If you’ve already caught up with the Thanksgiving-themed episode of Hulu’s Into the Dark, Pilgrim, and the idea of revisiting the limited Thanksgiving horror titles for the umpteenth time seems more like a chore, we’re serving up a handful of alternatives titles worth watching today. Titles that share the core themes of the holiday, either through the rituals of preparing meals or a sense of family togetherness; these five horror movies aren’t set at Thanksgiving but easily could have been. Even better, they’re all available to stream right now.
Here are five perfect pairings for your holiday horror appetites!
Blood Feast – Shudder
The film’s title says it all. Herschell Gordon Lewis’ first foray into horror also happened to be what many consider to be the first splatter film. A first of many splatter films for the Godfather of Gore. As for the plot, Blood Feast follows Fuad Ramses (Mal Arnold), an Egyptian caterer who moonlights as a serial killer of young women. He harvests their body parts with the intent to bring his beloved goddess Ishtar back to life. Meanwhile, bumbling detectives are trying to crack the case. Ritualistic preparations abound, and there are some definite parallels between Ramses’ modus operandi and the tradition of preparing the classic Thanksgiving day dinner.
Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning – Tubi
While the first Ginger Snaps progresses over Halloween, this prequel entry makes a strong case for Thanksgiving. Set around 1815 in the wilds of Canada, sisters Brigitte and Ginger stumble across a seemingly abandoned Trader’s post and take refuge from the harsh winter. Naturally, the sisters face lycanthropes once again when the post becomes under siege by werewolves. This period piece hearkens back to the early days of settlement, including the presence of Native Americans. It’s a perfect setting for a tale about the bloody bonds of family; in this case, sisterhood.
The Invitation – Netflix
The holidays tend to be about large dinner parties and social gatherings, both of which are catalysts for stress and drama. The Invitation uses that as its basis for its reign of terror. Will (Logan Marshall-Green) is still coping with a tragic loss from two years ago when his ex-wife invites him to her dinner party. She seems at peace, but Will suspects she may have evil intentions. With his mental state, director Karyn Kusama toys with expectations; is it in his head or is there a sinister plan afoot? Either way, this dinner party descends into paranoia and chaos, with unrelenting tension in spades.
Ravenous – Hulu
A group of soldiers at a remote 19th-century military outpost embark on a rescue mission after the arrival of a stranger, who tells them the rest of his wagon party is in danger. After becoming lost and stranded in the wintry mountains, the party leader turned to cannibalism. There’s a bit more to this cannibal tale than initially lets on, and let’s just say that sharing meals and food consumption is a vital component of this quirky period horror movie. Prepare for a lot of laughs to balance the thrills.
We Are What We Are – Prime Video/Vudu/Tubi
After the tragic passing of their mother, daughters Iris and Rose are forced to assume her responsibilities and religious duties. Considering this entails preparing and cooking human flesh, the daughters aren’t so sure they want to continue taking over the custom, putting them at odds with their father. Extravagantly planned family feasts and a whole lot of family tension abound in this quiet, moody creeper. It has all the touchstones of the holiday. If you’ve already seen this 2013 remake, the original 2010 film is also available to stream on Hulu.
Bonus: Mystery Science Theater 3000’s Turkey Day Marathon
If there’s one genre show that’s synonymous with Thanksgiving, it’s Mystery Science Theater 3000. After all, the series premiered on Thanksgiving Day in 1988, and its core concept revolves around a guy and his robot friends being forced to watch cinematic turkeys. MST3K’s annual Turkey Day marathon has become a holiday staple throughout the years, and it’s no different this year. Six fan-favorite episodes will air via the MST3K YouTube page, Shout Factory’s Pluto TV channel, the MST3K Twitch channel, and more starting at 12pm ET!
