by Christian Grullon, Contributing Writer
Eli Roth had the pleasure of starting the holidays with his sinister and suspenseful film, Thanksgiving.The film stars Addison Rae, Nell Verlaque, Rick Hoffman, Patrick Dempsey, and Milo Manheim. It has a good cast, and the actors embody their characters flawlessly.
One of the strong points of this film is how well-crafted its suspense is. The movie revolves around a family getting together for Thanksgiving. However, things turn dark when a mysterious stranger shows up, and the family members disappear individually. The plot keeps the audience on the edge of their seats, anxious to know what happens next. Until the end, the plot keeps the audience guessing and guessing.
The actors’ performances make a strong presence in the movie, which is why it’s one of the vital elements of the film. Rae shows her real chops, as she plays a teen girl trying to fit in with her boyfriend’s family. She does an excellent job of adding vulnerability to her character, which makes her relatable to the audience.
Verlaque is impressive as well, serving as the film’s protagonist, a woman seeking to unravel the family’s dark skeletons. Her performance carries emotional depth while being nuanced with her character.
Hoffman plays the villainous uncle, whose presence is menacing and brings the film dread. His villainy as makes the audience hate him easily.
Dempsey is the family’s patriarch, holding secrets that can tear apart his family. He displays his character’s moral and inner conflict beautifully; it can be said that he is the underrated MVP of this film.
Manheim’s character is authentic enough to make the audience root for him. Throughout the film, his performance is engaging and precise, which helps portray family dynamics well.
The strong performances from the cast make the movie worth watching.
Although Thanksgiving is very engaging, it does have some flaws, one of which is the plot, which is sometimes predictable. While the movie has some twists and turns, some crucial plot points are too obvious, making the experience feel predictable, and takes away the suspense.
Another area for improvement is some of the lighting and camera angles. While the cinematography is visually stunning, some scenes are hard to focus on, as the camerawork is distracting. Some shots are too dark, which makes the action difficult to follow. The harsh darkness makes it hard to see the suspenseful scenes.
Overall, while Thanksgiving does have a few flaws, it is still well-crafted with its suspense, horror, and character performance. The actors’ presence is good enough to engage and entertain the audience.
Rating: Liked It
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