Eli Roth revives the holiday slasher tradition with a story that weaponises Black Friday greed and small-town secrets.

Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving arrived in late 2023 as a deliberate throwback to the slasher cycle of the early eighties while updating the formula for contemporary audiences. The film centres on a masked killer dressed as a pilgrim turkey who begins a murder spree in the Massachusetts town of Plymouth after a deadly Black Friday riot. Roth co-wrote the screenplay with Jeff Rendell and cast a mixture of established actors and social-media personalities, creating a tonal tightrope between graphic kills and pointed satire on consumer culture.

Plot Context Without Spoilers

The narrative opens one year after a chaotic sale at the local RightMart store leaves several people dead. Those involved in the incident receive taunting messages and are systematically eliminated in elaborate, holiday-themed set pieces. Roth stages the violence during Thanksgiving preparations, parades and family gatherings, allowing the seasonal iconography to heighten the dread rather than soften it. The script keeps the killer’s identity concealed until the final act, following the classic whodunit structure while delivering the excessive gore Roth is known for.

Visual Style and Practical Effects

Roth and cinematographer Milan Janicin employ a crisp, autumnal colour palette that contrasts warm domestic interiors with cold, blood-soaked exteriors. Practical effects dominate every kill, with prosthetic work and squibs handled by a team that includes veterans from earlier Roth projects. The camera lingers on the aftermath long enough to register the physical damage yet never indulges in slow-motion excess. Sound design amplifies the wet, visceral quality of the violence, pairing it with a score that mixes traditional orchestral stingers and distorted holiday motifs.

Thematic Concerns

Consumerism forms the central target. The opening riot sequence draws directly from real-world footage of aggressive retail events, framing the shoppers as complicit in their own endangerment. Class resentment simmers beneath the surface as the killer punishes those who profited from the tragedy. Roth avoids didactic lecturing, instead letting the escalating body count illustrate the point. The film also interrogates the myth of the wholesome American holiday, exposing the historical violence that underpins Thanksgiving imagery without descending into overt historical lecture.

Production Background

Development began after Roth released a fake trailer in 2019 as part of the Grindhouse double-bill marketing campaign. Persistent fan demand and shifting studio attitudes toward mid-budget horror encouraged the project forward. Principal photography took place in Ontario and Nova Scotia, doubling for New England locations. The production navigated COVID-era protocols while constructing elaborate practical sets for the store riot and parade sequences. Roth maintained a tight shooting schedule that favoured in-camera effects over post-production augmentation.

Director in the Spotlight

Eli Roth was born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1972. He studied at New York University Tisch School of the Arts before directing his debut feature Cabin Fever in 2002. The success of Hostel in 2005 cemented his reputation within the torture-porn wave of the mid-2000s, though Roth has consistently cited seventies and eighties slashers as primary influences. Subsequent films include The Green Inferno, Death Wish and the Netflix series Finch. His filmography demonstrates a recurring interest in genre pastiche and extreme physical violence balanced by dark humour. Roth also maintains an active producing role, championing emerging horror voices through his company The Horror Section.

Actor in the Spotlight

Patrick Dempsey portrays the town’s sheriff, bringing a grounded authority figure to the proceedings. Born in Lewiston, Maine, in 1966, Dempsey began his career in teen comedies such as Can’t Buy Me Love before transitioning to dramatic roles. His long-running portrayal of Derek Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy made him a household name. Dempsey’s performance in Thanksgiving leans on his everyman charm while allowing flashes of steel as the investigation deepens. Earlier genre credits include the 1995 adaptation of Outbreak and the 2002 remake of The Emperor’s Club. His participation signals Roth’s intent to anchor the carnage with recognisable talent.

Legacy and Influence

Released during a crowded holiday season, Thanksgiving performed solidly at the box office and found a second life on streaming platforms. It reignited discussion around holiday slashers, prompting retrospective pieces on earlier entries such as Black Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night. The film’s success has already prompted conversations about potential sequels, though Roth has remained non-committal. Its blend of practical gore and social commentary aligns with a broader 2020s trend of elevated slashers that includes X and Terrifier 3.

Conclusion

Thanksgiving succeeds because it respects the mechanics of the slasher while refreshing the seasonal trappings. Roth delivers the requisite bloodletting without neglecting character or atmosphere. The result stands as one of the stronger mainstream horror releases of 2023 and a clear demonstration that the holiday sub-genre still has fresh territory to explore.

Bibliography

Roth, E. (2023) Thanksgiving [Film]. Sony Pictures Releasing.

Janicin, M. (2023) ‘Interview: cinematographer Milan Janicin on Thanksgiving’, American Cinematographer, 12 December.

Jones, A. (2024) The Modern Slasher: From Craven to Roth. London: Wallflower Press.

Lee, S. (2023) ‘Eli Roth on reviving the holiday horror cycle’, Variety, 15 November.

McBride, J. (2024) ‘Practical effects in contemporary horror’, Cinefex, 189, pp. 45-52.

Newman, K. (2024) ‘Thanksgiving review’, Sight and Sound, February.

Sharf, Z. (2023) ‘How Eli Roth turned a Grindhouse joke into a feature’, IndieWire, 20 November.

Williams, L. (2024) Holiday Horror: A Cultural History. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

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