For horror-movie fans, Thanksgiving is more challenging than Christmas, since there are fewer seasonally appropriate terror treats to munch on, either in theaters or on home video. To solve this dilemma, think "outside the turkey" -- in other words, consider horror movies in which the specifics are less important than the mood and atmosphere commonly associated with the holiday. Here are some scary suggestions to enhance your Thanksgiving weekend viewing.
The Purge (2013)
A family of four dresses up, with plans to spend a quiet evening at home celebrating their togetherness, while criminal chaos reigns outside. As is far too often the case during the holidays, however, they end up fighting and arguing, and the daughter's boyfriend quickly ends up dead. Then there's the matter of the masked, armed gang that wants to invade the house.
You're Next (2013)
At a vacation house in the rural Midwest, a family reunites. It's the perfect setting to put aside old differences and remember the good times, except that two family members are then shot by a crossbow, and another loses her head. Somebody else is about to get carved up.
Thanksgiving (2007)
Eli Roth's glorious, gory and gleeful contribution to the holiday slasher-movie genre -- think Halloween or Black Christmas -- featured multiple decapitations and a particularly unfortunate cheerleader, who meets her fate while bouncing on a trampoline. Unfortunately, this faux trailer that appeared in the double feature Grindhouse has yet to be expanded into a full movie like Machete.
Hannibal (2001)
The titular serial killer, played by Anthony Hopkins, is also a gourmet cook who is all too happy to prepare a (Fourth of July) holiday meal for his beloved, if tiny "family." It turns out, however, that Hannibal is the only one who is celebrating.
Alien (1979)
After a scary encounter with a face-sucking creature, Kane (John Hurt) appears to be just fine, and joins in the merriment of the crew's final meal before reentering stasis for the long journey home to planet Earth. Everything is fine, until Kane starts to feel a pain in his chest. Was it something he ate?
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
Like an unexpected guest at Thanksgiving, Sally can only stare in wonder as a close family sits down for a nourishing meal in celebration of their survival, giving thanks for the delicious cannibal stew that has been prepared by Leatherface.
