Thanksgiving Horror: Some Good, Mostly Pretty Bad

Abby Brenker
1 minute ago
2 min read

There is a lot about Thanksgiving that’s horrifying, but it’s been a largely unexploited holiday in the world of horror.

A shadowy figure in a hat holds a pitchfork. The setting is dimly lit, creating a mysterious and suspenseful mood.

In 2023 Eli Roth’s film Thanksgiving was released. Alan and I went to see this in theaters when it first came out, and sat next to a woman who fully ate a Thanksgiving meal in the seat next to us. It was packaged in a lot of tin foil. Thanksgiving (2023) is legitimately scary. I would even argue that there are scenes that are moments that go too far. I am not one of those horror fans that lives for the wildest or most graphic kills. For me, the less gory the better. But even still, I liked this movie. (I’ve successfully avoided watching Hostel thus far in life.)

Man in turkey costume sits at a kitchen table with tea set. Country-style kitchen, light wood cabinets, and a playful, humorous mood.

On the other end of the spectrum, Thankskilling (2009) is one of the worst films ever made. And that’s not a controversial opinion. Some people, like Alan, love to watch horror movies that are so bad, they’re good. (I am not one of those people.)

Grotesque creature with clawed hand, wearing a black leather jacket, stands in an artist's studio with paintings in the background. Creepy mood.

In 1987 Blood Rage was released. Blood Rage is known for being a wild ride. To start, I like the perspective of Thanksgiving at an apartment complex in Florida. And I don’t mean that sarcastically, it’s refreshing to see Thanksgiving set anywhere but New England. Because, after all, the whole country celebrates it.

Four people gathered around a dining table with a turkey; one person with painted face playing guitar. Dimly lit room, focused mood.

Another 80s Thanksgiving horror film, Home Sweet Home (1981) tells the story of a man who escapes from a mental health facility and terrorizes a family on the holiday. The escapee patient is played by bodybuilder Jake Steinfield, who would go on to found Body by Jake.

Woman in maroon top hides beside a library shelf, looking tense. A shadowy figure walks down the book-lined aisle in dim lighting.

If you’re looking for a Lifetime flair, Kristy (2014) is a horror movie set during Thanksgiving Break. The film follows a college student who is stalked by a cult of killers.

Anyway, one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is giving to the American Indian College Fund. It’s a fantastic organization that helps support Native students and provides scholarships for education. If you can donate or spread the word about their cause, I promise you won’t regret it.