Thanksgiving (2023)

The critic calls it a gory, fun holiday slasher packed with memorable kills, knowing winks, and a strong final girl that satisfies fans of the original fake trailer. It delivers thrills and a brisk pace without pushing the formula in new directions.

The critic finds the film a thrillingly pure slasher with an 80s vibe that revives the genre effectively without modern jump-scare excess. He singles out the expert timing of shocks and laughs, along with the efficient character work and passion-project specificity.

The critic calls it silly, sinew-spattered fun elevated by winking performances, especially Patrick Dempsey as the sheriff. They single out the hardcore gore scenes as a bloody feast for horror fans.

The critic calls it a gleefully bloodthirsty slasher with brilliant practical effects and a smart, hilarious poke at consumerism and holiday greed. Notes the on-form Roth is having fun, even if the ending is unoriginal.

The critic describes it as Roth returning to gory slasher territory with fun, bloody holiday-themed kills and a dose of humour, though the film is light on substance and character depth. Praises the set-pieces as a satisfying, if empty-calorie, entertainment.

The critic praises it as a slick, mean contemporary slasher with satiric bite, inventive gore, and dark humor that comments on consumerism without overdoing irony. It is described as just good enough for horror fans hungry for the concept.

The critic finds the film mostly slashing good fun that turns the old Grindhouse trailer satire into hip trash perfectly timed for the genre's revival. He singles out the brazen embrace of slasher tropes, the acidly funny Black Friday opening, and the over-the-top kills.

The critic sees the film as a full horror meal expanded from Roth's fake Grindhouse trailer, delivering seasonal slasher thrills. He singles out the toned-down yet effective gross-out set pieces and strong supporting performances amid the carnage.

The critic notes it follows a standard slasher template and gets less inventive as it goes but succeeds at delivering garish kills and the job done for gore fans. The opening Black Friday riot sequence is singled out as the strongest part.

The critic describes it as a darkly witty but underdeveloped slasher whodunnit, like Scream with more turkey puns and less tension. They praise the gallows humour in the holiday-themed atrocities and the killer's franchise potential, while complaining that there's not much meat on the story's bones due to weak plotting and characters.

The critic calls it an enthusiastic slasher romp but finds the script underbaked and some gags dated or juvenile. She singles out the strong holiday-themed kills and Roth's evident fun directing, while noting the overall result feels like a crumbly mess.

The critic finds Roth has successfully expanded his 2007 Grindhouse trailer into an entertainingly gory full-length slasher about a pilgrim-masked killer in a small Massachusetts town. They single out Roth's skill at orchestrating tension, humor and inventive slayings without self-seriousness.

The critic finds it offers plenty of cheap kills and gore for genre fans but is no instant classic, more like April Fool’s Day than Halloween. The opening Black Friday riot sequence and imaginative practical-effect kills stand out.

The critic praises the creative kills and visceral gore, calling it one of the best slashers in years that brings horror back to basics with nastiness and fun. They note the script is basic and Roth's tendencies but overall a good time.

The critic says it's a better Scream movie than recent reboots, landing convincingly between horror and comedy with a delicate balance of funny, tense, and gory. They single out the tone and gore for praise, though it doesn't reach Scream's heights.

The critic calls it a gnarly, entertaining, and gleefully over-the-top fright fest that mixes old-fashioned thrills with modern touches and effectively balances comedy with horror in its set pieces. They single out the gruesome kills and the film's satisfying crowd-pleasing qualities while noting minor pacing issues between kills.

The critic finds Eli Roth's slasher entertaining and knowingly ridiculous, with a high body count and broad appeal as an old-school small-town horror. Patrick Dempsey's performance as the sheriff is singled out for praise as delicious.