Ten Courses of Cinematic Turkey Terror — From Killer Birds to Cranberry-Sauced Carnage
Halloween may be over, but the horror feast never ends. November deserves its own brand of cinematic madness — where the stuffing is spiked, the turkey fights back, and family dinners end in arterial spray.
So gather your leftovers, light a pilgrim-scented candle, and join us for the Deep Nerd Syndicate Thanksgiving Movie Marathon, where B-movie poultry meets slasher pilgrim chic and ‘50s monsters crash the dinner table.
#10 — THE GIANT CLAW (1957)
“It’s as big as a battleship — and twice as ugly.”
You know it. You love it. You don’t know why it feels like Thanksgiving, but it does. A giant, inter-dimensional space bird terrorizes the skies in one of the great “rubber-monster-meets-cold-war-panic” classics. The creature effects are legendary — and by “legendary,” we mean puppet-show tragic.
Perfect opener for your marathon: a cozy slice of mid-century monster nostalgia before things get weird(er).
#9 — HOME SWEET HOME (1981)
“He’s coming home… for dinner.”
Released during the slasher boom, this forgotten holiday entry features a muscle-bound escapee murdering his way through a Thanksgiving dinner party — complete with guitar solos and bad sweaters. Directed by Nettie Peña, one of the few women directing slashers in the early ’80s, this film is rough, loud, and completely unapologetic.
Ideal for: That post-dessert energy crash where you need something delightfully chaotic to keep you awake.
#8 — THE LAST THANKSGIVING (2020)
“They came to carve… more than turkey.”
Cannibalistic pilgrims invade a small-town diner in this modern indie slasher. A Thanksgiving-set bloodbath served with a side of satire and practical effects that look straight out of a VHS nightmare.
Low budget? Absolutely. But if you love your horror seasoned with irony and gravy-boat gore, this one earns a seat at the table.
#7 — INTO THE DARK: PILGRIM (2019)
Streaming pick: Hulu’s “Into the Dark” Anthology
A family invites “historically accurate” pilgrim re-enactors into their home to teach gratitude… only to discover these pilgrims are zealots who take tradition way too seriously.
It’s The Invitation meets Thanksgiving dinner theater gone demonic, and it’s streaming-friendly, so no hunting for rare VHS this time.
Pairs well with cold turkey sandwiches and self-reflection on why you ever trust house guests in horror movies.
#6 — BLOOD RAGE (1987)
“It’s not cranberry sauce…”
Twins. Hatchets. Apartment-complex carnage. And yes — it all happens on Thanksgiving Day.
This is peak ‘80s slasher excess: neon blood, mall parking lots, and the immortal line “That’s not cranberry sauce.”
You can practically smell the TV dinners and Aqua Net.
A must for fans of Sleepaway Camp and Silent Night, Deadly Night who want to bridge the seasonal horror gap.
#5 — BLOOD FREAK (1972)
“A motorcycle freak turned mutant turkey-vampire… sent by God?”
When a Florida biker eats drug-laced turkey, he mutates into a giant turkey-headed monster who drinks the blood of sinners. Then the film pauses mid-scene so the director can cough his way through an anti-drug sermon.
This one defies logic, genre, and taste — and that’s precisely why we love it.
A grindhouse fever dream of moral panic, poultry, and psychedelic sin.
File under: “So bad, it’s spiritually enlightening.”
#4 — THANKSKILLING (2008)
“Gobble gobble, motherf**er.”*
The cult classic that proved you don’t need a budget — just a foul-mouthed puppet turkey with a thirst for vengeance.
It’s part Evil Dead, part South Park, all Thanksgiving chaos.
Follow with Thankskilling 3 (there is no 2 — long story), which doubles down on the absurdity with puppet musicals and interdimensional turkey lore.
If you’ve ever wanted MST3K to roast a holiday, this is it.
#3 — THANKSGIVING (2023)
Directed by Eli Roth — born from his fake “Grindhouse” trailer
After a Black Friday massacre, a pilgrim-masked killer stalks the residents of Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Roth takes the long-promised “fake trailer” concept and actually delivers: sharp kills, biting humor, and more pilgrim puns than you can carve through.
It’s glossy, brutal, and surprisingly self-aware — perfect centerpiece for your marathon.
(Stream on Netflix / Apple TV.) *streaming availability subject to change*
#2 — POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD (2006)
“Revenge is a dish best served with extra mayo.”
Leave it to Troma Studios to serve up the most gleefully disgusting Thanksgiving-adjacent masterpiece ever filmed. When fast-food workers are attacked by zombified chicken spirits, all hell breaks loose — in song.
It’s a musical splatter-fest stuffed with social satire, mutant wings, and gallons of green slime.
Think Grease, Night of the Living Dead, and a poultry plant explosion blended in a fryer.
#1 — PLANET OF THE TURKEYS (a.k.a. The GIANT CLAW encore double feature)
Okay, fine — we made that up. But you should close with another round of The Giant Claw, because nothing says “gratitude” like an alien vulture puppet attacking stock footage of New York. Cue the closing credits, pour a nightcap, and raise your glass to low-budget ambition, awkward dinner conversations, and the eternal spirit of the B-movie.
FINAL COURSE: STAY WEIRD, STAY STUFFED
Thanksgiving horror isn’t just about carving knives — it’s about gratitude for the unhinged creativity of filmmakers who looked at a family holiday and thought, “What if we add blood?”
So whether you’re marathoning these with friends, projecting them on your garage wall, or live-tweeting your descent into turkey-themed madness, remember:
It’s not cranberry sauce.
