Thanksgiving Horror Movies

Where Horror Meets Thanksgiving

By Alfie Mildburg

Thanksgiving is usually a time for family, gratitude, and feasting—but for horror fans, it’s also a perfect excuse for a blood-soaked cinematic feast. Over the years, Thanksgiving horror movies have evolved from campy, low-budget slashers into a fascinating subgenre that blends holiday warmth with gruesome thrills.

Much like Christmas horror classics such as Black Christmas or Krampus, these films twist the cozy familiarity of a beloved holiday into something darkly entertaining. Whether it’s a cursed turkey, a deranged family dinner, or a pilgrim cult gone wrong, Thanksgiving-themed horror movies remind us that sometimes, the real terror hides behind the turkey.

The Evolution of Thanksgiving Horror Movies

Unlike Halloween or Christmas, Thanksgiving hasn’t always been a go-to setting for horror films. In the 1980s, a few pioneering directors began experimenting with the idea of turning America’s most family-oriented holiday into a nightmare.

Early examples like Blood Rage (1987) and Home Sweet Home (1981) helped define the genre, even if they didn’t achieve mainstream success. In the 2000s and 2010s, streaming platforms gave new life to the concept, with indie directors creating low-budget yet highly imaginative takes on horror movies about Thanksgiving.

By the 2020s, the genre saw a full-fledged revival with Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving (2023)—a film that originated as a fake trailer in Grindhouse (2007) before becoming a cult phenomenon.

Classic Thanksgiving Horror Movies That Started It All

Let’s carve into the classics that paved the way:

• “Blood Rage” (1987) – A true cult classic featuring a killer twin on the loose during Thanksgiving dinner. It’s filled with camp, gore, and holiday irony.
• “Home Sweet Home” (1981) – One of the earliest Thanksgiving horror films, centering on an escaped mental patient terrorizing a family feast.
• “Thankskilling” (2008) – A hilariously absurd slasher about a murderous turkey that delivers more puns than scares, but it’s a fan favorite for all the right (and wrong) reasons.

These early films may lack polish, but they laid the foundation for a uniquely twisted holiday tradition.

Modern Thanksgiving Horror Movies (2010–2025)

Modern entries in the Thanksgiving horror scene have grown more sophisticated, often mixing dark humor, psychological tension, and social commentary.

• “The Oath” (2018) — Not strictly a horror film, but its tense portrayal of political paranoia during Thanksgiving feels eerily close to a psychological thriller.
• “Pilgrim” (2019) — A chilling Hulu original about a woman who hires historical reenactors for a “traditional” Thanksgiving… who take things terrifyingly too far.
• “Thanksgiving” (2023) — Eli Roth’s blood-soaked slasher masterpiece delivers everything horror fans craved: sharp kills, dark humor, and a villain who embodies the holiday’s twisted spirit.

The success of these films has proven that Thanksgiving horror movies are more than a novelty—they’re a growing trend in seasonal cinema.

The Psychology Behind Holiday Horror

So, why does the idea of a Thanksgiving horror movie work so well? It’s because the genre thrives on contrast. The holiday symbolizes warmth, gratitude, and family togetherness—making it the perfect backdrop for betrayal, murder, and chaos.

Audiences are drawn to the irony: the more wholesome the setting, the more shocking the horror. Thanksgiving horror movies force viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about family dynamics, social expectations, and hidden resentment—served up with a side of blood and stuffing.