THANKSGIVING

US, 2023, 107 minutes, Colour.

Patrick Dempsey, Rick Hoffman, Nell Verlaque,, Gina Gershon, Milo Manheim, Addison Rae, Karen Cliche, Ty Olsen, Jenna Warren, Tomaso Sanelli.

Directed by Eli Roth.

The poster look sinister – echoes of Halloween, Friday the 13^th, Scream… And, wise advice at the opening of a review, this is what is called a “slasher” movie, characterised by frequent gory deaths and gruesome climaxes. For fans, a definite yes. For non-fans, a definite no.

Eli Roth is noted for his horror films, a 20 year career, Cabin Fever, Hostel and the more family friendly, The House with Clocks on the Wall. Thanksgiving is certainly one of his best films.

America has had Halloween at the end of October, Thanksgiving is in the third week of November but the horror emphasis here is on the shopping sprees on Black Friday (which has migrated to Australia even with, the Sunday before, pre-Black Friday sales!) One reviewer noted that the Black Friday sequence emphasises the Blackness!

In fact, the screenplay for Thanksgiving is quite clever, more thoughtful than many of the slasher derivatives. While it starts with a dinner and an introduction to key characters, the host, the owner of the store which is opening for Black Friday sales, alarm bells ring loudly as vicious hordes line up at the barriers to the store, the manager trying to calm people, 10 minutes to opening… But, some of the young people at the dinner join with school friends, use their privilege and get into the store, taunting the outsiders from within. The scenes of mayhem when the crowd breaks through, smashes the door, tramples the attendant, brutally grabbing goods, smashing people, injuries and deaths, are extraordinarily alarming in their violence as well as this vision of American consumerism and greed.

Then, one year later…

The characters have been rather better established than in many of the other films, the adult generation of shop owner, wife, the benign sheriff of Plymouth, Massachusetts, where it all takes place. Then there is the younger generation, several loud in their way, others more sympathetic, led by Jessica, the daughter of the owner (Nell Velaque, reminiscent of young Julia Roberts), her boyfriend who is caught up in the mayhem and his rival who is keen on Jessica. When the murders starts, they are two obvious suspects.

This is a murder mystery, a surprise final revelation, though the motivation is strong but does not seem to warrant the violent mayhem.

With the setting of Plymouth and the celebration of Thanksgiving and memories of the Pilgrims, the screenplay is shrewd in introducing a mask, but that of the Mayor of Plymouth, John Carver, and his black robes. For those of us who are disgusted with the violent crowds on Black Friday, we are not so sorry when some of them are the immediate targets for the gory killings. And the killer setting up a video (lots of use of phones and videos here and tracking devices) Thanksgiving table with place names for all the targets, and several heads appearing after the murders.

There are threats, abductions, incarcerations, the sheriff doing his best to solve the situation, Jessica and others trying to help, but some grizzly episodes nonetheless. There is a Thanksgiving day parade, turmoil, more abductions, and a final scene at the mock Thanksgiving meal.

No spoiler to know that Jessica is going to be the heroine. But, the perpetrator is a surprise. And a momentary trick final sequence which, of course, turns out to be a moment of Jessica’s nightmare!

1. The reputation of Eli Roth, horror films? Critical acclaim for Thanksgiving?
2. The American tradition of Thanksgiving, the pilgrims, the meal, the celebration, the tradition, Thanksgiving meals, processions, costumes and floats? The later sales tradition of Black Friday? The impact for an American audience? Outside the US?
3. The town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the traditions, the Pilgrims, John Carver as the governor?
4. The film as a “slasher” movie, for slasher audiences, not for those who do not appreciate the violence, Gore, deaths, the grizzly climax?
5. The initial dinner, the father owning the store, his new wife, Jessica and the resentment, going to the movies with Bobby, the presence of the mayor, the manager and his wife? Leaving the dinner, going to open the store?
6. The Black Friday sale, the crowds, the barriers, 10 minutes to go, friendship, fanaticism, brutality, swearing and abuse, the leader and his shouting, the security guard, the picture of materialism and consumerism, greed?
7. The group of young students, Jessica and her relationship with Bobby, Ryan and his attentions, Scuba and Yulia, Fletcher and Gabby? Arrogant, going into the store, the reaction of the crowd, their taunting from inside the store?
8. The crash, breaking the barriers, the security guard at the door, the key, his being crushed? The violence? Amanda, her being brutalised, her death? The aftermath, the arrival of the sheriff, his control, the members of the police force?
9. Audience attitudes towards the shoppers, especially the bartender, a year later, in the bar, the attack, the freezer and her face, the bin and her death, her torso on the sign, the visuals of the Thanksgiving dinner, the places and names, her head? The later killing of the security guard trying to escape, his head?
10. The sinister figure, the horror movie tradition, the mask, the irony of the pilgrim governor?
11. The range of killings, the pursuit of the youngsters, Yuliya and her father and his assistant, her death? The abduction of Fletcher and Gabby? Scuba and Jessica, helping, relying on the police, out on their own?
12. The issue of Thanksgiving and the new Black Friday, opening the store, the owner, his clashes with his daughter, praising Kathleen, reconciliation with Jessica, deciding not to open the store? Kathleen, her reactions?
13. Bobby, his return, suspect? The alienation from Jessica, reuniting, talking, working together, yet still a suspect?
14. Jessica, her relationship with Ryan, his smug attitudes, suspect?
15. Fletcher, with Jacob and his association with the gun seller? Scuba and Jessica buying the gun? Fletcher and his getting Jacob to do his assignment, his reading it in class, tricked, the teacher and her writing blog?
16. The role of the sheriff, pleasant personality, in charge, his team, the expert on IT? Pinpointing where the captives were? The sheriff and his plan, the parade, after the parade, the empty building, the police?
17. The parade, the attack, the violence in shooting, the abduction of the family? Kathleen and the cooking?
18. Jessica, Scuba, being tied up, the confrontation, severing the bonds, the escape?
19. Jessica and discussion with the sheriff, his shoes, the clue, the revelation, his motivation, Amanda? Jessica and her shrewdness, the gas in the large figure, firing the weapon, the explosion, her escape? Everything on video?
20. Bobby, Ryan, Jessica – and Jessica’s nightmare?