Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ Teaser: Patrick Dempsey Chases a Pilgrim-Clad Killer in Cult Slasher

Samantha Bergeson
·2 min read
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After 15 years of rumors, Eli Roth finally has helmed the feature “Thanksgiving.”

Back in 2007, Roth created a mock trailer for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s “Grindhouse” with an unhinged holiday slasher set in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Now, Patrick Dempsey and Addison Rae lead the real-life horror movie.

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Per the official synopsis, the table is set, the festivities have begun, but an uninvited guest has arrived… and this year, there will be no leftovers.

The film follows a serial killer who slices and dices the residents of Plymouth one by one over the Thanksgiving holiday. Gina Gershon, Milo Manheim, Rick Hoffman, Tim Dillon, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Gabriel Davenport, Tomaso Sanelli, Karen Cliche, and Jenna Warren also star. “Thanksgiving” was written by Jeff Rendell. Spyglass produces the film, along with Roth and Roger Birnbaum.

In addition to directing “Thanksgiving,” Roth recently starred in “The Idol” and is also co-directing the “Borderlands” adaptation with “The Last of Us” showrunner Craig Mazin. “Deadpool” helmer Tim Miller stepped in to direct two weeks of reshoots for “Borderlands” while Roth finished up production on “Thanksgiving” in January, as Deadline reported.

Roth told Empire magazine previously that he aimed to make “Thanksgiving” with “as many kills as possible.”

“I just want to go, go, go,” Roth said at the time of having a fast shoot. “Get as much footage, and as many kills as possible, and not be self-conscious. Because when you’re moving at that speed, you’re not thinking, you’re just feeling and you’re going on instinct. And that’s where the best stuff comes from. There’s an energy to that Grindhouse trailer for Thanksgiving that, for me caught the spirit of the movie. And I was like, ‘What if I did this for three weeks?’ No pretensions. Just, ‘Fuck it. Let’s make a fifth movie, do it fast, bang it out and make it great.’ I mean, still take it seriously, as a real movie, but just do it in 18 days and see what the hell happens when I really push myself.”

“Thanksgiving” premieres in theaters November 17 from TriStar Pictures. Check out the teaser below.

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