Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Year: 2023

Runtime: 1 h 47 m

Language: English

Director: Eli Roth

Echo Score: 68

Budget: $15M

HorrorMysteryThriller

A wave of terror descends on Plymouth during the Thanksgiving season. Following the frenzy of Black Friday, a brutal killing spree unfolds, shattering the town's sense of peace. As the holiday celebrations begin, a sinister force unleashes a trail of bloodshed, leaving residents in fear and investigators struggling to stop the escalating violence.

Thanksgiving (2023) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Thanksgiving (2023) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the picturesque New England town of Plymouth, the Thanksgiving season awakens a restless mix of gratitude and unease. The community gathers around the bustling RightMart superstore, where the promise of Black Friday deals collides with the town’s longstanding traditions. Beneath the festive lights and the clatter of carts, a palpable tension hums, hinting that the holiday’s warm veneer may be masking something far darker. The film’s tone balances the cozy charm of a historic town with a creeping dread that feels as inevitable as the autumn chill.

At the heart of the story is Jessica Wright, a young woman whose family owns the iconic store that anchors the town’s economy and its seasonal chaos. Her close‑knit circle of friends—Bobby, a charismatic yet haunted boyfriend, and Ryan, her newer love interest—bring competing loyalties and unspoken histories into the mix. As the townspeople prepare for the holiday parade and the inevitable rush of shoppers, Jessica finds herself pulled between past promises and present uncertainties, navigating a world where personal connections are as fragile as the turkey‑laden tables they plan to share.

The setting itself becomes a character, with Plymouth’s historic streets, bustling markets, and the looming presence of the Thanksgiving parade serving as a backdrop for an unfolding mystery. Authorities, represented by the town’s sheriff, work to keep order while a subtle, unsettling force lingers just out of sight, suggesting that the celebration may soon be tested in ways no one anticipates. Through atmospheric cinematography and a score that swells between merriment and menace, the film invites viewers to wonder how far the town—and its residents—will go to protect the fragile peace that Thanksgiving promises.

Last Updated: August 09, 2025 at 20:23

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Mystery Slashers in a Small Town like Thanksgiving

Isolated communities stalked by a killer with a secret motive.If you liked the whodunnit mystery and small-town dread of Thanksgiving, explore more movies where an isolated community is terrorized by a killer with a personal vendetta. These films blend slasher horror with investigative thrills, often revealing secrets that hit close to home.

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Narrative Summary

These narratives typically begin with a brutal event that shatters the peace of a secluded town. A killer, often wearing a distinctive mask, begins a violent spree. The plot follows a protagonist, sometimes a survivor or an outsider, who must investigate the murders, uncovering a traumatic past event that connects the victims and explains the killer's motive. The climax often involves a final, intense confrontation that reveals the killer's identity.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their shared setting of a small, isolated community, the 'whodunnit' puzzle element woven into the slasher format, and the theme of past sins coming back to haunt the present. The vibe is a mix of paranoid suspicion and bloody horror.

High-Intensity Survival Horror Movies like Thanksgiving

Relentless fights for survival against a brutal, unstoppable force.Fans of the non-stop, brutal action and high-stakes survival in Thanksgiving will enjoy these films. They feature a fast pace, graphic violence, and protagonists pushed to their absolute limits as they fight to survive against a seemingly unstoppable killer or threat.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative is a straightforward, propulsive chase. After an inciting incident of extreme violence, the protagonists are constantly on the run or under siege. There is minimal downtime, with the plot consisting of a series of escalating, creatively violent set pieces. Character development happens in the moments between attacks, often revealing their resilience or breaking points. The journey is about enduring one traumatic event after another until a final, desperate confrontation.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their overwhelming intensity, fast pacing, and focus on the raw, physical struggle to survive. The experience is defined by constant tension, graphic violence, and a feeling of being relentlessly hunted, creating an anxious and exhausting viewing experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Thanksgiving

Don't stop at just watching — explore Thanksgiving in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Thanksgiving is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Thanksgiving Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Thanksgiving, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Thanksgiving Summary

Thanksgiving Timeline

Track the full timeline of Thanksgiving with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Thanksgiving Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Thanksgiving

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Thanksgiving. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Thanksgiving? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

Thanksgiving Ending Explained

More About Thanksgiving

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Thanksgiving: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Thanksgiving

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