After years of whispers, trailers, and cult-like anticipation, Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving finally slashed its way onto streaming. The brutal holiday horror film, originally teased as a fake trailer in Grindhouse (2007), has now solidified itself as a modern seasonal slasher classic. And with Netflix adding the film to its ever-growing horror catalog, fans are gearing up for another round of festive bloodshed from one of the genre’s most notorious filmmakers.

When Roth first released the faux trailer for Thanksgiving nearly two decades ago, horror fans thought it was destined to remain a one-off joke, a cheeky nod to the exploitation era. But Roth’s dedication to making that vision real never faltered. Now, with Netflix securing streaming rights, a whole new audience can experience the carnage-whether they missed it in theaters or are simply looking for a fresh seasonal scare to slot alongside Halloween and Black Christmas.

The film is set in Plymouth, Massachusetts-the birthplace of the American holiday-and follows a masked killer who terrorizes the town after a Black Friday riot turns deadly. Roth, true to form, does not hold back on the gore. Heads roll, bodies are dismembered, and dinner tables become stages for slaughter. Yet, beneath the excess, there’s a dark satire on consumerism, small-town politics, and the grotesque commercialization of Thanksgiving itself.

One of the film’s strongest points is its unapologetic embrace of slasher traditions while still injecting them with Roth’s signature grindhouse aesthetic. The killer’s pilgrim mask and menacing axe have quickly become iconic symbols within the horror community. Critics may have been divided on the film’s over-the-top kills, but fans argue that’s precisely the point: Thanksgiving is meant to be outrageous, shocking, and darkly funny in its depiction of holiday horror.

Netflix’s release comes at a pivotal time for the film. After its theatrical run, Thanksgiving garnered a cult-like following on physical media, with collectors snapping up Blu-ray and 4K editions. Now, streaming makes it widely accessible, ensuring that casual horror fans-and perhaps even families daring enough to try a twisted seasonal watch-can stumble upon it during the holidays.

Eli Roth himself has been vocal about how special this project is to him. In interviews, he’s described Thanksgiving as his love letter to slasher cinema and a way to complete what fans had been begging for since 2007. Unlike many directors who might shy away from revisiting old gags, Roth doubled down, turning a parody into a franchise starter. And with Netflix picking it up, the chances of sequels-or even expanded holiday horror anthologies-seem stronger than ever.

The movie also benefits from a strong ensemble cast. Nell Verlaque leads as the determined heroine Jessica, while Patrick Dempsey delivers a surprisingly gritty performance as Sheriff Eric Newlon. The rest of the cast leans into their roles with the right mix of camp and sincerity, elevating the otherwise bonkers premise into something that feels like a genuine slasher throwback.

Fans have already started comparing Thanksgiving to Roth’s earlier films like Hostel and Cabin Fever, noting how this project feels more self-aware yet equally as nasty. Where Hostel sparked debates over “torture porn,” Thanksgiving thrives in its outrageous kills while also winking at the audience. The film is both a parody and a participant in the slasher genre, and that dual identity is what makes it so entertaining.

The cultural significance of Thanksgiving hitting Netflix cannot be overstated. Streaming platforms have become the modern equivalent of VHS shelves, where cult horror thrives. Just as movies like Terrifier 2 exploded after hitting digital platforms, Thanksgiving is likely to reach new heights of popularity, cementing its place as a must-watch holiday horror event.

It also marks another win for horror in 2025, a year that has already seen massive theatrical releases and streaming successes. With audiences hungrier than ever for original genre content, Roth’s film arriving on Netflix ensures horror fans have another annual staple to add to their blood-soaked calendars.

For those who love practical gore effects, outrageous set-pieces, and a killer who knows how to carve up more than just a turkey, Thanksgiving is a feast worth devouring. Whether you’re revisiting it for the carnage or discovering it for the first time, the Netflix drop guarantees that this holiday season is about to get a lot messier.

So, as Eli Roth’s masked pilgrim once warned-there will be no leftovers.

Tags: Eli Roth, Thanksgiving horror, Netflix horror movies, holiday slasher, Black Friday massacre, cult horror, grindhouse horror, Patrick Dempsey, slasher classics, seasonal horror