impress. Not me. But you have to appreciate the set up and the placement of the kills in the story. And Thanksgiving does that with almost perfection. Never do you feel that the kills are just for the sake for visual delight. They are really connected to the plot.
Dislikes
There are no dislikes as such. But this is movie which needed better plot development. There are definitely times when you feel that more logic and realism was needed in the plot. Also the entire plot becomes sort of tied to the main lead. I understand there has to be a final girl and people round her must die. But still the support cast definitely needed better story arcs. It seems there are just there to be killed one by one when all of them are unique characters and very well connected to the origins.
The pre-climax is a let down. The whole act leading to the killer is smart and tight. But just when you get close to the killer the movie seems to be short of ideas. the whole pre-finale act seems just a excuse to reveal the killer's identity than to actually build up the narrative. I must say the actual identity reveal or deduction is very intelligent. That is very convincing and good. But by then the audience would have figured the killer. And that really takes away the surprise the plot twist away from the plot.
The acting too is rather ordinary.
Overall I give Thanksgiving a 7. Its original and its intelligent. Probably just a little more effort on character development. logic, and some better dramatization would have made this another Scream. But its still a pretty enjoyable movie.
The opening scene at the store cracked me up. During the buildup I was thinking this is going to go bad for a whole lot of people and it delivered. Really fun movie with a low budget vibe what’s not to like?
Yeah that opening was bonkers 😂
No waffles for you
It’s essentially Scream with a Thanksgiving filter, but without the clever meta humor. I still enjoyed it for the most part though
I agree
What happened to Matt Atchity?
Left the channel but did make an appearance recently. Hope for more in the future.
Hostel was one of the signature 2000s Bush era torture texts so excited he’s back on track.
The lightsaber looks really cool and all but you keep mentioning Nick? Why wasn’t he in the video ad, because all I see is a strapping grown up young man!? Is Nick off screen? 😜
Always amazes me how fast kids grow!❤
I didn’t know about the Grindhouse part bc I haven’t seen it yet but cool to learn about
I guess "Cabin Fever" or "Hostel" would be my favorite of his films. I am pretty surprised by the high marks on this one.
So are we! Cabin Fever was fun.
Surprisingly enjoyable! It was quite a month for Milo Manheim (Camryn's son) in this and in Journey to Bethlehem as Joseph.
And I am a former Masshole so that Methuen joke was a nice chuckle.
Ok I’ll finally have to check this out
I think "There Will Be No Leftovers" would be a better title.
Geez! I was dozing of and when i gave up, saw there's still 40 mins left. Din amuse me the least
thanks for the review!
Our pleasure!
I’m so glad you reviewed this. I wasn’t sure if I should wait for stream but now I’ll head out and see it. I love 80s horror movies and I remember this from Grindhouse. I’m in lol
Ha, thanks Katie, let us know what you think afterward!
I finally watched this, loved it, best Eli Roth movie in awhile. I did guess the killer, but I followed the Law and Order rule (that’s all I’ll say, no spoilers)
He seemed to be having a good time here.
This is the first movie from Eli Roth as a director that I did enjoy. In my opinion, I just did not like his movies because they were just torture porn without much substance. Here, the violence has a point in lieu of the associations with consumerism and social media.
4/5 for me. Saw with a bunch of coworkers after work last week and thought it was such a blast!!! Definitely a rewatch for next Thanksgiving!!!! Was mildly disappointed tho when there wasn’t a severed head stuffed into a 🦃 or someone’s 🦴 broken in half like a wishbone 😂
When I reviewed this movie, I gave it a 7/10, this was a decent movie. A lot of people are saying this was the best slasher movie this year, I still think Scream 6 was the best slasher this year.
This was definitely a lot of fun, though!
What ruined Thanksgiving for me were all the kills looking so cartoonishly fake/cheap that it took away any tension I felt. Anyhow, as far as comedy slashers goes I still haven’t found something as funny as Club Dread.
Help me Christy and Alonso! I have time to see one movie this weekend. Should it be Napoleon, Thanksgiving, or Dream Scenario?
Not a Eli Roth fan, but sounds like a smartly written movie. Might check it out now that Thanksgiving is over.
It felt very sanded down and somewhat tasteful. When you watch the original trailer, the trampolining cheerleader got stabbed in the crotch which doesn't happen in this new film. Unlike the original trailer, the new film's dinner-table scene doesn't have the killer actually fornicating a turkey which has a severed head attached to it in front of two children. It seems like Eli Roth doesn't have much enthusiasm for sleaze anymore.
That's true, there is some stuff in the trailer that we don't see here.
The movie wasn't nearly as good as the trailer. It could have had more of the grindhouse asthetic, especially the damaged film. Also, the movie didn't need to be gory to be an effective slasher. But I think I was most disappointed with the fact that it looked too modern.
I love slashers, love camp, love gore… but this one missed the mark for me. Unless there was mutilation on screen (which was admittedly incredible) i found Eli to have 0 energy behind the camera. Maybe a rewatch will help me like it more!
I’m from Boston and I cringe when I hear Boston accents because we don’t sound like that! Or do we?? Lol
These were good, right? Certainly you've heard lots of bad ones.
Trying to catch up on movies that I missed from 2023, and this was one of them. OKAY, I would give this 3/4 stars, a low 3 stars, "a marginal thumbs up" as At The Movies used to say. I don't like to judge a movie on what it's not, but I must say, this doesn't really have the look and feel of an old grindhouse movie like the original fake trailer that was made. The kills here were good, but toned down A LOT in terms of taste. It felt very modern, and if that is what Roth was going for, then okay, but dammit his over-use of CGI for the kills felt very...."not Roth".
I have to quibble with Christy here (for once) in stating that to me the casting felt boring and bland. If Roth was going for realism in portraying everyday teens, he succeeded. But honestly, a day after watching this movie, I can't really remember one of the characters, and that was due to the casting. None of these kids stick in my mind like Drew Barrymore, Neve Cambell, Rose McGowen, Skeet Ulrich, Matthew Lillard, Jamie Kennedy, or Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, or Freddie Prinze Jr. Now we are not talking wonderful thespians here, but I can remember all of their faces and all of their characters, because, damn it all, they have great screen presence. All that being, said, it was well executed and the opening shopping scene was worth the rental price alone.
I wanna see this but this is spyglass so.. nope.
Why, what did Spyglass do?
Fired Melissa Barrera. @@BreakfastAllDay
I think it has to do with the “scream” drama
Fully disagree here. Modern horror just doesn't seem to know how to induce horror. It's all just slash and grab, very in your face, but no tension. I was almost nervous in the oven sequence, but that just went nowhere. The violence was so unbelievable that I think it's intended as slapstick set pieces, but they just don't know how to make any humor out of it. And the Scream gimmick was a total failure. You're not surprised in the least when the perpetrator's identity was revealed, cuz you've expected it (unless you're not familiar with this kind of gimmick). Is it better than a lot of contemporary horror? Sure, but that's just such a low bar it's a scandal to even mention it. Appreciate the review though!
It should’ve had t & a like a classic &0s horror movie. but things are so PC nowadays you’d rather have a decapitation in a movie than e nude female body
This film sounds horrendous
Too many characters, and too busy for my taste. A simpler story would have worked better. And Eli goes too far with the torture porn. Doesn't belong in an 80s-style slasher movie.
This movie is tame honestly but we don't care much for the characters
Did we see the same movie? 😂
Hope the sequel is good too i knew the most attractive girl in the film would make it to the end ⛵🚤💺