Summary
Thanksgiving 2’s big casting news also reveals what killer John Carver’s goal will be in the upcoming sequel. A follow-up to Eli Roth’sThanksgiving, a slasher film with dark comedy elements,Thanksgiving 2will see the return of Addison Rae. In the first film,a small Massachusetts town is terrorized by a killer wearing a John Carver mask. As the killer’s tactics become more outlandish, the victims are picked off in ways that mimic some of the holiday’s traditions. While Addison Rae’s Gaby is one of the killer’s victims, Jessica (Nell Verlaque) fills the role of the final girl.
Although Jessica isn’t the only one to survive, she takes the biggest stand against the John Carver killer. InThanksgiving’s ending, the killer — who’s revealed to be Sheriff Eric Newlon (Patrick Dempsey) — seemingly dies in a fire after trying to take out Jessica. However,against all odds, the first movie hints at Newton’s survival, suggesting that the John Carver mask-wearing killer will return in full force inThanksgiving 2. At the premiere of Borderlands, Eli Roth shared that Rae will be back for the sequel — and that clue also reveals a keyThanksgiving 2plotpoint.
Gaby’s Return In Thanksgiving 2 Means John Carver Can Go After The Survivors
A Revenge Plot Seems Like The Most Likely Narrative For Thanksgiving’s Sequel
While Roth didn’t really expand upon Addison Rae’s return as Gaby, the most likely reason for her character’s reappearance is thatThanksgiving 2will be a revenge movie. The easiest way to explain the return ofThanksgiving’s cast of characters— or, at least, its survivors — is that Newlon’s John Carver serial killer is determined to wipe out his original victims, from Gaby to Jessica. In the first film,Newlon reveals on a livestream that he began targeting people he held responsible for the Black Friday riotthat killed his love interest, Amanda Collins (Gina Gershon).
…Newlon couldn’t move past the negligence and violence that caused Amanda’s death.
Although Amanda had been married to Mitch (Ty Victor Olsson), an employee of the store where the deadly riot occurred, she planned to leave her husband for Newlon. When his happiness was torn from him, Newlon couldn’t move past the negligence and violence that caused Amanda’s death, prompting him to donThanksgiving’s John Carver identity. Ultimately,the local authorities can’t locate Newlon’s body. Just before the credits roll, Jessica has a nightmare about a flame-covered Newlon attacking her. Between that end-of-movie tease and Gaby’s return, Newlon’s revenge will probably serve asThanksgiving 2’s narrative.
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving: 11 Horror Easter Eggs & References
Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving might be a spinoff of 2007’s Grindhouse, but it references several other classic horror movies throughout its run.
Thanksgiving 2 Bringing Back More Survivors Is Good For The Sequel’s Story
Returning Cast Members Means Higher Stakes In Thanksgiving’s Sequel
There’s no doubt that Eli Roth’sThanksgiving 2has big mysteries and questionsto answer. For Newlon, the John Carver mask-wearing serial killer, tying up loose ends is a huge thread that must be addressed. With Rae’s Gaby returning,it’s likely that otherThanksgivingalum will join the horror-comedy sequel’s cast. Not only is that great news forThanksgiving 2’s presumed revenge plot, but it also helps raise the stakes. After all, there will be characters that audiences already know, so, assuming Newlon kills some of them, their deaths will have a greater impact.
As of August 2024,Thanksgivingis streaming on Netflix.
Thanksgiving 2
Thanksgiving 2 follows the events of the 2023 film Thanksgiving, continuing the story that explores the repercussions of the initial chapter. The sequel builds on the themes and characters introduced in its predecessor while advancing the narrative set in motion by the original installment.
