After carving out a cult following with the gory and darkly comedic Thanksgiving (2023), director Eli Roth returns with Thanksgiving 2 — a sequel that raises the stakes, ups the bloodshed, and delivers more of the holiday horror fans have come to crave.
Set one year after the tragic Plymouth murders, Thanksgiving 2 follows a new wave of killings that once again plague the town. Survivors from the first film struggle with the trauma of their past, while a new group of teens finds themselves stalked by the infamous killer in a pilgrim mask, who seems more brutal and vengeful than ever. Is it a copycat… or has the real killer returned?
Thanksgiving 2 doesn’t try to reinvent the genre — instead, it embraces the slasher formula with fresh energy. Roth amps up the gore with creative and shockingly grotesque kills that will satisfy fans of practical effects. The tension builds effectively throughout, and the atmosphere — a twisted blend of autumn charm and sadistic violence — remains one of the film’s strongest aspects.
Nell Verlaque reprises her role as Jessica, now a more hardened and complex final girl. She carries much of the emotional weight of the film and delivers a strong, layered performance. Newcomers to the cast do well in filling their archetypal roles, but it’s the killer — silent, relentless, and terrifyingly theatrical — who steals the show once again.
True to Roth’s style, the film blends satire with horror, poking fun at American consumerism, holiday traditions, and even the true history of Thanksgiving. Though some of the humor feels a bit forced, it never derails the tension. The movie keeps a consistent tone that balances absurdity with dread.
Thanksgiving 2 is a worthy sequel that leans into its B-movie roots while still providing genuinely thrilling moments. It’s not for the faint of heart — and certainly not for those looking for a traditional holiday film — but fans of seasonal slashers will find plenty to feast on.
