Recently, I’ve gotten in the habit of watching lower-tier 1980s slasher movies as my version of late-night comfort viewing. There’s something soothing about the formulaic killing sprees, and the sometimes clumsy performances and special effects are charming when filtered through genuine vintage film grain. I don’t find most modern slasher movies nearly as endearing, which makes it all the more enjoyable when a movie like Eli Roth’s “Thanksgiving” gets things right.
It’s not entirely surprising that Roth can capture the spirit of old-school slashers with “Thanksgiving,” since it’s based on the fake retro trailer he created for the 2007 Quentin Tarantino/Robert Rodriguez “Grindhouse” project, which expertly mimics those 1980s B-level slashers I’ve enjoyed so much.
