Thanksgiving has never been the most popular setting for horror. Without question, Halloween and Christmas are the preferred backdrops for any delivery of holiday-themed frights and mayhem. That said, the small screen still offers a few solid servings of Thanksgiving horror.
Thanksgiving, like Christmas, seems like it would be a “safe zone”. It’s assumed to be a time of peace and togetherness, not dread and pain. Horror, however, subverts all your expectations and proves no day is off limits in the genre.
The following five stories come from TV, and they set their terror on Thanksgiving.
Amazing Stories
“Thanksgiving” (1986)
A woman stands by as her mean stepfather becomes obsessed with a not-so-empty well hole on their desert property.
Amazing Stories was a mixed-genre anthology, but thanks to Steven Spielberg’s backing and connections, the series also looked great. Whether an episode was rooted in horror or not, this was one of the most cinematic shows of its kind. Now, there were two Thanksgiving episodes in this two-season series; the other is Season One’s “No Day at the Beach”. However, only the David Carradine and Kyra Sedgwyck-starring “Thanksgiving” can be considered horror. And for a good while, you’re not clear whether that designation fits this humorous tale. Yet just when you think this episode has been miscategorized, it delivers a rather gruesome ending. Just desserts indeed.
Watch: Dailymotion
Tales from the Darkside
“Last Car” (1986)
A college student’s train home for Thanksgiving never seems to come to an end.
Tales from the Darkside didn’t have a lot of money to work with, hence the one-room locations of many episodes. “Last Car” benefits from that fixedness, and even works it into the plot. You’re never left wondering why these characters never seem to get off their train, or reach their destination. Yet, that’s the real horror of this story; the thought of going nowhere, in spite of our desire, is an absolute nightmare. The episode makes up for its lack of surprises with a hefty helping of dread.
Watch: Dailymotion
Intensity (1997)
After a killer breaks into a house on Thanksgiving and murders everyone but one woman, he takes the survivor captive and locks her up in his house.
This Dean Koontz-inspired miniseries doesn’t come up often, unless you’re talking about High Tension or you’re like me, someone who enjoys deep TV cuts. Koontz himself has acknowledged the similarities between his story, this adaptation, and that famous New French Extremity film. Let’s just say Koontz was not a fan of High Tension, and his not wanting to pursue litigation was because he didn’t want to bring attention to something he found to be “so intellectually bankrupt”. As for Intensity, it’s essentially a long telefilm, but emotionally speaking, it certainly lives up to its title.
Buy: DVD
Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County (1998)
A power outage during Thanksgiving dinner causes a family to investigate, then discover the arrival of extraterrestrial creatures nearby.
Perhaps the weirdest entry here is this largely unknown TV-movie. Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County originally aired on UPN, was produced by Dick Clark’s production company, and most importantly, it was remade from the director’s ’89 movie, The McPherson Tape (a.k.a. UFO Abduction). The story plays out basically the same, although now the titular incident takes place in November rather than October. This same POV flick also predates the rise of found footage by several years, including earlier outings such as The Blair Witch Project. Nevertheless, you might admire this movie more for its sense of enthusiasm than any actual performances or effects. It’s just nice knowing strange stuff like Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County exists.
Watch: YouTube
Into the Dark
“Pilgrim”(2019)
A woman invites danger into her home when she hires actors who play pilgrims, and allows them to stay with her and her family.
Blumhouse’s holiday-centric anthology series, Into the Dark, had plenty of undercooked and underwhelming stories. But, if you’ve seen what else this show had to offer, you’d see why I’d call its second Thanksgiving tale—the other being the so-so “Flesh & Blood”—a success. Marcus Dunstan’s “Pilgrim” had a fairly unique premise that plays out as expected (and bloodily so), but the path getting there is fraught with unease. The pilgrims’ actors are especially commendable and make this worthy of annual viewing.
Watch: Hulu
Tales from the Paulside 
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