Synopsis:

In this gritty reimagining, Thanksgiving plunges viewers into a blood-soaked small town where holiday cheer takes a sinister turn. Set in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the story follows a deranged killer in a pilgrim costume who’s bent on carving up locals in increasingly gruesome and ironic ways. What was meant to be a cozy holiday with family quickly transforms into a nightmarish hunt for survival. As the town gears up for its annual Thanksgiving parade, tensions rise, and fear spreads. A band of unlikely survivors—including a disgraced sheriff, a resourceful waitress, and a high-school outcast—must unravel the mystery of the maniac before they become the next course in his twisted feast. With gory practical effects, grindhouse-style film scratches, and the seedy ambiance of a ’70s slasher, Thanksgiving serves up a hearty portion of horror that leaves no one safe and no stomach unturned. Expect pitch-black humour, grindhouse grit, and an homage to classic slasher tropes that keeps the holiday spirit hauntingly alive.

Intentions:

This grindhouse edit of Thanksgiving takes Eli Roth's holiday slasher and turns it into a blood-soaked, '70s-inspired cult classic. It’s so richly detailed and cleverly crafted that it’s even better on repeat viewings, as the subtle nuances of each twisted character reveal themselves more with each watch. By injecting a retro grindhouse aesthetic, this edit transforms the modern slasher into something straight out of a forgotten era. It’s filled with gritty, visceral visuals, unsettling sound effects, and pitch-black humor, capturing the raw essence of low-budget horror that defined grindhouse films. Starting with Roth's original 2007 Thanksgiving trailer as a darkly campy prologue, it sets the stage with a deranged pilgrim killer on a twisted holiday mission, delivering absurd violence that grindhouse fans will relish. Seamlessly woven deleted scenes add layers to the characters and amplify the horror, bringing back moments of dark comedy and shock that enhance its cult appeal. To elevate the '70s horror vibe, the edit introduces an eerie slasher-inspired score with haunting synths, deep bass, and discordant strings that heighten tension in every scene. Gritty sound effects—the sickening crack of bones, the squelch of blades, the distant screams of victims—intensify the film's visceral impact. Authentic film scratches, color distortions, and rough cuts add a "found footage" quality, making it feel like a lost grindhouse horror rediscovered after years in obscurity. This edit is a tribute to the unpolished, brutal horror of grindhouse cinema, celebrating its raw aesthetic with over-the-top gore, twisted humor, and a chilling soundscape that makes Thanksgiving the ultimate holiday horror experience.

Change List:

• Add 16mm film grain throughout • Add vintage film dirt in black throughout • Add vintage film dirt in white throughout • Add vintage aged film lines in black throughout • Add vintage aged film lines in white throughout • Add vintage audio hiss throughout • Colourgrade with a vintage VHS desaturated tone with blown out colour • Insert MRDb Vintage Cassette Fanedit warning. • Add MRDb R rating - Violence notice. • Add vintage MR logo intro • Add grain frames during transition • Add authentic VHS grain throughout • Add damaged film grain and flicker effect thoughout • Add Grindhouse “Prevues of coming attractions” intro • Add Grindhouse “Planet Terror & Death Proof” double feature trailer from 2007 • Add different Grindhouse “Prevues of coming attractions” intro • Add “Werewolf Women of the SS” fake trailer by Rob Zombie • Add Grindhouse “Coming Soon” intro • Add MR version of Cocaine Bear – Grindhouse edit trailer • Add Grindhouse fake trailer for “Don’t” • Add MR version of Sisu – Grindhouse edit trailer • Add Grindhouse trailer for “Machete” • Add Original Grindhouse fake trailer for “Hobo with a Shotgun” • Add grain frames during transition • Add Grindhouse “Our Feature Presentation” intro • Add Kitten R rated intro • Add “Thanksgiving – Grindhouse Edit” MRDb rating card • Insert Thanksgiving studio intro logos • Insert Slasher scene from original 2007 fake trailer of Granny getting stabbed • Completely rebuild audio for above scene in 5.1. surround • Add male deep heavy breathing SFX • Add “The Video Dead theme song” • Add male footsteps on wooden floor SFX • Add female whistling a song SFX • Pan whistling to match scene visual • Add picking up knife SFX • Add female scream SFX • Add numerous stabbing SFX • Add extreme reverb to screaming SFX for transition • Add “Thanksgiving - Grindhouse” new title card • Animate title card blood dripping • Add extreme reverb to “The Video Dead theme song” for transition • Insert opening scene walking up to the door. • Add two types of LUT to night scenes and day scenes to give the original colour pallet from the fake 2007 trailer. • Add B&W LUT to all CCTV footage. (I originally added a CRT blind and flicker effect on these shots but I had to remove them due to my computer not being able to cope with so many effects on one shot). • Remove original Thanksgiving title card • Add a fade to blood red shot after Cop fires gun (This helps transition) • Add blood dripping VFX to “One year later” card (I thought this effect really added a nice touch as a transition from the blood red shot prior). • Remove killer watching Evans viral video (I didn’t like this transition so I’ve included the full deleted video as a post credit scene instead). • Insert shot of killers wall with all the news articles • Fix audio to hide above cuts • Remove shot of girls complaining about being tagged in the video. (This really slowed to pacing, has some weird exposition, odd acting, strange character inconstancies and wasn’t really needed). • Remove Jessica saying “What can I do?” (She asks this way too quickly, even before she’s really scene the photos so I’ve given this scene a little more breathing space by rearranging the shots). • Insert shot of Jessica saying “I knew I shouldn’t have let them in the store” (This now gives her time for reflection instead of jumping straight into help). • Insert reaction from Sheriff • Change timing on shot above to give a slower reaction time • Insert Jessica saying “What can I do?” (This now gives her time to react). • Fix audio to suit above shot changes • Add B-Roll footage of full moon • Add night ambient SFX • Add Cricket SFX • Insert Teenage drive beheading from 2007 fake trailer scene • Rebuild audio in 5.1 surround • Add missing reel shot (While this is overused, there isn’t any way to link both scene from the 2007 trailer so it was fun to use this missing reel shot in context) • Add scritch audio to above shot • Insert “Cool it Judy” scene of young Jock getting his head cut off • Rebuild audio in 5.1 surround • Crudely remove “Thanksgiving” logo from footage • Add Michael Biehn cameo from 2007 fake trailer • Add reel slipping footage to give a crude cut back into main movie • Add “Jay Chattaway – Manic (Subway terror)” to Manny’s death scene (This gives the kill a more grindhouse feel compared to the empty scene we got in the original). • Fade out score just before jump scare • Fade in score just after beheading to give more drama to the scene • Add buzzing flies to head on a plate scene (This VFX looked awesome until I had to add all the grain and damaged film effect on it. Now you can barely see it. Haha). • Track the fly VFX shot to the movement of the camera • Add buzzing flies SFX • Add new blue-ish day time LUT to following scenes in order to build up to more 2007 fake trailer insertions • Insert deleted scene of Bobby talking to Jessica’s parents in order for them to be distracted while Jessica searches for the CCTV footage. (This is a very small change but the deleted scene really helps to flesh out this scene a little more and helps build a good relationship between the characters). • Add “Jessica’s theme” score to the scene • Remove shot of Jessica looking up from the computer • Fade in audio from original film as car drives off • Insert shot of Jessica looking up from the computer. (This helps her react to Bobby doing a great job at distracting her parents. This also builds more tension than the original cut scene) • Insert deleted scene with Bobby and Jessica talking in the truck. (Again, this scene really helps to flesh out the relationship between the two characters). • Add ambient car SFX • Add screeching car wheel SFX as the truck turns • Add car acceleration SFX after truck turns corner • Add film skip shot for transition (It didn’t need it here but it just felt it needed a little Grindhouse reminder at this point) • Create bad audio transition for more Grindhouse effect • Add extreme reverb to score for seamless transition into deleted scene • Insert deleted scene of kids finding Mitch’s van • Rebuild above deleted scene audio in 5.1 surround • Add street ambience SFX • Add background traffic SFX • Add birds in the trees SFX • Add inside Van ambient SFX • Add rummaging through cardboard boxes SFX • Add moving card board box SFX • Add opening cardboard box SFX • Add flicking through book pages SFX • Add turning page SFX • Add closing book SFX • Add softly dropping book SFX • Add looking through photos SFX • Add opening envelope SFX • Add opening card SFX • Add material movement SFX • Add door creaking SFX • Insert Jessica talking to Sheriff deleted scene • Add street ambient SFX • Add bird chirping SFX • Add distant traffic SFX • Insert Sheriff talking to Mitch deleted scene • Add creaky wooden floor SFX • Add room ambience SFX • Hard cut in to Gym scene • Fade in gym rock score • Remove Gym murder scene from 2023 film • Insert gym murder scene from 2007 fake trailer • Add muffled audio effect to above gym rock score to blend scenes • Add trampoline SFX from 2023 and 2007 audio • Add muffled male talking SFX • Add knife stab SFX • Add extreme reverb to score for seamless transition • Insert scene of Evan having his football game cancelled. • Add daytime blue-ish new LUT to above scene • Insert deleted scene of Evan sitting in the car sulking (Adding this scene also fixed the jarring edit of Jessica suddenly being inside the school) • Rebuild audio for above scene in 5.1 surround • Add street ambience SFX • Add birds chirping SFX • Add distant traffic SFX • Add daytime blue-ish new LUT to above scene for continuity • Insert Jessica waiting inside school shot • Insert deleted scene of Thomas panicking at the warehouse • Rebuild above scene in 5.1 surround • Add warehouse loading dock SFX • Insert Jessica sitting on stairs texting • Insert deleted scene of Gaby and Evan being attacked • Rebuild audio for above scene. • Insert Jessica sending text scene • Add “Curtains (1983) Soundtrack hag” score • Add extreme reverb to fade out above score • Add “Curtains (1983) Soundtrack 11-11 – The Prophouse – Revelation” score to mannequin scene to build suspense • Add “Antonio Valotti – Dark Flight – Rabid (1977) score to Yulia’s death scene. • Add daytime blue-ish new LUT to parade scene. • Insert Cheerleader parade shots from 2007 fake trailer • Insert crowd shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert band shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Mayflower shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Potato head shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Marching band shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Turkey mascot shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Murder getting dressed shots from 2007 fake trailer • Add sharpening knife SFX • Insert Marching band shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert Turkey beheading shot from 2007 fake trailer • Insert headless Turkey gore shots from 2007 fake trailer • Add rioting crowd SFX • Insert running Cheerleaders shots from 2007 fake trailer • Insert running Marching band shots from 2007 fake trailer • Insert crowd running shots from 2007 fake trailer • Continue with parade shots from 2023 film • Reduce vintage LUT on meal prep scene (This scene was too dark so I had to keep some of the original colour in order for the audience to see what was happening. Hopefully no one will notice until they read this). • Insert deleted scene of Sheriff confession (Another small addition but it helps to flesh out the Sheriffs motive) • Rebuild audio for above scene by using room ambience from original 2023 audio • Insert shot of Sheriff sitting on the table from 2023 film and continue from here • Insert extended ending of truck busting through the doors • Insert Fire fighter shot from 2023 film • Insert extended ending of Bobby talking to Jessica from the Ambulance • Fix audio to blend both above scenes • Fade in score from 2023 film • Match frame cut back into Bobby and Jessica’s goodbye hug • Insert alternative ending scene • Rebuild audio for above scene in 5.1 surround • Add in car ambient SFX • Add outdoor ambient SFX • Add car driving past pan SFX • Fade in score • Add extreme reverb to score outro • Replace outro credit score with “American Xpress – We’re All Insane (1973) – Three on a Meathook OST • Add “Movies Remastered” to end credits • Add “Thanksgiving Grindhouse” to end credits • Add “The Pilgrim” score to end credits • Add Evans full store riot viral video as post credit scene (Deleted scene) • Add Thomas Wright outtake deleted scene for funny outro • Add red MR logo • Add red MRDb logo • Insert MRDb Vintage Cassette Fanedit warning.

Additional Notes:

Releases only on MR Discord to initiate members who own a digital version or the original Blu-ray. Invite link here: https://discord.gg/EBdQVXhDUh

Special Thanks:

C4V8 for suggesting this edit. Gazza75 for score help.