Thanksgivingis coming early this year atAlamo Drafthouse. The cinema chain will showEli Roth’s forthcoming slasher flick two days before it goes wide in theaters on November 17 as part of its Fantastic Fest Presents series which celebrates genre films year-round. Currently, theater-goers in Austin, Texas can pick up tickets to the early screening which will not only feature the film, but a recorded message from Roth before it begins as well as commemorative masks for whoever shows out for the occasion.
Thanksgivingisa gorey throwback slasher with a modern coat of paintbased on the faux trailer Roth constructed forGrindhouseback in 2007. Set in the Thanksgiving-crazy town of Plymouth, Massachusetts after a Black Friday riot devolves into tragedy, the film sees an uninvited guest crash their festivities witha series of brutal killingsthat threaten to ruin the holiday cheer. There’s no real reason why these revenge murders are happening, at least until the killer’s maniacal plot is revealed, and the townsfolk are scrambling to uncover who’s responsible for the carnage. By the end, plenty of bodies are sure to find themselves seated at John Carver’s twisted dinner table, and there will be no leftovers.
What makesThanksgivingone to watch out for is the series of creative andmessy ways this slasher prepares his kills. Roth has a passion for horror betweenhis disturbingHostelfilmsand his 2002 feature debutCabin Feveramong others. Bringing John Carver to lifewas a pure passion projectfor him ashe explained in a recent featurettehis desire to create a fun slasher that mixes memorable kills with a mystery regarding who is behind the mask a laScream. It also gleefully embracesthe trimmings of holiday horrorwith deaths constructed around many of your favorite holiday meal prep tools and other Thanksgiving-related items.
‘Thanksgiving’ Sets the Table With a Stellar Cast
Roth co-wrote the script forThanksgivingwith repeat collaboratorJeff Rendellwho also helped write the fakeGrindhousetrailer for the film. Their journey to finally bringing this project to light was a long one as plans to make a feature out of the trailer were in place soon after it hit theaters. The"totally bonkers" film had been in development hell for yearswith bothJon WattsandChristopher D. Fordset to co-write at one point. Now that it’s finally happening, Rothbrought on a strong cast to make his slasher dream project a reality, includingPatrick Dempsey,Addison Rae,Milo Manheim,Gina Gershon,Jalen Thomas Brooks,Nell Verlaque,Rick Hoffman,Tim Dillon,Jenna Warren, andAmanda Barkeramong others.
VisitAlamo Drafthouse’s websitefor information on how to get tickets to seeThanksgivingon November 15 before its wider theatrical release on November 17. Masks will only be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so you’ll have to act fast. In the meantime,read our guide on everything you need to know about Roth’s latest.
Thanksgiving
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the holiday. Picking off residents one by one, what begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan. Will the town uncover the killer and survive the holidays…or become guests at his twisted holiday dinner table?
