This film brings forward not many things to be thankful for, but it does bring forward empty attempts at humor that fall utterly flat. The plot feels held together by a small bit of thread that at any moment could snap.
Synopsis
The film takes place a year after a Black Friday store riot ends in tragedy for community members. This Thanksgiving seems to mean something when an ax-wielding, mask wearing killer begins picking off victims in Plymouth, Mass., one by one. These killings seem random in nature, but soon become part of a larger sinister plan.
Starring Patrick Dempsey as the Plymouth Sheriff, Nell Verlaque as Jessica, Addison Rae as Gabby, and Milo Manheim as Ryan.
Highs
The plot was somewhat intriguing, mostly falling flat, but the idea was there.
Making a film about Thanksgiving in Plymouth, Mass., could have been really good, but it felt like they needed to add a Black Friday scene to make the movie work at all.
The idea of a killer dressing up as the first governor of Plymouth at Thanksgiving, if you could make a good reason for the killings, would be an interesting movie. With this film, it feels almost like killing without purpose, and it makes the movie a loose cannon with nothing to back it up. I would’ve liked it a lot more if the plot had reasoning.
Lows
The biggest thing wrong with this film is the humor. You could tell where humor was attempted, but it failed nine times out of 10.
I felt more annoyed than scared throughout the entire film, which is bad when this movie is being advertised as a horror film.
The killer uses Instagram as a way to taunt their victims, which takes away from reality and brings me out of the story completely. I understand using technology as a tool, but there are way better ways to execute it than this film did.
For an honorable mention, the whole movie is based on the facts that dumb high school students are simply being their namesake. I feel like a movie that is supposed to be scary should have a more substantial plot than some teenagers doing a dumb thing (but the event wasn't their entire fault). It feels like a loose thread to hold an entire plot on.
Verdict
Even though a plot was there and it brought something new forward, the utter cringe the movie brought forward overshadowed everything else. If you like a lot of blood and guts with not a lot of anything else, this film is for you.
I give "Thanksgiving" a 2.5 out of 10 rating.
