Moviefone Editorial

Tag: rick-hoffman

  • ‘London Calling’ Interview: Josh Duhamel and Allan Ungar

    oUZ13itz

    Opening in theaters on September 19th is the new action comedy ‘London Calling’, which was directed by Allan Ungar (‘Bandit’) and stars Josh Duhamel (‘Shotgun Wedding’), Rick Hoffman (‘Suits’), Aidan Gillen (‘Game of Thrones’), and Jeremy Ray Taylor (‘It’).

    inaKw1da65OOJ0iUuEbNY2
    (L to R) Josh Duhamel and 'London Calling' director Allan Ungar.
    (L to R) Josh Duhamel and ‘London Calling’ director Allan Ungar.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Josh Duhamel and director Allan Ungar about their work on ‘London Calling’, developing the screenplay, Duhamel’s character, Tommy and Julian’s friendship, working with Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Ungar’s directing style.

    You Can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Related Article: Josh Duhamel and Elisha Cuthbert Talk True Crime Movie ‘Bandit’

    (L to R) Director/co-writer Allan Ungar and Aidan Gillen behind the scenes of the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Director/co-writer Allan Ungar and Aidan Gillen behind the scenes of the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Allan, can you talk about developing the screenplay and the tone you were going for?

    Allan Ungar: Yeah, it’s funny, I got the script when Josh and I were on our last day of ‘Bandit’. I was battling jet lag. I was exhausted and it took me three weeks to read it, which is generally a pretty bad sign, but I fell in love with it. I think the element of a father-son story disguised as an action-comedy really appealed to me. So, we worked on the script for about a year because we were finishing post on ‘Bandit’, so it wasn’t something I could do every day. It harked back to the films that I grew up on, like ‘Midnight Run’, the buddy cop genre. My cinematographer and I talked about tone when we were talking about the look of the film. So, thinking back to a lot of the seminal, Tony Scott, Michael Bay movies of the 90s was a pretty big influence. Then sort of borrowing a little bit from the Guy Ritchie genre because I feel like he’s his own genre in a way.

    Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Josh, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and what excited you about playing this character?

    Josh Duhamel: From the beginning, he was talking about ‘London Calling’. I figured he was going to go make it with somebody else and he comes to me and finally I got to read the script he’d been talking about for a couple of years, and I just fell in love with it. I love the idea of this guy who was a little past his prime. In his mind, he’s still fully in his prime, but I think like any athlete, they always think they can still hang with the young ones, but they just lose a step. This guy is at that stage in life, and I’d loved that idea that he must face that reality then gets forced to LA to flee what happens in London. In the process reluctantly he must take this kid on a hit with him because his dad wants to toughen him up. Rick Hoffman plays the worst father of all time, by the way. In that interaction with this kid that he doesn’t want to be with, he finds that he’s really been lacking as a father and sees his son in this kid. Throughout all the follies, throughout the movie, he really starts to take a liking to this kid.

    (L to R) Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” and Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Julian” in the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” and Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Julian” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Josh, can you talk about Tommy and Julian’s friendship and working with Jeremy Ray Taylor?

    JD: I really love Jeremy Ray Taylor. He’s such a talented kid, thoughtful, has a great sense of comedy and understands what each scene is supposed to bring and how deep he needs to go. It’s fun to work with him. So, I think that was a big motivator for me is knowing that this kid is really going to go there, and you must hang with him. I think it was that dynamic that really made it fun. Like Allan said, it felt like a buddy cop movie, but it was really an action comedy between these two guys who were unlikely.

    (L to R) Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” and Rick Hoffman as “Benson” in the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” and Rick Hoffman as “Benson” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Allan, can you talk about working with the cast on set? Did you stick to the script or was there room to improvise?

    AU: Well, it’s funny you say this because when Josh and I first worked together on ‘Bandit’, he calls me very particular, or I’m “Mr. Particular”. So, I kind of map everything out. In a way, it’s rigid. Look, there’s positives and negatives to that. Day one of ‘Bandit’, I learned of Josh’s style, and it made me a better director. So, coming into this, I knew that there’d be opportunities to play because you find magic in the moment. When you bring an actor on like Josh, Rick, or Jeremy, you must let them interpret a little bit and to play and give them that freedom and flexibility. So, coming into this, we had wanted to find something to do together after ‘Bandit’. When I flipped it to him and I knew he was in, I was like, “Okay, we need to find a really eclectic rogues gallery of characters, because all these characters are so unique in their own way.” I always like to say that every character in this movie thinks they’re the hero of the story and they’re all kind of good guys in their own way, except Julian is the only pure character. So, going through the process, we just wanted everybody to have their own sense of identity and flavor that they could bring something different to the table.

    (L to R) Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Julian” and Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    (L to R) Jeremy Ray Taylor as “Julian” and Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    MF: Finally, just to follow up, Josh, what’s “particular” about the way Allan directs?

    JD: This guy believes in no stone unturned, believe me, and I love that about him. He’s the most prepared, tenacious guy that I’ve ever worked with. But also, you can tell he’s a total sweetheart. In the beginning, I guess when I first met him on the phone talking about ‘Bandit’, he sounds like a grown man, but he’s young. I think he was in his late 20s when we first started working on ‘Bandit’. So, a total film nerd, a guy who doesn’t leave, like I said, any stone unturned. I love that, because I know that he’s thought everything through, which gives us as actors room to play, because I know that he’s made that space for us and he’s just a fun guy to work with and super talented. I think people are going to see that in the movie.

    Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy 'London Calling', a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
    Josh Duhamel as “Tommy Ward” in the action comedy ‘London Calling’, a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.

    What is the plot of ‘London Calling’?

    After fleeing the UK from a job gone wrong, a down on his luck hitman (Josh Duhamel) is forced to babysit the son (Jeremy Ray Taylor) of his new crime boss (Rick Hoffman) and show him how to become a man.

    Who is in the cast of ‘London Calling’?

    • Josh Duhamel as Tommy Ward
    • Aidan Gillen as Freddy Darby
    • Jeremy Ray Taylor as Julian
    • Rick Hoffman as Benson
    'London Calling' opens in theaters on September 19th.
    ‘London Calling’ opens in theaters on September 19th.

    List of Josh Duhamel Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Josh Duhamel Movies On Amazon

  • ‘Thanksgiving’ Blu-ray and DVD Interview: Director Eli Roth

    g4u2qrNx

    Premiering on digital platforms January 19th and available on Blu-ray and DVD beginning January 30th is the box office hit ‘Thanksgiving,’ which was directed by Eli Roth (‘Cabin Fever,’ ‘Death Wish’) and stars Patrick Dempsey (‘Ferrari’).

    Director Eli Roth on the set of 'Thanksgiving.'
    Director Eli Roth on the set of ‘Thanksgiving.’ Copyright: ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Photo: Pief Weyman.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Eli Roth about ‘Thanksgiving,’ developing the feature film after making the trailer for ‘Grindhouse,’ shooting the Black Friday sequence, working with Patrick Dempsey, and the status of the recently announced sequel.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.

    Director/Producer Eli Roth speaks at the Los Angeles Fan Screening for Tristar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group's 'Thanksgiving' at Vista Theatre on November 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
    Director/Producer Eli Roth speaks at the Los Angeles Fan Screening for Tristar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Thanksgiving’ at Vista Theatre on November 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about developing the ‘Thanksgiving’ trailer from ‘Grindhouse’ into a feature film and when did you know that you had the right story and screenplay for the feature length version?

    Eli Roth: It’s interesting. The development process started when I was 11 or 12 years old with my best friend, Jeff Rendell, growing up in Massachusetts, waiting for a Thanksgiving slasher film every November. We’d be like, “When are they doing Thanksgiving?” So, we had all these kills like, “Oh, you could cut off a turkey’s head at the parade and they’d run around like a turkey with their head cut off.” That kind of stuff. So, by the time Quentin (Tarantino) and Robert Rodriguez asked me if I wanted to do a trailer for ‘Grindhouse,’ I was like, “I’ve already got it. It’s ‘Thanksgiving.’” Then after that, we thought, “This is great. I don’t have to make movies anymore. I can just make fake trailers because you’re just shooting the best parts.” That’s the stuff you want to do anyways. Then, fans were kind of badgering me over the years and I thought, “Man, they’re right. I really want to do this.” But we didn’t have it. We didn’t know what it was about other than those kills. So, we went through a few different kind of story permutations, and then it was seeing those riots on YouTube, the Black Friday riots where you just saw people saying, “Oh, we’re so thankful,” and two hours later killing each other for electronics and waffle irons. We thought there was something there that was interesting. It’s the mix of being thankful, “I’m just happy for just having my health and my family,” and then killing someone for stuff at a store. But then there’s something darker underneath which is that the reason everyone must do these gladiator games is because a few people at the top are making all the money and everyone else is getting minimum wage. So, I was like it isn’t just blaming greed. It’s like why are people forced into this, and it’s because no one’s getting paid anything, and a few people are hoarding it all. So, I thought that’s where you have interesting material there to do a good slasher film.

    Gabriel Davenport, Jenna Warren, Tomaso Sanelli, and Addison Rae star in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    (L to R) Gabriel Davenport, Jenna Warren, Tomaso Sanelli, and Addison Rae star in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    MF: Can you talk about creating the Black Friday opening sequence? What were the biggest challenges in shooting that scene and how many days did it take?

    ER: We shot it in four days, and this is a low budget movie that we shot in 30 days. So, shooting that sequence, I wrote myself into a corner. But I’m like, “Well, I’m the producer.” So I go, “I can do it in four nights, two nights outside, two nights inside.” Then you’re talking with your stunt team and the special effects guys and makeup effects going, “How the hell are we going to pull this off?” I had a terrific second unit director named Justin Harding, who uses this program called Frame Forge, where we can kind of build the environments virtually and figure it out with my DP, Milan (Chadima). We shot list it, we storyboard, we go to the locations, and we walk through. It’s just the prep, and I’ve been directing for 20 years now. So, there’s a certain level of mastery that comes with that that you can only get from that 10,000 hour on set. So, I know exactly what I want. I mean, for me, where I think that those scenes go awry is when you try to do too much. I wanted to keep it intimate in a way where you’re following the characters and following what they’re all going through as this tsunami is happening. We had a great stunt team, and the extras were fantastic. We’d make sure that we did everything live. So, it is a faith-based system that you just hope to God it works out. We had a couple of cameras for some of the shots and for two nights all night the people were rioting and you’d say like, “Look, everyone, look to your left. Look to your right. These are your scene partners. Is everyone okay before, after? What are you comfortable with? Is it okay if I bump you?” Everyone was good at working together and working with Dan Skene, our stunt coordinator. As soon as you yelled cut, everyone was smiling, picking each other up. Because we had to do it again and again. It was a weird bonding experience. Everyone had smiles on their face the whole time. It was quite fun.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Thanksgiving’

    Patrick Dempsey stars in TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group's 'Thanksgiving.'
    Patrick Dempsey stars in TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s ‘Thanksgiving.’ Copyright: ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Photo: Courtesy of Tristar Pictures.

    MF: Patrick Dempsey gives a performance in ‘Thanksgiving’ that is unlike anything we’ve seen from him before. Can you talk about working with him on this specific character and helping him create this performance?

    ER: I think that Patrick, look, he’s very sexy and good-looking. I mean, he’s like Paul Newman or Clint Eastwood. He’s going to have this kind of almost third act his career, because I grew up with him in high school from the teen movies. Then everyone else, my wife loves him from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and rom-coms. But now you see his performance in ‘Ferrari.’ You see him in ‘Thanksgiving.’ You realize he’s a seasoned actor, a great actor and such a fine actor. I think now that the restraints are off and he can do R-rated stuff, he’s got this whole other range to him. He’s fantastic. So, we talked about his accent. He grew up in Maine and he had never used his natural accent before. He had to lose it when he went to New York City to become an actor. So, in the movie, he’s talking with the accent he grew up with. Once you start talking in that accent, you kind of revert to being from that small town in Maine. I think giving him the permission to do that and to talk with his natural accent, it was great. He’s an amazing actor.

    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about where you are in the development process on the upcoming sequel, and will it feature returning characters or a completely new story?

    ER: Well, it’s early on. Jeff Rendell and I are going through the process of we’ve kind of just got off the rides. We’re clearing our heads a little bit. I’m watching, I’m catching up on ‘Beef’ and ‘Saltburn.’ I’m watching non-horror stuff, like rom-coms. I watched ‘Bend It Like Beckham.’ That’s my new favorite film. So, I’ve just been kind of decompressing a little bit. It sort of clears my head. But I think that with the sequel, you want to go back for what made the first one work and what people enjoyed. I just sort of go where I think the horror is going to be. I go, “Oh, that’s an interesting idea.” I present myself in the shoes of the fan and think, “I just paid money and went to a theater and saw this. You better impress me.” Then you go, “Whoa, I didn’t expect that.” I have an opening sequence that I think is going to be the right opening sequence for it, that people go, “Oh, okay. This is going to be good.” That’s what I had to do with the Black Friday scene. I had to set the table, so to speak, saying, “We’re not playing around. This is going to be an insane movie. It’s not what you expect.” I need to have a similar opening and I’ve got one. I have the opening and I have the finale, and I’m looking for ways to kind of connect it, so you just sit and you watch the movie. Every day you press play and it’s like choose your own adventure book until it’s like, “Oh, you died. Go back. Go this way, go that way.” So, we’re at that point in the process of just kind of finding the best story, but I got a few kills, so I’m trying to connect the dots.

    wFnmtkZL9c3kYFF4uTzJQ4

    What is the plot of ‘Thanksgiving’?

    After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the holiday. Picking off residents one by one, what begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Thanksgiving’?

    Director Eli Roth's 'Thanksgiving' opens in theaters on November 17, 2023.
    Director Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ opens in theaters on November 17, 2023. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Thanksgiving’:

    Buy Eli Roth Movies On Amazon

     

  • Eli Roth Announces ‘Thanksgiving’ Sequel

    Director Eli Roth's 'Thanksgiving' opens in theaters on November 17, 2023.
    Director Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ opens in theaters on November 17, 2023. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Eli Roth will make a sequel to his holiday-themed slasher movie ‘Thanksgiving’
    • He says he’ll take his time with the script to get it right.
    • The movie should be in theaters by late 2025.

    It took 16 years for co-writer/director Eli Roth to finally realize his dream of making the full movie that his trailer for ‘Thanksgiving’ –– released as part of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’ ‘Grindhouse‘ –– teased, but it appears we’ll be getting a second helping a lot quicker. Because, after all… aren’t second helpings all part of the fun of Thanksgiving?

    So, while the first film’s tagline read, “there will be no leftovers”, it looks like we’re all in for more Pilgrim-masked mayhem, as Roth has announced that ‘Thanksgiving’ sequel is in the early planning stages.

    wFnmtkZL9c3kYFF4uTzJQ4

    What was the story of ‘Thanksgiving’?

    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts –– the birthplace of the holiday.

    Picking off residents one by one, what begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan.

    Will the town uncover the killer and survive the holidays… Or become guests at his twisted holiday dinner table?

    Who else appeared in the first ‘Thanksgiving’?

    Gabriel Davenport, Jenna Warren, Tomaso Sanelli, and Addison Rae star in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    (L to R) Gabriel Davenport, Jenna Warren, Tomaso Sanelli, and Addison Rae star in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    The cast for Roth’s horror included Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Rick Hoffman and Gina Gershon.

    We can safely assume that the survivors –– won’t tell you who they are, no spoilers here –– will be back for more horror from John Carver.

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Thanksgiving’

    Eli Roth offers the first ‘Thanksgiving 2’ details

    'Thanksgiving' Parade from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    ‘Thanksgiving’ Parade from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Roth made the announcement via Instagram…

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0SM5G9yx6N/

     

    The filmmaker revealed that he and Jeff Rendell –– who wrote the ‘Thanksgiving’ script based on a story that Roth and he cooked up –– will be taking some time to make sure that the script is right before he starts shooting the new movie.

    He also explained how excited he is to have a slasher horror franchise (Roth has previously had a franchise, albeit more in the torture horror genre via the ‘Hostel’ movies).

    What will happen in ‘Thanksgiving 2’?

    Amanda Barker “Lizzie”in Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    Amanda Barker “Lizzie”in Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    While we won’t specify what happens at the end of the first film, it does open up some intriguing possibilities given what we learned about the reasons for the seasonal slaying/kidnapping.

    And if the likes of ‘Scream’, ‘Halloween’ and other horror franchises can keep its killer coming back in different ways, then surely Roth will have some fun ideas up his sleeve. And you know he’s already rubbing his hands in anticipation of new kills.

    When will ‘Thanksgiving 2’ be on screens?

    Sony has yet to confirm an official date for the ‘Thanksgiving’ sequel, but Roth says the aim is to have it in theaters in 2025, most likely in November.

    Cheerleader on the trampoline in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    Cheerleader on the trampoline in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Thanksgiving’:

    Buy Eli Roth Movies On Amazon

    0e7xCvTz

  • Movie Review: ‘Thanksgiving’

    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    A mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Opening in theaters on November 17th, ‘Thanksgiving’ sees director Eli Roth returning to his full-on horror roots after making the family-friendlier ‘The House With a Clock in its Walls’.

    This new holiday-themed thriller is actually the realization of dream he’s held for around 16 years, ever since he shot a real trailer for a fake movie that formed part of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’ ‘Grindhouse’.

    Though the finished product only nods to the concept from the trailer (and includes one of the kills it features), ‘Thanksgiving’ certainly offers some crafty gore and moments played for laughs.

    Does ‘Thanksgiving’ Serve Up the Goods?

    'Thanksgiving' Parade from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    ‘Thanksgiving’ Parade from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Eli Roth has long promised that he’ll finally make good –– or should that be “make bad”, given that the movie features people being stalked and butchered in all manner of creative ways –– on the promise of the ‘Thanksgiving’ trailer he cooked up for old filmmaker friends Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’ cult movie celebration ‘Grindhouse’ back in 2007.

    That conglomeration of weird ideas and crazed action didn’t hit home with cinemagoers, but Roth (also responsible for movies such as the ‘Hostel’ films and ‘Cabin Fever’) hasn’t been able to let go of the idea. And purely from a slasher movie fan front, that’s a good thing.

    ‘Thanksgiving’, which looks to start balancing out the vast gap in the number of horror movies set during the titular holiday compared to, Christmas and especially Halloween (Arbor Day may still want a word on that front), has him stalking around slasher territory.

    As you might expect from an Eli Roth movie, gore hounds will be happy enough with what he’s got on offer here. The best moments feature items such as a dumpster being used to off someone in ingenious fashion and corn cob holders employed the way they were never intended.

    ‘Thanksgiving’ certainly offers enough to keep you satisfied, even if it’s mostly junk food.

    ‘Thanksgiving’: Script and Direction

    Director Eli Roth's 'Thanksgiving' opens in theaters on November 17, 2023.
    Director Eli Roth’s ‘Thanksgiving’ opens in theaters on November 17, 2023. Photo: Sony Pictures.

    Writing with longtime collaborator Jeff Rendell (who actually worked on the ‘Grindhouse’ trailer and even appears as the killer in that short), Roth has come up with a screenplay that goes all in on the horror tropes while letting you know he knows you know.

    There are elements borrowed from other, better movies (specifically the likes of ‘Halloween’ and ‘Scream’) but they’re all whisked together in such a way that they still have some flavor.

    The characters won’t exactly linger in the mind –– they’re mostly a stock collection of mean girls, meat heads and greedy grownups –– but that’s not really the point. They’re in place so Roth and Rendell can start taking them out in bloody fashion. You’ll probably figure out what’s going on a fair bit before the characters do (though there is a fake-out that seems to stretch credibility in terms of the villain being somewhere they probably shouldn’t be without relying on accomplices) and it all comes down to the usual dumb decisions and a chase through an abandoned building, but by that point, you’ll feel appropriately satisfied.

    Roth certainly knows how to make a set piece work and keep tension simmering without constantly resorting to easy jump scares (though when they are served up, they’re effective). He’s got a keen eye for keeping his characters (and therefore the audience) off guard and knows how to orchestrate a killer sequence.

    And while there is always a danger that the comedy aspects of a movie such as this –– and ‘Thanksgiving’ is definitely intended to balance the laughs with the screams –– can overwhelm the horror side of things. Fortunately, the blend here works, the two sides of the story complementing each other.

    Related Article: ‘Deadpool’ Director Tim Miller is Taking Over ‘Borderlands’ Re-Shoots

    ‘Thanksgiving’: Performances

    Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae and Tomaso Sanelli star in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    (L to R) Nell Verlaque, Addison Rae and Tomaso Sanelli star in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    The brunt of the character work here is handed to Jessica Wright (played by Nell Verlaque) who would seem at first glance to be the sort of spoiled highschooler that is offed in a hundred different variants of a movie like this. In Roth’s hands, she’s a little more nuanced than that, and Verlaque breathes enough life into her to make you actually root for her at times.

    She’s the daughter of Thomas Wright (Rick Hoffman), the wealthy owner of the local megamart whose store is the location for the Black Friday riot that leads to multiple deaths and injuries and sparks the vengeful crusade a year later that gives the movie its hook (and knife, and fork and…). Jessica is haunted by the death of her mother, and unhappy with her stepmother, but at least is sympathetic enough to be worth following.

    While Patrick Dempsey is the most recognizable face here (though ‘Suits’ fans might prioritize Hoffman), he’s mostly reduced to being the likeable lawman charged with trying to protect the citizens when the rampage kicks off. He’s perfectly fine in the role, though it’s a character without too much spice. And pity poor Gina Gershon, who shows up for all of two minutes only to perish at the hands of a shopping cart early during the Black Friday event.

    ‘Thanksgiving’: Final Thoughts

    Amanda Barker “Lizzie”in Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    Amanda Barker “Lizzie”in Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Eli Roth fans will be happy to see him back digging into gore, blood and guts after his most recent effort (he also has sci-fi ‘Borderlands’ on the way), and this time leavening the horror with more humor.

    Is it nailed-on, all-time classic? Not really –– for all the invention in terms of the killer’s methods, the whole thing creatively feels more like eating reheated leftovers. But as anyone who has feasted on turkey and trimmings sandwiches the next day, that’s sometimes exactly what you’re looking for.

    ‘Thanksgiving’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

    wFnmtkZL9c3kYFF4uTzJQ4

    What’s the story of ‘Thanksgiving’?

    After a Black Friday riot ends in tragedy, a mysterious Thanksgiving-inspired killer terrorizes Plymouth, Massachusetts –– the birthplace of the holiday.

    Picking off residents one by one, what begins as random revenge killings are soon revealed to be part of a larger, sinister holiday plan.

    Will the town uncover the killer and survive the holidays… Or become guests at his twisted holiday dinner table?

    Who else is in ‘Thanksgiving’?

    The cast for Roth’s new horror also includes Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, and Jalen Thomas Brooks.

    Cheerleader on the trampoline in 'Thanksgiving' from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.
    Cheerleader on the trampoline in ‘Thanksgiving’ from TriStar Pictures and Spyglass Media Group, LLC Thanksgiving.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Thanksgiving’:

    Buy Eli Roth Movies On Amazon

    0e7xCvTz