5 Thanksgiving Horror Movies to Feast On This Holiday Season
by Justine Norton-Kertson
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to gather with family, indulge in feasts, and dive into some spine-chilling horror movies. Whether you’re looking for gory slashers, biting satire, or dark comedy, these Thanksgiving-themed horror films will add a deliciously macabre twist to your holiday. Here are five must-watch movies that bring a fresh dose of terror to the turkey table.
Thanksgiving (2023)
In this modern horror/mystery, a peaceful New England town descends into terror as a masked killer begins a series of gruesome murders over the Thanksgiving holiday. As the body count rises, secrets unravel, revealing dark truths about the town’s history—and its residents.
Directed by Eli Roth, Thanksgiving captures the nostalgia of classic holiday slashers with a sleek, modern edge. With its suspenseful kills and chilling atmosphere, this film brings the perfect blend of thrills and thematic depth to your Thanksgiving horror marathon.
Pilgrim (2019)
What starts as a quirky reenactment of a traditional Thanksgiving by hired “Pilgrims” soon turns sinister when the actors refuse to break character and impose their old-fashioned values through brutal, deadly means. A suburban family’s Thanksgiving dinner transforms into a fight for survival.
Part of Hulu’s Into the Dark anthology series, Pilgrim mixes psychological tension with a clever critique of consumerism and cultural appropriation. Its unique premise and unnerving execution make it a standout pick for those who want something unconventional and unsettling.
Black Friday (2021)
Thanksgiving night takes a monstrous turn when a group of retail employees preparing for Black Friday sales find themselves battling zombified shoppers infected by an alien parasite. Trapped inside the store, they must team up to survive the carnage.
This horror comedy combines campy gore with sharp satire on consumer culture, featuring standout performances from Bruce Campbell and Devon Sawa. Black Friday is the ultimate post-Thanksgiving palate cleanser for anyone who’s ever endured the chaos of holiday shopping—or simply wants a hilarious, blood-soaked good time.
Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006)
When a fast-food chicken restaurant is built on an ancient Native American burial ground, the spirits rise with a vengeance—manifesting as zombie chickens and other grotesque mutations. Caught in the mayhem are Arbie, a hapless young man working at the restaurant, and his ex-girlfriend Wendy, who band together to survive the escalating chaos of blood, feathers, and grotesque musical numbers.
This horror musical from Troma Entertainment is a gleeful carnival of gore, satire, and absurdity. The over-the-top humor and inventive kills make it a Thanksgiving treat for fans of campy, boundary-pushing horror. If you're tired of saccharine holiday fare, Poultrygeist serves up a heaping plate of biting commentary with a side of guts.
Thankskilling (2008)
A homicidal, foul-mouthed turkey is on the loose, leaving a trail of creatively gruesome murders in its wake. A group of college friends discovers the murderous bird’s sinister history and tries to stop it before they become the next victims of its slasher rampage.
This low-budget cult classic revels in its absurdity and unapologetic campiness. With a killer turkey that spouts ridiculous one-liners, Thankskilling is perfect for horror fans who enjoy so-bad-it’s-good movies. It’s an irreverent way to shake up the holiday spirit and give thanks for ridiculous horror gold.
