Unmasking the Thanksgiving Ending: Revealing the Face Behind John Carver
John Carver's mask-wearing avenger unleashes a blood-soaked quest for vengeance in Eli Roth's Thanksgiving, leaving audiences guessing: who lurks behind the chilling facade?
Eli Roth's slasher horror film set in 2023, "Thanksgiving," brings an early holiday to the idyllic town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. However, this celebration takes a sinister turn as the town becomes the hunting ground for a vengeful serial killer known as John Carver. Instead of enjoying a traditional turkey dinner, the characters in this film find themselves on the menu, being pursued by a masked killer dressed as a pilgrim. "Thanksgiving" delves into their horrifying experiences as they become the prime targets of this psychopath, their ordeal stemming from a gruesome Black Friday incident that occurred a year prior.
Roth's slasher horror film follows the classic convention of keeping audiences guessing as to the identity of the killer among seemingly ordinary characters. With a clever twist, Roth remains faithful to actual Plymouth history by incorporating the character of John Carver, one of the Mayflower journeyers and a founding member of the town. However, in this chilling tale set during the holiday season, Carver's role takes a dark turn, and the motive behind the killings is ultimately revealed by the end. Caution: Spoilers ahead!
Thanksgiving’s John Carver villain is someone not so unexpected
Behind the mask of John Carver and the brutal murders of Plymouth in Thanksgiving was Sheriff Newlon (Patrick Dempsey).
To gain a better understanding of Sheriff Newlon's motivations in assuming the identity of serial killer John Carver, the events that transpired on Black Friday a year earlier play a significant role. In the quaint town, RightMart stood out as the popular supermarket renowned for its annual Black Friday extravaganza. Jessica's father, portrayed by Rick Hoffman, held a prominent position as the wealthy and influential figure in the community. It was his decision to open the store a day earlier on Thanksgiving.
The movie commences with Sheriff Newlon making his way to his friend Mitch Collins' residence to celebrate Thanksgiving. However, Mitch is abruptly summoned to work at RightMart as one of the employees fails to show up. The store becomes engulfed in chaos on Black Friday, as furious, despicable, and impatient shoppers flood in from both within and outside the town.
Jessica and her friends arrive just in time for Evan's quest to procure a new phone. They cleverly infiltrate the store through an employee entrance, much to the annoyance of the waiting crowd outside, while Evan taunts them. Sheriff Newlon and Mitch's wife arrive promptly, providing dinner and managing the growing crowd. However, the situation spirals out of control as the shoppers overpower the barricades and swarm the locked doors. Amidst the chaos, Mitch's wife tragically gets trampled, resulting in a fatal collision between two customers' carts that strikes her head. Unbeknownst to the arguing customers, her hair becomes entangled in the wheels, inadvertently tearing off a portion of her scalp. In an attempt to restore order, Sheriff Newlon resorts to firing his gun.
Fast forward to a year later, and John Carver embarks on his murderous journey, claiming his first victim – a local waitress in a diner. Soon, it is revealed that this victim was one of the culprits responsible for the chaos on Black Friday and the subsequent death of Mitch's wife. As Jessica uncovers the chilling truth, she realizes that all the victims are somehow connected to the events that transpired. Jessica and her friends find themselves on the list, alongside individuals featured in the viral social media video and captured in security footage.
The Thanksgiving ordeal concludes as Jessica narrowly escapes John Carver's murderous intentions. As she finds herself at the storage facility housing the parade floats, a startling realization dawns upon her. Recalling Sheriff Newlon's wise words about observing the minutest details, she notices the same fuzzy plant clinging to both her pants and his shoes. Unbelievably, Sheriff Newlon is none other than the elusive John Carver killer. Utilizing her and the other victims, he orchestrated a plan to identify individuals participating in the Black Friday event.
TriStar Pictures
Their actions resulted in the death of Mitch's wife, driven by their affair with Sheriff Newlon and her unborn child, along with the intention to divorce Mitch. Jessica and her friend's constant taunting and the customers' lack of patience and humility cost him the love of his life. Check out Dexerto's review of Thanksgiving and find out how Thanksgiving might lead to Patrick Dempsey's return in Scream 7.
Editor's P/S
In Eli Roth's Thanksgiving, the identity of the masked killer John Carver is Sheriff Newlon, a respected figure in the quaint town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The film takes an unexpected turn as the seemingly ordinary sheriff transforms into a vengeful serial killer seeking retribution for the tragic events that occurred on Black Friday the previous year.
Sheriff Newlon's motivations are rooted in the chaos and death that unfolded at RightMart, the local supermarket known for its annual Black Friday extravaganza. When the store opened its doors a day earlier on Thanksgiving, it became a battleground for unruly shoppers who trampled over one another in their pursuit of deals. Amidst the mayhem, Mitch's wife, the sheriff's friend, was tragically killed. Sheriff Newlon, haunted by the guilt and grief, takes matters into his own hands, donning the mask of John Carver to punish those he holds responsible for the loss of his friend.
