Also Known As: John Carver – The Plymouth Pilgrim, The Thanksgiving Killer
First Appearance: Thanksgiving (2023)
Most Iconic Form: Colonial-style pilgrim mask, black hat and cloak, armed with kitchen tools, axes, branding irons, and carving knives
Kill Count: 10+ onscreen, more implied
Portrayed by: [Spoiler-protected name — see film]
Thanksgiving (2023) – No Leftovers
After teasing horror fans for more than 15 years, director Eli Roth finally delivered a full-length version of Thanksgiving, based on his cult-favorite fake trailer in Grindhouse (2007). Set in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the film follows a masked killer dressed as a pilgrim who terrorizes the town during the Thanksgiving season.
Plot begins with a Black Friday riot gone wrong — a chaotic, satirical bloodbath at a local store that results in multiple deaths and coverups. A year later, a killer emerges:
- Wearing a John Carver pilgrim mask
- Carving up victims tied to the riot and its aftermath
- Leaving messages and symbols referencing colonial history, gratitude, and punishment
Victims include:
- Teenagers skewered on rotisseries
- Cheerleaders disemboweled like turkeys
- Victims branded with hot irons
- One particularly grotesque dinner table centerpiece made from a human body
The killer is methodical, theatrical, and creative — blending slasher structure with holiday iconography. Red herrings abound, keeping the audience guessing as teens are picked off one by one.
The finale takes place during a twisted Thanksgiving parade and a deadly showdown in a warehouse filled with holiday traps. The killer’s identity is revealed, but their body is never found, teasing a return in a future sequel.
The Mask of John Carver
- Based on the real-life governor of Plymouth Colony, the mask is a blank-faced colonial visage with dead black eyes and pursed lips
- Symbolizes puritanical judgment — the killer believes they’re enforcing justice
- The costume combines found items: cloak, hat, apron — evoking folklore and historical horror
- Designed to contrast holiday cheer with brutal moral vengeance
- The killer’s voice is electronically disguised or silent until the final reveal
Kill Style & Behavior
- Highly theatrical — often stages kills to reflect Thanksgiving themes
- Uses:
- Carving knives, cleavers, and axes
- Branding irons
- Roasting pans and industrial ovens
- Pilgrim-style props and homemade traps
- Leaves cryptic clues and threats for survivors
- Targets people connected to consumerism, hypocrisy, or complicity in past events
- Plans murders around holiday events, using them as covers or inspiration
- Unafraid of public spectacle — appears during parades, dinners, and sales
Cultural Impact
- A modern entry into the holiday slasher subgenre, joining ranks with:
- Silent Night, Deadly Night
- My Bloody Valentine
- Halloween
- Based on Eli Roth’s fake trailer from Grindhouse, which became legendary among horror fans
- The full movie was praised for:
- Creative, gory kills
- A fun mix of horror and satire
- Old-school slasher energy with modern polish
- John Carver’s look quickly entered horror cosplay and fan art
- Roth confirmed plans for a sequel, teasing even bloodier feasts ahead
League Placement
John Carver belongs in the Second Class Tier — a seasonal killer in the tradition of early slashers, elevated by his stylish design and ruthless creativity. He’s not supernatural, but he’s exactly what slashers were built on: revenge, mystery, and a killer mask you’ll never forget.