Thanksgiving * * * *

I've been waiting fifteen years for this. 

I'm surprised this film isn't getting more publicity or screening.  It's a little ripper of a horror film.  Blood splattered, gory, suspenseful and funny as all heck!

Set in the town of Plymouth Massachusetts, the owner of a retail store, "Right Mart" decides to get the jump on the opposition by opening for the Black Friday Sales the night of Thanksgiving, rather than the next morning.  Rioting crowds cause death and mayhem as they rush for the Door Busting "Free Waffle Iron for the first 50 customers".  Fair enough. I'd kill for that too.

A year later someone is seeking revenge for a loved one killed in the riot. And they decide Thanksgiving Night might be a good time to exact such revenge.  It being Thanksgiving there is much celebration and a lot of people are wearing a mask of Mayflower pilgrim John Carver. And so is the killer.  Excellent disguise.

The story revolves around a few teenagers (of course!) and their parents, which include the owner of Right Mart, and the security guard at Right Mart. 

Predictably, the kids are made up of very pretty girls, the college jock, the wimpy kid, the good looking bully boy.  All predictable stereotypes.  All ripe for a killing from a psychopath.

They soon learn they are on the hit list as the killer tauntingly sends them group messages on their mobile phones along with frightening imagery of his last victim.  Naturally the very friendly local cop is concerned and there to help them, along with his new gruff assistant. 

But they are dealing with a clever little psychopath.  He's also quite creative in his own sick way.  For instance, he cuts someone in half and hangs the body over a 50% off sale sign etc. His creativity doesn't end there. A girl on a trampoline jumps higher and higher, but then spikes appear under the mat. And a woman replaces the turkey at the table. Unlike the turkey she does not have the mercy of being euthanized before being put into the oven.  

With references to the original pilgrims and the consumer madness of Black Friday Sales, there is a humor and a philosophical bent to Thanksgiving.

Interestingly, the trailer for this film was made fifteen years ago.  It can be seen in the double feature Grindhouse, sandwiched between Tarantino's Death Proof and Rodriquez Planet Terror.  On that fun double upcoming director Eli Roth was invited to make a contribution in the way of a mock trailer of a non-existent film. Well, years later, now it does exist. 

Let's just hope the same isn't true of the axe wielding protagonist.