Since his directorial debut with 2002’sCabin Fever,Eli Rothhasbuilt a loyal following eager to tune in for the next projectthat will have them squirming in their seats. From the first two titles of theHostelfranchise which he directed to the stomach-churning story of cannibalism inThe Green Inferno, Roth has continued to deliver shocking kills and jaw-dropping moments with each production. During an interview with Collider’sSteve Weintraub, Roth was more than happy todish on the kill that he’s most excited for audiences to seein his recently released holiday slasher,Thanksgiving.
Of course, picking thenumber one killfor a horror director is like a parent choosing their favorite child with Roth tossing over the question before saying, “That first diner kill is pretty amazing.” Sharing the exhilarating experience ofviewing the moviealongside a theater full of people, he continues, “I’ve watched that with an audience, and people kind of scream at the top of their lungs. That one is really fun, and the corn cob in the ears is a great one to watch with a crowd.” Ever the artists, Roth and his co-scribe,Jeff Rendell, clearly had a fun time crafting themed kills with lots of shock value.
Adding that he, too, had fun watchingThanksgivingin apacked-out cinema, Weintraub added that his screening was filled with terrific reactions with audiences “jumping/laughing.” “That’s great. That’s good,” Roth replied, “I wanted a fun movie. I didn’t want it to be an endurance test and a grueling, punishing movie. I wanted one where the kills were great, and they were scary, and they were gory, and satisfying, but one where people were leaving the theater with abig smile on their face.”
What’s the Plot of ‘Thanksgiving?’
InThanksgiving, the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts finds itself stalked by a masked killer known only asJohn Carver. Still reeling after theprevious year’s Black Friday eventturned deadly, the community is shocked to find that its past is coming back to haunt it – in a very bloody way. Blending a classic teen slasher with fun holiday-themed kills is what setsThanksgivingapart from other horror films released over the year. Filling out the call sheet are names that includePatrick Dempsey(Grey’s Anatomy),Addison Rae(He’s All That),Jalen Thomas Brooks(Walker),Gina Gershon(Bound),Rick Hoffman(Suits), andMilo Manheim(Disney’sZombiefranchise).
A longtime in the making, Roth explained in the same interview that he had been dreaming up the story behindThanksgivingsince before he was a teenager. Back in 2007, the movie received a fake trailer inQuentin TarantinoandRobert Rodriguez’s double feature,Grindhouse.With audiences responding positively, it was just a matter of time untilRoth’s dream production could become a reality.
Thanksgivingis now playing in theaters. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.
Thanksgiving
After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts - the birthplace of the infamous holiday.
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