Thanksgiving became one of the best horror movies of 2023, and it got that way through the excellent cast who portrayed the film’s many characters. Directed and co-written by Eli Roth, Thanksgiving was initially conceived as a parody trailer for the 2007 movie Grindhouse. However, this didn’t stop this unique premise from leaving its own individual mark. The perfect balance of comedy and gruesome horror made Thanksgiving a distinctive hit, thanks to the talent, both seasoned and new to the table, that made each character memorable.
Thanksgiving is set a year after a catastrophic and deadly Black Friday riot, which was unintentionally caused by a group of teenagers led by protagonist Jessica Wright. By the start of the story in Thanksgiving, the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts (birthplace of the titular holiday) has gone back to normal—besides the fact that someone among the characters had begun slowly picking off the teens responsible for the riot and the resulting deaths. Actors like Patrick Dempsey, Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae, and more thus start their fight to survive to the end of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving 2: Confirmation & Everything We Know
Eli Roth’s holiday horror splatter flick Thanksgiving brings terror to Turkey Day, and a terrifying sequel has been announced.
Nell Verlaque as Jessica Wright
Actor Nell Verlaque plays Jessica Wright, the leading role of Thanksgiving. Verlaque is best known for playing Louise Grusinsky in the 2021 TV series BigShots and Becky Harlow in the 2020 thriller The Marijuana Conspiracy. Her character in Thanksgiving is the daughter of “RightMart” owner Thomas Wright, and she becomes unintentionally responsible for the Black Friday riot that set the holiday-themed slasher film in motion.
Patrick Dempsey as Sheriff Eric Newlan
The primary star power of Thanksgiving is Patrick Dempsey, who played Sheriff Eric Newlan in the Eli Roth horror movie. Dempsey is best known for playing Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd in the ABC medical drama Grey’s Anatomy from 2005 to 2015. His filmography includes Disney’s Enchanted (2007), Flypaper (2011), Bridget Jones’s Baby (2016), and many more. Dempsey’s Thanksgiving character is the small-town police officer who takes it upon himself to identify all those involved in the Black Friday riot and warn them of their danger.
Jalen Thomas Brooks as Bobby
Jalen Thomas Brooks plays Jessica’s boyfriend Bobby in Thanksgiving. The Los Angeles-born actor is best known for his supporting roles in TV series like Rebel, Animal Kingdom, and Walker, all of which began in 2021. He has also appeared in single episodes of Henry Danger and Supergirl. Brooks’ character in Thanksgiving disappears from Plymouth after the Black Friday riot leaves him injured and unable to play baseball. Suspiciously, Bobby returns to town just as the murders begin.
Where To Watch Thanksgiving On Streaming
Eli Roth’s holiday-themed horror movie, Thanksgiving, made its mark in theaters in November 2023, and it’s now available to stream or rent on PVOD.
Tomaso Sanelli as Evan
Playing the classic jock in Thanksgiving is Tomaso Sanelli, a Canadian-born actor best known for playing young Dick Grayson in six episodes of the 2018 series Titans. Additionally, Sanelli played Brett Austin in several episodes of Detention Adventure (2019) and Oscar Moreno in Holly Hobbit (2019). Nest to Jessica, Sanelli’s character Evan is the second-most responsible for the Black Friday riot since he was determined to get into the store early to replace his broken phone in Thanksgiving.
Gabriel Davenport as Scuba
Toronto-born actor Gabriel Davenport plays Scuba in Thanksgiving and is best known for his roles in Netflix’s V Wars and ABC’s Designated Survivor. As far as Davenport’s filmography, he also played in the Prime Video movie Home for the Holidays and Tubi’s time-traveling adventure Mistletoe Time Machine. His Thanksgiving character, Scuba, is another of Jessica’s friends who ultimately teams up with the others to figure out who the killer (who is also targeting him) is.
Jenna Warren as Yulia
Canadian actor Jenna Warren plays the character of Yulia in Thanksgiving. Warren is best known for voiceover roles, which she has been nabbing since the age of 10. She is best known for lending her voice to Sunny in My Little Pony: Make Your Mark and Olive in the Emmy-nominated children’s series Justin Time. Her Thanksgiving character, Yulia, is the girlfriend of Scuba and another of Jessica’s friends who were involved with the Black Friday riot and is, therefore, being targeted by the killer.
Addison Rae as Gabby
Thanksgiving‘s cast includes singer and songwriter Addison Rae, best known for her presence as an influencer on TikTok. Rae is recognized as the fourth most-followed person on the popular app, and since rising to prominence, she has released several singles and has starred in movies like Netflix’s He’s All That. In Thanksgiving, Rae plays Jessica’s best friend, Gabby, yet another teenager who unknowingly started the riot at the RightMart Black Friday sale.
Thanksgiving Supporting Cast & Characters
Milo Manheim as Ryan – Actor Milo Manheim, who plays Jessica’s new boyfriend Ryan in Thanksgiving, is best known for his work in musical theater, including the Liza Monjauze Productions of Rent, Footloose, and Spring Awakening.
Ty Olsson as Mitch Collins – Ty Olsson plays Mitch Collins in Thanksgiving, the store manager whose wife Amanda was killed during the riot. Olsson is best known for appearing in the Prime Video series The Power, as well as Angry Birds: Summer Madness and Supernatural.
Gina Gershon as Amanda Collins – The part of Amanda Collins, one of the most significant victims of the Black Friday shopping riot, is played in Thanksgiving by Gina Gershon. The legendary actor is best known for starring in movies like Cocktail (1988), Showgirls (1995), Bound (1996), and House of Versace (2013), as well as playing Gladys Jones in the teen drama Riverdale.
Rick Hoffman as Thomas Wright – Jessica’s father and RightMart owner Thomas Wright is played by Rick Hoffman in Thanksgiving, who is best known for playing Jerry Best in the Fox sitcom series The Bernie Mac Show from 2002 to 2005 and Louis Litt in USA legal drama Suits (2011 – 2019).
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving: 11 Horror Easter Eggs & References
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving might be a spinoff of 2007’s Grindhouse, but it references several other classic horror movies throughout its run.
Karen Cliche as Kathleen Wright – Jessica’s mother and Thomas Wright’s wife, Kathleen Wright, is the greedy woman behind the decision to open the RightMart early in Thanksgiving. She is played by actor Karen Cliche, known for various horror movies like Saw VI, Deadly Estate, Galentine’s Day Nightmare, and Abducted on Prom Night.
Thanksgiving
Originally conceived as a parody trailer in 2007’s Grindhouse, Thanksgiving is a 2023 horror-slasher film from director Eli Roth. The movie centers around a serial killer who heads to a small town in Massachusetts that creates a huge event out of Thanksgiving each year with the intent of turning the residents into the main course.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Director
- Eli Roth
- Cast
- Addison Rae , Patrick Dempsey , Jalen Thomas Brooks , Nell Verlaque , Milo Manheim , Gina Gershon
- Runtime
- 106 Minutes
- Writers
- Eli Roth , Jeff Rendell
- Studio(s)
- Spyglass Media Group , Electromagnetic Productions
- Distributor(s)
- TriStar Pictures
