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Thanksgiving (2023)

 


Thanksgiving is a horror movie set around the titular North American holiday set in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Written and directed by Eli Roth, the film is very much influenced by Halloween, Scream, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. This isn't Roth's first horror movie either as you probably know him from Hostel or perhaps the under-rated Cabin Fever. I enjoyed the writing very much as there were so many tropes and hints that horror fans would love.

The main character and expected "final girl" is Nell Verlaque. This is her first major film as almost no one has even heard of the movie The Marijuana Conspiracy that was buried back in 2020. She's pretty, the best actress of the bunch, and rather tall which makes the love interest Bobby, played by the 5-inches shorter Jalen Thomas Brooks. Their on-screen chemistry wasn't very good. 

Disney's Zombies, Milo Manheim, plays another love interest and the last part of the love triangle. He does a better job playing the character, there was a major red herring in the film revolving around him but I won't spoil what happens with his character although I enjoyed how Roth wrote his partial arc. He certainly shows he has the most acting experience next to the Police Sherrif played by Grey's Anatomy's Patrick Dempsey.

After leaving I was very happy with the story and future of the film as a franchise. As I reflected more on the ride home the rating lowered as I thought more about the "teenager's" acting. This film fails to cast a good main character as Scream, Halloween, and I Know What You Did Last Summer did. Nell Verlaque while beautiful needs more acting lessons. The film is still good. Result: B


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