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When a Black Friday shopping spree turns into a deadly riot in Plymouth Massachusetts a deranged serial killer dressed as pilgrim John Carver is inspired to exact his revenge on the parties responsible. Now, Sheriff Newlon (Patrick Dempsey) will have his hands full as the mayhem begins, finding things to be thankful for will take extra effort this year. Written by Jeff Rendell and Eli Roth and Directed by Roth, this campy throwback grindhouse/slasher serves up the best jump scares and gore for the season and feels clearly inspired by 1980’s horror with a comedic edge. And, while the plot line is textbook, following all the expected rules of classic horror, Roth crafts a hilariously entertaining dark ride with the spirit and intent of its forefathers…Entertainment, laughs, splatters, and geysers of blood with a fast run time of one hour and 47 minutes that delivers the goods without the leftovers going bad. Fans of the genre will find plenty to sink their teeth into in this one, extra points for overall creativity, thematic execution, and ensemble performance, this is a diamond in the rough. Thanksgiving is rated R.

Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) finds her super powers entangled with Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Now tethered, the unlikely trio will have to learn to function as a team in order to thwart the efforts of Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), a revolutionary Kree figure set on destroying all things that Captain Marvel cares about– a deadly toll reckoning for Marvel’s previous actions to the Kree’s planet. Setting the universe back in balance, a super hero’s work is never done. Written by Nia DaCosta, Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik and Directed by DaCosta, this dip back into the Marvel Universe pivots around an ensemble of strong female leads and offers up a CGI heavy interstellar sequence of battles that all seem to move at a brisk enough pace but with a story that lacks emotional depth and has a hard time hitting the tone between goofy/cute and serious. Largely re-treading material and concepts the “fun” element is here, but so it the “been there” element, end result, a shoulder shrug at best. And, attempts at not overstaying its welcome are lost despite a time bending hour and forty five minute of runtime which feels much longer upon completion, strange. No hearts broken here, meh, The Marvels is rated PG-13.

A handful of students at a New England prep school are forced to stay on campus for the Christmas Holiday break. Watched by their fearsome and much loathed Ancient History Instructor, Pual Hunham (Paul Giamatti), this veritable purgatory may be the undoing of them all. Each broken in their own way, an unlikely bond between the sharp witted Angus (Dominic Sessa), Mr. Hunham, and Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the school’s head cook is formed as the holidays commence. Life’s lessons along the way, the healing has just begun. Written by David Hemingson and Directed by Alexander Payne, this meticulously well written film brings exquisite depth and feeling to its very flawed but wonderful characters; and, for leads Giamatti, Sessa, and Randolph the emotional smorgasbord that ensues is nothing short of endearing magic. Often witty but not guffawed humor permeates the entire film and almost begs a second viewing to fully digest the wisdom, edge, and tenderness carefully balanced throughout. As we race to the holidays and end of year this aptly timed release is the perfect vehicle for Payne to boldly re-assert his power as a director and step forward to punch his dance ticket to awards season. Running two hours and thirteen minutes, The Holdovers is rated R and not to be missed.