Roth’s finest flick yet is no turkey Slasher whodunnit has nineties feel
Thanksgiving
Despite being regarded as a big name in horror, Eli Roth’s directorial output has been patchy at best.
For me, only Hostel: Part II is worthy of repeat viewings – and even that is far from the genre’s top tier.
With Thanksgiving, Roth finally serves up the flick he teased 17 years ago during a fictitious trailer as part of the Grindhouse double-bill.
And, thankfully, this throwback to 90s horror slasher is the 51-year-old’s best work.
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgivinginspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the famous holiday.
The opening shopping mega store sequence is a gruesome, nasty satire on commercialism gone wrong that will make you think twice about rushing for the latest bargain.
Much like Scream, Urban Legend, Valentine and other 90s horrors, a masked killer whodunnit then drives proceedings and there are enough suspects to keep your brain ticking over until the final reveal.
One thing Roth has always been adept at is gore and the kills in Thanksgiving are wonderfully creative and bloody as the antagonist utilises objects associated with the holiday to finish off his victims.
Another highlight is a street parade which doesn’t end well for a costumed mascot.
Scream 3’s Patrick Dempsey (Sheriff Newlon) returns to the slasher genre and he, a nasty Karen Cliche (Kathleen) and a surprisingly caring Rick Hoffman (Thomas) are welcome experienced hands among the largely younger cast.
Nell Verlaque’s Jessica has to balance competing love interests with a desire to see justice served for the consequences of the store terror and Jalen Thomas Brooks’ Bobby impresses as a top athlete whose career comes to an abrupt end.
The killer’s mask and outfit isn’t iconic like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees but creeps you out enough – especially when the mask suffers fire damage.
There is lots to be thankful for in Eli Roth’s wildly entertaining slasher that is far from a turkey.
●What are your favourite event-themed horror flicks?
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