Though it’s not traditionally considered a spooky month, there are plenty of horror films to be mined from Thanksgiving, whether it be twisting the traditions, playing into family stress or maybe just making the turkeys murderous.
Here are a couple of movies where Thanksgiving and family gatherings get a spooky twist:
“Addams Family Values” (1993)
A point of contention with the new “Wednesday” TV series is how it turns the infamously indifferent Wednesday Addams character into a heroic detective who cares deeply for the downtrodden and outcasts.
And yet going back to this movie, a crucial scene sees her violently take control of a Thanksgiving play. Simmering with resentment, she promises vengeance on all the counselors who degraded and mocked the outcast kids as colonizers mocked and degraded the Native Americans. And then she delivers.
“Addams Family Values” is available to stream on Paramount+ or PlutoTV.
“Thanksgiving” (2023)
I’ll admit I’m a little disappointed that this isn’t the full grindhouse exploitation flick promised by the fake trailer Eli Roth made over 10 years ago. But this is still a fun slasher-adjacent horror and mystery movie.
Taking place one year after a deadly Black Friday riot — a theme that will recur on this list — the film follows a group of seemingly random teens who are targeted by a mysterious figure wearing a Pilgrim mask and wielding an ax. The plot unfolds much like “Scream,” as the kids must work out who the killer is before time runs out.
“Thanksgiving” is available to stream on Netflix.
“Blood Rage” (1987)
Also known as “Nightmare at Shadow Woods,” this is the kind of slasher where the intense chase music sounds like the theme from an old VHS workout routine.
It’s a lot of fun, with a wonderfully cheesy story about two identical twins, one of whom is a homicidal maniac who keeps framing his brother for his crimes. It makes family reunions a bit awkward.
“Blood Rage” is available for free on YouTube.
“Chopping Mall” (1986)
How’s this for 80s cinema: “Chopping Mall” is about a high-tech robotic security team that goes haywire and tries to kill everyone in their path … which in this case is the group of promiscuous teens who have broken into the mall after hours.
My main takeaway from this one is that it is well due for a remake. I can already picture the modern update of the inventor, who in the new version will own a diamond slave mine and, throughout his presentation, will keep doing dumb little jumps.
“Chopping Mall” is available to stream on Peacock and Shudder.
“Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead” (2006)
A self-aware horror comedy in the Troma mold, this reads most like the slasher version of “Airplane!” It’s gag-a-minute, and most of the gags include explicit bodily fluids, so make sure you’re not eating while you watch this.
“Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead” is available to stream on Vudu and Tubi.
“The Oath” (2018)
It’s not a horror movie in the traditional sense, but “The Oath” will trigger anyone whose family gets on their nerves over the holidays.
A parody of “the friend who’s too woke,” this film takes place in a version of America where the fascistic President has decreed that all Americans must sign an oath of loyalty, and it’s become a culture war issue.
There is something beautiful about the idea of a family on opposite sides of the political spectrum coming together and teaming up on the pigs.
“The Oath” is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and stream on Kanopy.
“Don’t Say a Word” (2001)
This film has the vibe of an awesomely ludicrous airport pulp novel, following a therapist (Michael Douglas) whose family is kidnapped by thieves who want him to use his skill to psychoanalyze a code out of a mute girl.
The fact that it’s so close to Thanksgiving doesn’t factor into the plot all that much, but this is a very fun movie.
“Don’t Say a Word” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
“ParaNorman” (2012)
For most people, this movie is more commonly associated with Halloween, but everyone forgets it takes place near Thanksgiving. The bad guys are even evil pilgrims! This is a fun movie, for Halloween, Thanksgiving or any time. It’s a modern classic for a reason.
“ParaNorman” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Tubi and PlutoTV.
“Four Brothers” (2005)
In a loose adaptation of “The Sons of Katie Elder,” Mark Wahlberg leads a group of four adopted brothers as they track down the man who shot their mother right before Thanksgiving. Though it looks from the outside like a street-level thriller, what we instead get is a pretty kickass murder mystery with a hyperactive, borderline cartoon-logic energy.
“Four Brothers” is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount+.
“Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County” (1998)
This remake of “The McPherson Tape,” famously one of the first found footage movies ever made, makes one important distinction — instead of a birthday, it’s Thanksgiving. Other than that, this film is much the same, focusing on a family whose house is besieged by aliens.
An old-school found footage movie, one which successfully captures the feeling of an authentic home video, and if you can get on board with the minimalism, there’s a lot of creepiness here.
“Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County” is available for free on YouTube.
“Kristy” (2014)
Kristy is both resonant and dated, depicting internet harassment that feels real in some ways and hilariously out of touch in others.
The plot follows a college girl who finds herself the target of an organized online mob that breaks into her college over Thanksgiving break and tries to kill her, mistaking her for a more affluent student than she really is. I’m not sure if this has anything to say about class politics or internet culture, but it’s a good thriller.
“Kristy” is available to stream on Starz.
“Prisoners” (2013)
Stretching the definition slightly here because it’s not a horror movie, nor does it have that “Thanksgiving theme.” But it’s set near the holiday, and it’s one of my favorite movies ever, so it’s in.
Denis Villeneuve has spent the past decade making huge sci-fi blockbusters, and I’ve loved those, but I honestly wish once he gets done with “Dune,” he goes back to making street-level thrillers. Granted, I think that about most directors.
“Prisoners” is available to stream on Max.
“Into the Dark: Pilgrim” (2019)
“Into the Dark” is a series of anthology movies on Hulu, and this “episode” focuses on a well-to-do modern family who invites a group of Pilgrim re-enactors into their house, hoping to rediscover the “true meaning” of the holiday … and end up getting more than they bargained for.
If people taking advantage of assumed social niceties gets on your nerves, this might be a tough watch.
“Into the Dark: Pilgrim” is available to stream on Hulu.
“Into the Dark: Flesh and Blood” (2018)
Suffering from agoraphobia after her mother’s unexplained murder last Thanksgiving, a teen girl begins to suspect her father killed her; not only that, but he’s a prolific serial killer. Can she find the truth without raising suspicion, all while being unable to leave the house?
This episode of Hulu’s “Into the Dark” has some dark comedy (there’s a part where during a tense chase sequence, the dad trips over a loose sweater, and yells after her, “How many times have I told you to pick up after yourself?”) but it’s mostly a tense two-hander between Diana Silvers and Dermot Mulroney with some fun, giallo-inspired kills and camerawork.
“Into the Dark: Flesh and Blood” Is available to stream on Hulu.
“ThanksKilling” (2008)
I have very little patience for movies like “VelociPastor” that are so bad they’re good on purpose, which defeats the whole point.
But even though the impression “ThanksKilling” gives off is that the film is entirely deliberate in its badness, it’s still a lot of fun. Worst case scenario: if your relatives are getting on your nerves, you can put this on the TV, and they’ll clear out in no time.
“ThanksKilling” is available to stream on Tubi.
The Thanksgiving holiday has a lot of baggage associated with it, and a lot of the movies very cannily play into that. Then again, some of these movies just have a killer turkey in them, and that’s cool too. Either way, I hope you find something in here for you in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.
This article was edited by Alfie Pritchard, Marina Zaczkiewicz and Abigail Turner. Copy editing done by Luna Jinks, Emma Brown, Charlie Mennuti and Ariana Kavoossi.
