Thanksgiving is one of the most talked-about slasher films in recent years, blending seasonal terror with gruesome violence and a classic whodunit mystery. Central to the buzz around the movie is one burning question: who is the killer in Thanksgiving? With an elaborate plot, red herrings, and an identity that shocks even attentive viewers, the answer isn’t immediately obvious — but once revealed, it reshapes the entire narrative. This article will explore the killer’s identity, motives, clues, and impact on the film’s characters, all while explaining how Thanksgiving uses horror conventions to deliver its big twist.
Introduction to Thanksgiving and Its Mystery
Released in 2023 and directed by Eli Roth, Thanksgiving reinvents the holiday horror subgenre by placing its terrifying events against the backdrop of a small American town reeling from a catastrophic Black Friday tragedy. Part horror slasher and part murder mystery, the film follows a masked killer who targets a group of people connected to a chaotic shopping disaster. Suspense builds as suspicion bounces from character to character, but the identity of the killer remains concealed — until the shocking reveal near the movie’s climax.
A Town Haunted by Black Friday Violence
The story of Thanksgiving begins with a disastrous Black Friday sale at a local superstore in Plymouth, Massachusetts. A massive crowd surges toward the store, and in the ensuing chaos, several people die. This violence becomes the catalyst for the terrifying events that follow a year later. As survivors and their loved ones try to move on, a figure known only as “John Carver” — named after an early Plymouth settler — starts stalking and murdering individuals connected to the massacre. The town is thrown into fear, and everyone wants to know: who is the killer in Thanksgiving?
Introducing the Killer: John Carver
In Thanksgiving, the killer dons a pilgrim-style disguise and becomes known to the world as John Carver — a reference to the first governor of the New Plymouth Colony. While Carver appears mysterious and brutal throughout the movie, the mask and persona are just a facade. The constant use of social media tags and staged killings transforms John Carver into a symbol of vengeance and terror.
However, John Carver is not the real name of the person behind the mask — it’s an alias designed to evoke historical imagery while hiding the killer’s true identity. The narrative plays with this alias as the story progresses, leading audiences through a maze of possibility and suspicion.
The Big Reveal: Sheriff Eric Newlon Is the Killer
The answer to “who is the killer in Thanksgiving?” comes as a major plot twist: the murderer is Sheriff Eric Newlon, a trusted law enforcement officer in the town. While Newlon initially appears to be an ally and even aids in the investigation into the killings, subtle clues and narrative turns eventually reveal his true nature.
Jessica, the film’s central protagonist, pieces together the truth when she notices debris on Newlon’s pants that matches material from the woods near where she encountered the killer. This seemingly small detail tips her off that the sheriff himself has been orchestrating the murders. Facing confrontation, Newlon admits to being the killer, explaining his motivations and the reasoning behind his actions.
Motives Behind the Murders
Understanding why Newlon became the killer is key to grasping the thematic depth of Thanksgiving. His vendetta began with a devastating personal loss: his secret relationship with a woman named Amanda, who died during the Black Friday riot. Amanda was pregnant with Newlon’s child at the time of her death — a fact that fuels his anger and sorrow. Instead of coping with this loss healthily, Newlon channels his grief into a twisted plan of vengeance — targeting those he blames for her death.
Newlon’s motives are rooted in obsession and misplaced blame. He justifies the murders by labeling his victims as responsible for the tragedy that ended Amanda’s life. However, his methods and moral justification are warped and disturbing, transforming him from a town sheriff to a vindictive killer.
Red Herrings and Suspicion
Thanksgiving keeps audiences guessing with several red herrings before the killer’s reveal. Prior to Newlon’s unmasking as the killer, other characters — including Bobby and Ryan — are given suspicious behavior or motives that might make them seem guilty. For much of the film, viewers are invited to suspect these characters, which heightens tension and mystery.
This technique — common in slasher films like Scream — enhances engagement, pushing viewers to analyze clues and question intentions. Yet once the truth about Newlon is revealed, many earlier scenes take on new meaning, revealing deliberate misdirection.
How the Killer’s Identity Changes the Story
Learning that Sheriff Eric Newlon is the killer reframes the entire narrative. Instead of an external, unknown threat, the danger comes from within the institution designed to protect the town. This deepens the horror and betrayal at the story’s core. Jessica’s realization that her trusted sheriff and law enforcer is the mastermind behind the killings underscores the film’s commentary on authority and trust.
Moreover, Newlon’s reveal highlights a darker theme: that unchecked grief and obsession can twist even the most respectable individuals into monsters. The use of the John Carver persona — tying violence back to a historical symbol — also adds layers of cultural critique beneath the slasher surface.
The Finale and Aftermath
Once Newlon’s identity as the killer is exposed, the tension reaches a climax. He confesses his plan and his motive, only for the protagonist Jessica to use her own cunning to broadcast his confession live, effectively exposing the sheriff to the world. An intense final confrontation leads to a fiery explosion that appears to end Newlon’s reign of terror — but the film leaves ambiguity about whether he truly dies.
This ambiguous ending keeps audiences wondering if the killer versus justice conflict isn’t truly over, potentially setting the stage for future stories. It also reinforces the uneasy idea that evil can wear the face of authority.
Conclusion: The Killer in Thanksgiving and Its Lasting Impact
By revealing that the killer in Thanksgiving is Sheriff Eric Newlon — the masked John Carver — the film delivers a shocking twist that recontextualizes the entire narrative. Newlon’s personal vendetta, cleverly hidden beneath the guise of a pilgrim-masked serial killer, showcases the movie’s skill in blending classic slasher thrills with psychological complexity.
This twist not only answers the pivotal question of “who is the killer in Thanksgiving?” but also invites viewers to consider broader themes of trust, grief, and vengeance. By subverting expectations and embedding narrative misdirection throughout, Thanksgiving earns its place as a memorable and thought-provoking entry in the horror genre.
