Thanksgiving Terror: Unraveling the Mystery of Eli Roth's Holiday-Horror

Article Key Points

Eli Roth, notorious horror filmmaker, is back with his upcoming holiday slasher film Thanksgiving, featuring a killer in a pilgrim costume.

Thanksgiving is set to hit theaters on November 17, providing a thrilling cinematic experience for enthusiasts of the niche sub-subgenre of horror comedies centered around Thanksgiving. Although Roth's films frequently blend irreverent humor and graphic violence, they may not achieve the same widespread popularity as Tarantino's masterpieces. Nonetheless, Roth remains unwaveringly dedicated to his beloved genre.

Sometimes, even an experienced horror filmmaker like Eli Roth has to acquire new skills. Roth, originally from Massachusetts, kick-started his career with the horror comedy Cabin Fever in 2002. This film not only showcased his fratty humor as a writer/director but also defied expectations by earning $30.2 million on a modest $1.5 million budget. It swiftly attained cult classic status, capturing the attention of influential figures such as Quentin Tarantino, who hailed Roth as "the future of horror." Fast forward to the present day, and Roth is still up to his mischievous ways, as evidenced by his upcoming holiday slasher film, Thanksgiving.

The origins of Thanksgiving can be traced back to the 2007 double feature Grindhouse, directed by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. In this film, there was a mock trailer helmed by Eli Roth about a killer dressed as a pilgrim who terrorizes a small town. Roth had plans to expand this concept into a full-length movie after his successful producer-only role in the 2010 film The Last Exorcism. In 2012, he announced his collaboration with writers Jon Watts and Christopher D. Ford, following their work together on the 2014 supernatural horror indie Clown (Watts' directorial debut before he went on to direct Tom Holland's Spider-Man trilogy). However, despite several years of little progress on the project, Deadline recently reported that Roth has handed over the reshoots for his upcoming Borderlands adaptation to Tim Miller, the director of Deadpool. Finally, after much anticipation, Thanksgiving is set to begin production with the support of Spyglass Media Group and TriStar Pictures.

What is Thanksgiving about?

A small town in New England is thrown into chaos on Thanksgiving night when a Black Friday riot turns tragic. The aftermath of the riot gives birth to a bloodthirsty avenger named John Carver, who dons a pilgrim suit and seeks vengeance against the materialistic wrongdoers. His targets range from ordinary waitresses to a clique of tech-savvy high school students, whom he terrorizes through Instagram. As fear grips the town, the sheriff must uncover the identity of the ruthless killer, while the townspeople become victims, butchered, and cooked during their annual holiday celebration. Starring Patrick Dempsey (Ferrari), Addison Rae (He's All That), and Gina Gershon (Roth's upcoming Borderlands).

When is Thanksgiving in Theaters?

Understanding Eli Roth

Tarantino quickly recognized Roth's potential not only as a filmmaker but also as an actor. This led to Roth being cast in the iconic role of "The Bear Jew" in the 2009 film Inglourious Basterds. Roth's premieres have been attended by Tarantino as a fan and friend, as he has also served as an executive producer for each installment of the Hostel franchise. Their affinity for each other is evident through their conversations.

Both directors share a penchant for wisecracking characters, irreverent humor, and extreme violence. However, Roth's films have primarily catered to younger audiences, while Tarantino aims for universal appeal. Films like Cabin Fever, Hostel, Hostel: Part II, The Green Inferno, and even his venture into family-oriented content with The House with a Clock in its Walls contain dramatic elements but maintain a lack of seriousness. The Green Inferno, for instance, juxtaposes a terrifying premise of virtuous college students being captured by cannibals with absurd comedic relief.

If someone hasn't become a fan of Roth and his films, it's unlikely that Thanksgiving will change their minds, even with its captivating murder mystery element - a departure from Roth's previous work. However, those who are fans of the horror aficionado can expect all their desires fulfilled, as Roth remains true to his beloved genre. In fact, he has expressed his lifelong aspiration to create a film as iconic as 1996's Scream, which is why he delves into the world of murder mysteries.

Editor's P/S

Eli Roth, the mastermind behind horror flicks like Cabin Fever and Hostel, is returning to the director's chair for Thanksgiving, a slasher film set during the holiday season. The film follows a killer dressed in a pilgrim costume who terrorizes a small New England town on Thanksgiving night. Roth has been teasing this project for over a decade, and it's finally coming to fruition.

As a fan of Roth's work, I'm excited to see what he brings to the table with Thanksgiving. His films are always a mix of gore, humor, and social commentary, and I'm curious to see how he tackles the Thanksgiving holiday. The trailer for the film looks promising, and I'm eager to see the finished product. I'm also interested to see how Roth incorporates the holiday theme into the film. Thanksgiving is a time for family and togetherness, so it will be interesting to see how Roth turns that on its head. I'm expecting a fun, gory, and thought-provoking film from Roth, and I can't wait to see it when it hits theaters on November 17th.