Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving” trailer promised there would be no leftovers, but that was fine since I was not hungry afterward anyway. Campy and grotesque, it failed to serve up an appetizing experience. However, the plot did offer just enough seasoning that it was not unbearable. 

The film begins on Thanksgiving night in Plymouth, Massachusetts, where local store Right Mart, owned by Thomas Wright and his second wife, is having an early Black Friday sale. An angry mob waits outside with only two security guards struggling to keep them back. Inside are the local sheriff and one of the employees’ wives as well as Wright’s daughter Jessica and her friends who snuck in early. Chaos ensues when everyone forces their way inside and many people perish. One year after the tragedy, as the group of friends try to move on, they are targeted by a masked killer. One by one, the killer goes after the people involved in the night at Right Mart.

From what started as a fake movie trailer in 2007, Roth turned his holiday slasher idea into a reality 16 years later. The film had a moderate budget of $15 million and arrived just in time for the actual Thanksgiving holiday. Roth is known for graphic violence and this film is no exception. However, considering there was no shortage of laughter in the theater it is unclear whether or not the film is supposed to take itself seriously.

Perhaps the most striking scene is the opening Black Friday scene. It sets the tone for the rest of the movie by going 1000% in on extreme gore and profanity. The scene is a satirical social commentary on American consumerism that was unexpected but effective. Actors show a ruthlessness that portrays what people are willing to do for a free waffle iron.  

Despite the great opening scene, the rest of the movie falls into classic teen cliches. And it is no surprise that among Roth’s favorite slasher films is “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” He makes many references to the film and even copies some exact scenes that left me questioning why the whole film was not as uniquely formulated as his death scenes. Characters are given a surprising amount of development that makes the fear for their lives far greater. 

Ultimately, “Thanksgiving” is an intense slasher stuffed with comedy. I would not watch this film again, but I recommend it to anyone with a strong stomach.