"Thanksgiving" (2023) – A Slasher Feast with a Holiday Twist
The 2023 horror film Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth, brings a gruesome twist to the usually warm and festive holiday. Based on Roth’s fake trailer from Grindhouse (2007), the film delivers a gory, suspense-filled slasher narrative that plays on American holiday traditions while embracing the genre's classic tropes. With its blend of satire, dark humor, and graphic violence, Thanksgiving establishes itself as a fresh entry in the modern horror landscape.
Set in the small town of Plymouth, Massachusetts—the birthplace of Thanksgiving—the movie follows the aftermath of a deadly Black Friday shopping stampede that leaves several people dead. A year later, a mysterious killer wearing a traditional pilgrim mask begins targeting those responsible for the tragedy. As the body count rises, the community is thrown into panic, and a group of teenagers and adults find themselves caught in a deadly game orchestrated by the relentless slasher.
The film stars Nell Verlaque as Jessica, a high school student whose family owns the local store where the stampede occurred. As she investigates the killer’s motives with her friends, it becomes clear that the murders are more than random acts of violence—they are meticulously planned acts of revenge. Patrick Dempsey plays the town sheriff, bringing a stoic presence to the role as he tries to make sense of the bizarre killings. Other cast members, including Addison Rae and Milo Manheim, round out the ensemble with performances that balance horror and camp.
Eli Roth, known for his work on films like Hostel and Cabin Fever, doesn’t shy away from graphic content, and Thanksgiving is no exception. The kill scenes are creatively brutal, ranging from oven-based executions to decapitations with turkey carvers, all designed to mirror holiday imagery in the most twisted ways. What separates this film from typical slashers is its use of Thanksgiving symbols—turkeys, dinner tables, pilgrim hats—as macabre tools in the killer’s arsenal. Roth effectively uses these motifs to craft a unique aesthetic that both parodies and honors slasher film traditions.
While Thanksgiving thrives on shock value and gore, it also subtly critiques consumerism and the commercialization of holidays. The Black Friday incident that sets off the chain of events serves as a commentary on the chaos that surrounds modern holiday culture. Roth’s script, co-written with Jeff Rendell, is self-aware, laced with humor, and occasionally veers into satire, making the film more than just a blood-soaked spectacle.
Visually, the film captures a cold, bleak New England atmosphere with muted tones and claustrophobic settings. The tension is well-paced, with suspense building steadily as the killer’s identity remains hidden until the final act. Though the plot follows familiar slasher beats, Thanksgiving distinguishes itself with its holiday-themed originality and Roth’s unapologetically bold direction.
In conclusion, Thanksgiving is a wild, bloody ride that serves up a feast of horror for genre fans. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers enough thrills, mystery, and carnage to satisfy. Whether you're a horror enthusiast or just looking for an unconventional holiday movie, Thanksgiving offers a uniquely twisted treat.
: Earth’s Bold Return to the Stars Nearly thirty years after the original Independence Day shook up the blockbuster scene with its patriotic flair and city-leveling spectacle, fans are once again buzzing with anticipation for a long-awaited third installment. Following the underwhelming reception of Independence Day: Resurgence in 2016, director Roland Emmerich has remained vocal about his desire to continue the saga. Now, Independence Day 3, tentatively referred to as New Beginning, is reportedly in early development, with a proposed release date of July 4, 2025. The new film is expected to take the franchise beyond Earth, expanding on the closing moments of Resurgence, where the surviving characters prepare to take the fight to the aliens’ homeworld. Emmerich has expressed interest in exploring an intergalactic alliance between Earth and other civilizations previously oppressed by the invaders. This shift in scale would represent a major evolution from the first two entries, potentially turning Independence Day into a space-faring saga with universal consequences. The returning cast is rumored to include Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson, reprising his role as the brilliant scientist who first cracked the alien code. Jessie T. Usher is expected to return as Dylan Hiller, the son of Will Smith’s iconic character Captain Steven Hiller. While Will Smith was absent from the 2016 sequel, recent rumors suggest that his character may return through flashbacks, digital recreation, or possibly even in a reimagined form, though nothing has been confirmed. Also rumored is the involvement of Bruce Greenwood or Idris Elba as high-ranking military commanders in Earth’s new space fleet, as well as the potential casting of rising stars like Millie Bobby Brown in a new generation of resistance fighters. Emmerich has hinted that the story will focus on humanity’s adaptation to alien technology and the ethical dilemmas that come with wielding such power. Visually, Independence Day 3 is expected to push the boundaries of cinematic spectacle, with cutting-edge visual effects, advanced alien weaponry, and large-scale battle sequences in deep space. The film's tone may lean darker and more intense than previous entries, emphasizing both the cost of war and the hope of unity among diverse civilizations. Despite the excitement, some skepticism lingers. The tepid critical and fan reception of Resurgence left doubts about whether audiences still crave another chapter in the franchise. The acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney has further complicated the production timeline, as Disney has remained selective about which inherited properties it continues to develop. Still, Emmerich’s confidence in the story and his passion for the world he built in 1996 remain clear. If greenlit, Independence Day 3 could mark a bold new chapter—one that reclaims the emotional impact and thrilling spectacle of the original while exploring new territory far beyond Earth’s atmosphere. For now, fans await an official announcement. But if all goes according to plan, the fireworks of July 4, 2025, may once again be joined by the roar of alien ships and the unyielding spirit of human resistance. "Independence")
