The 31 Best Films I Saw in 2011 brings another installment with what is one of the weirdest film I've ever seen. This entry is another holiday-themed horror film, yet this is nothing like any other of those films. Instead of taking the slasher route, this one goes for a supernatural angle with one of the most outrageous villains in recent memory.
Best I Saw in 2011: Jordan Downey's Thankskilling
Five students are hurrying to get home after finishing classes before the Thanksgiving break. The enthusiasm of one student, Billy (Aaron Ringhiser-Carlson), is amusing since Thanksgiving break is only a four-day weekend. Among the other students on the road trip are the jockish Johnny (Lance Predmore), the nerdish Darren (Ryan E. Francis), Johnny's sweetheart Kristen (Lindsey Anderson), and the promiscuous Ali (Natasha Cordova). The group wants to hurry home so as to be with their loved ones.
Let's cut to the chase. The real star is director Jordan Downey as the voice of the killer turkey, as well as puppeteering the turkey as well. This bizarre character makes the movie. It is the inclusion of this character that logic and sense are thrown out the window. Kudos to Downey for such seamless cinematic multi-tasking. Forget the rest of the cast, except for Ringhiser-Carlson and Ryan E. Francis, who plays the nerdish Darren. Rocker General Bastard makes a funny, brief appearances as Oscar the Hermit.
There is one genius scene that make this film worth viewing. You have the turkey wearing one of those goofy glasses with the nose and mustache. Its talking with the father of Kristen. The father, Sheriff Roud (Chuck Lamb), is dressed in a turkey costume. The scene comes to a gruesome end, but continues to play out in the next scene and adds an almost Python-esque absurdity to the film. The sight of a turkey puppet talking to an adult, as well as with the heroes in the next scene, and no one bats an eye to this is beyond clever.
The film itself is only an hour long. It maintains a steady pace with its spikes of action. Its long enough so that it doesn't overstay its welcome or that you don't feel you've wasted time watching it. With word of a sequel in the works after a successful Kickstarter campaign, I'm quite interested in see how Downey and company top this crazy, charming film.
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