"Thanksgiving Night": Eli Roth's Thanksgiving slasher serves up blood and thrills

"Thanksgiving Night," a long-anticipated horror film, rewarded its 16-year wait with rave reviews. This brutal, grotesque, yet engaging slasher has impressed international critics, positioning it as the pinnacle of this year's genre cinema.

In 2007, the intriguing duology "Grindhouse," which featured works by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez alongside spoof movie trailers, captured the cinematic world's attention. The aim was not only to pay homage to 70s film exploitation, but also to pique the interest of film companies in creating similar projects. Despite "Grindhouse" largely failing, it was fertile ground leading to the birth of other projects like "Machete" (2010) and the highly-acclaimed "Hobo with a Shotgun" (2011).

One of the spoof trailers was Eli Roth's "Thanksgiving." Comically styled after a relatively unknown slasher from the late 70s and early 80s, it largely consisted of macabre murder scenes carried out on Thanksgiving Day in Plymouth, one of America's earliest colonies.

Genre fans were captivated, and Roth pledged to turn it into a full-length film. However, it took 16 years for this promise to bear fruit. Yet, the delay is forgivable given the outcome. "Thanksgiving Night" has deservedly received positive reviews and currently boasts a commendable average score of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes

"Thanksgiving Night" extends the trailer's ideas into a feature film, adapting them aptly to modern times. Despite occasionally flirting with absurdity, the narrative is sensibly crafted. The story kicks off with a grim prologue featuring the tragic aftermath of a Black Friday store assault.

A year following this event, a man wearing a mask of John Carver (one of the original Pilgrims and the first governor of Plymouth Colony) begins terrorizing the town. His main targets are teenagers involved in the previous year's riots.

Although "Thanksgiving Night" borders on parody, it never delves into postmodern conventions as the "Scream" series does. Despite references to genre classics like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," the film primarily focuses on following the path laid by traditional slasher hits such as "My Bloody Valentine," "Pieces," or "Happy Birthday to Me".

Suspending the Hitchcockian suspense seen in John Carpenter's "Halloween," the movie indulges in more intense and garish violence. The more limbs are severed and blood is spilled, the better.

As a slasher, "Thanksgiving Night" is rife with stereotypes - a muscle-head, a lusty blonde, a sensitive "final girl." However, such tropes are employed inventively, without cynicism. Even typically exploitative elements like paternalism and misogyny are relatively nuanced. The characters are more than just disposable victims; they offer a level of relatability.

While "Thanksgiving Night" doesn't claim originality, that's beside the point in our current cinematic landscape. Roth, as a horror aficionado, demonstrates that old tropes can still deliver enjoyment. He's cooked up a delightful piece that could encourage mainstream studios to venture more audaciously into B-grade movies focusing on sadistic fun rather than subtlety.

After the success of "Evil Dead: Rises" earlier this year, "Thanksgiving Night" offers another enticing thrill ride for viewers. For Polish audiences, it's the best horror film in cinemas this year. Genre fans should not miss the opportunity to witness it.