Thanksgiving (2023): A Cult Classic or A Flop?

Juliana Adams jea74@uakron.edu

A mysterious masked murderer dressed as a Thanksgiving historical figure relentlessly terrorizes the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts after a Black Friday Riot ended in catastrophe. With chilling and completely unique killings, this horror movie is entirely its own.  The horror film Thanksgiving (Rated R), although poorly perceived; completely defied any traditional horror stereotypes, and altered the horror game entirely. Although this film is objectively bad, with poor acting and questionable writing, the concept sparked immediate public interest in 2023. Releasing only ten days prior to Thanksgiving day, it quickly reached the top of every watch list. With its entirely abstract and creative kills sprinkled throughout the duration of the film, I am able to confidently say this film is entirely original. This film maintains subtle nods to traditional 80s slasher films and pays homage to the classic film Scream (1996) from West Craven with a thrilling killer reveal. This film is a must - watch for thrill lovers or anyone with a taste for comedic horror. Despite being objectively bad from a critical standpoint, this film is a lot of fun, and is a stirring watch during the Thanksgiving season.