Thanksgiving Movie - A thriller by Eli Roth - Ending Explained
- November 17, 2023
- 12:00 AM
In the expansive realm of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s 2007 double-feature spectacle, Grindhouse, lie a series of B-movie-style fake trailers crafted by a cadre of esteemed genre filmmakers. Fast forward 16 years from the film’s debut, and two of those trailers—Rodriguez’s Machete and Jason Eisener, John Davies, and Rob Cotterill’s Hobo With a Shotgun—have successfully transitioned into full-length feature films.
Image below - Poster of Last masterpiece - Grindhouse
As of November 17, the third installment has hit theaters: Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving. Known for helming some of the most audacious and ultra-violent horror movies in the past two decades, Roth has earned a reputation for ingeniously unsettling audiences in films like Cabin Fever (2003), Hostel (2006), and The Green Inferno (2015). Thanksgiving, Roth’s latest offering, continues this trend.
In a recent interview with People, Roth expressed his pleasure in not just creating a Thanksgiving movie but also filling the void of a horror film in November. He articulated, “I felt like the calendar has been missing a November horror movie. It’s been my life’s mission to bring Halloween into November.”
Thanksgiving pays homage to holiday-themed slashers such as Black Christmas, Halloween, and April Fool’s Day. The plot unfolds in Plymouth, Mass., the birthplace of the titular holiday, following a tragic Black Friday riot at the local superstore, Right Mart. Dressed as Pilgrim John Carver, the first governor of Plymouth Colony, a serial killer embarks on a gruesome rampage, targeting those he deems responsible for the violent incident.
The narrative builds suspense as Carver’s targets, including Right Mart owner Thomas Wright, his wife Kathleen, daughter Jessica, and friends, race against time to uncover the killer’s identity. The climax takes a twisty turn during Plymouth’s annual Thanksgiving parade, where the Wrights find themselves at the mercy of the disguised killer.
The movie takes a dark and suspenseful turn as Carver dons a clown costume, kidnapping and drugging his victims. The chilling scene unfolds in his hideout, culminating in a grotesque tableau reminiscent of a Thanksgiving feast. The remaining hostages, bound and seated, witness Carver’s brutality, streamed live on social media.
A ray of hope emerges as Jessica, armed with a bladed ring, manages to escape with her friend Scuba. However, their freedom comes at a cost, with Scuba sustaining an injury and Jessica injuring her ankle in the escape. The ensuing pursuit of justice leads Jessica to unravel shocking truths, implicating Sheriff Eric Newlon as the elusive killer.
As the climax unfolds, a sinister confession by Sheriff Newlon reveals his motive to punish those responsible for the Black Friday riot. Livestreaming the confession, Jessica outsmarts the sheriff, exposing his guilt. The movie culminates in a fiery confrontation, with Jessica and her accomplice Bobby attempting to escape Sheriff Newlon’s pursuit, utilizing a giant inflatable turkey to set the scene ablaze.
In a surprising turn of events, the police find no trace of Sheriff Newlon, leaving Jessica and the audience uncertain of his fate. The film closes with a dream sequence, hinting at the possibility of a sequel and the lingering threat of the Thanksgiving killer.