What to Watch This Thanksgiving: Feasts, Family, and Festivities Films

It's Thanksgiving in America and families all over are gathering for big meals and awkward drama!  Here are some suggestions for Thanksgiving / Family related movies to entertain you in between the awkward small talk.  

The Humans (Theaters, Showtime)
Some interesting family drama around Thanksgiving time leads to some new secrets from a dysfunctional family, in this cinematic experience.  

A Christmas Feast / Feast of the Seven Fishes (Digital, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Tubi)
This wonderful holiday movie involves family, drama, and a big feast at the end.  Although it is Christmas related, it is a great choice to scratch that family feasting itch. For more information, check out our review!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Digital, AMC+)
The quintessential Thanksgiving movie, this classic follows someone trying to get home to the family for Thanksgiving, and all the roadblocks and obstacles that happen along the way.  It is available to stream on Amazon Prime with AMC+, which has a 30-day free trial if you just want to watch this today!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Apple TV+)
A classic kids Thanksgiving film that you can stream for free on Apple TV+.  This is another classic and one for the kids to enjoy while you are putting the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving meal.

The Binge (Hulu)
On a night when families eat excessive amounts of food, a movie about excessive indulgences seems fitting.  It also is a very funny film that should raise your spirits on a somewhat lonelier Thanksgiving!  For more information, check out our review!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (Netflix)
A movie about giant, alive food seems like a fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving. It helps that it is a surprisingly good movie for kids and adults to enjoy!  For more information, check out our review!

Spirited Away (HBO Max)
One of the best animated films of all time also starts with a massive feast and has several prominent instances of gluttony.  It is also an imaginative and heartfelt journey that will rekindle your sense of wonder. 

Broil (Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube)
A film about a large meal and family issues, with a decidedly darker take on it all, Broil is the perfect Thanksgiving movie for someone looking for a more horror-themed night.  It also has some wonderful performances, great music, and some delicious food.  For more information, check out our review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Halloween 2021 Edition

For An Understated, Atmospheric Horror Experience: Antlers (Theaters)
Antlers will hook you with its understated tone, fantastic music and setting, and unsettling use of light and gore to create an atmospheric creature feature with a slow burning, but very unsettling story.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Stylish Film With A Darker Message: Last Night in Soho (Theaters)

Last Night in Soho is a time trip, with a stylish format and some amazing 1960s music to aid this thriller that explores some darker themes than you initially expect.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Unique, Violent Animated Experience: The Spine of Night (Theaters and Digital)

The Spine of Night is an unique, ultraviolent animated fantasy epic, with an all star cast and a style that you just don't see made anymore. 

For A Twisted Aging Story: Old (Redbox)

Old has a mysterious story, some very nice performances and small touches, and a trademark M. Night Shyamalan twist ending, but the quirks and odd dialogue might cast some shadows on this beach vacation.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Meaty Horror Film: Broil (Free Streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu)
Broil is a feast for the senses, with meaty characters, a savory simmering style, and an accompaniment of sharp writing and full bodied music.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Who Want A Virtual Haunted House: Haunt (Shudder)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Paranorman (Netflix)

Paranorman's beautiful art and kid friendly content makes this an artistic and enjoyable way to spend spooky season with the kids.

For The Kids Part 2: Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+)

Muppets Haunted Mansion hits Disney+ today and it is a great, family friend way to get your kids into the holiday spirit!

What to Watch This Thanksgiving: Feast of the Seven Fishes, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Charlie Brown, The Binge, Cloudy 2, Broil

 

It's Thanksgiving in America and this will be a different one due to the COVID epidemic.  With many people not traveling or opting for smaller gatherings, here is a list of movies to give you the Thanksgiving family spirit without the non-socially distanced interactions!

A Christmas Feast / Feast of the Seven Fishes (Digital, Amazon Prime, Tubi)
This wonderful holiday movie involves family, drama, and a big feast at the end.  Although it is Christmas related, it is a great choice to scratch that family feasting itch. For more information, check out our review!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Digital, Amazon Prime)
The quintessential Thanksgiving movie, this classic follows someone trying to get home to the family for Thanksgiving, and all the roadblocks and obstacles that happen along the way.  It is available to stream on Amazon Prime with AMC+, which has a 30-day free trial if you just want to watch this today!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Apple TV+)
A classic kids Thanksgiving film that you can stream for free on Apple TV+.  This is another classic and one for the kids to enjoy while you are putting the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving meal.

The Binge (Hulu)
On a night when families eat excessive amounts of food, a movie about excessive indulgences seems fitting.  It also is a very funny film that should raise your spirits on a somewhat lonelier Thanksgiving!  For more information, check out our review!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (Netflix)
A movie about giant, alive food seems like a fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving. It helps that it is a surprisingly good movie for kids and adults to enjoy!  For more information, check out our review!

Broil (Digital)
A film about a large meal and family issues, with a decidedly darker take on it all, Broil is the perfect Thanksgiving movie for someone looking for a more horror-themed night.  It also has some wonderful performances, great music, and some delicious food.  For more information, check out our review!

What to Watch This Weekend: The Opening Act, More Halloween Horror (Broil, Mortuary Collection, Evil Eye, Nocturne), Time, Helpsters, Trial of the Chicago 7, Tomiris

For Those Looking to Follow Their Dreams (or For A Laugh) - The Opening Act (Theaters and Digital)

The Opening Act is a hilarious, entertaining, and highly personal coming of age story with a who's who comedy cast and a touching, universal message.  For more information, check out our review!

For Horror Fans Looking For A Meaty Film - Broil (Disc and Digital)

Broil is a feast for the senses, with meaty characters, a savory simmering style, and an accompaniment of sharp writing and full bodied music.  For more information, check out our review!

For Horror Fans Looking Style - The Mortuary Collection (Shudder)

The Mortuary Collection teaches some macabre lessons while telling some wonderful short horror tales that are dripping with both blood and style.   For more information, check out our review!

For Horror Fans With Family Issues - Evil Eye (Amazon)

Evil Eye is a slow burning character drama with a wonderful dynamic between Choudhury and Mani and a suspenseful finale.  For more information, check out our review!  

For Horror Fans Looking For Suspense and Madness - Nocturne (Amazon)

Nocturne's fantastic music, story, and characters create a slowly building symphony of suspense, obsession, and madness.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For Something Uplifting - Time (Amazon)

Time is a beautiful expression of perseverance, love, and faith and gives you a personal window into this amazing family's life and growth.  For more information, check out our review!

For History Buffs (And Action Fans) - The Legend of Tomiris (Disc and Digital)

The Legend of Tomiris tells the epic tale of the warrior queen with exciting, well choreographed action sequences, good acting, and epic music.  For more information, check out our review!

For the Kids - Helpsters Season 2 (Apple TV+)

Helpsters Season 2 continues the great format of Season 1 with more celebrity guests, musical guests, helpful plans, and important lessons for kids and adults to enjoy.  For more information, check out our review!

For Justice Seekers - The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)

The Trial of the Chicago 7 tells a relevant, raw story with amazing performances, strong storytelling, and a balance of serious subject matter with up tempo music and some comedic elements.  For more information, check out our review!

Broil Review: A Satisfying Meal With Meaty Characters Accompanied By Some Stellar Music

Release date: October 13, 2020
Running time: 90 minutes
Starring: Timothy V. Murphy, Jonathan Lipnicki, Avery Konrad

After a violent incident with a school nemesis, 17-year-old Chance Sinclair (Avery Konrad) is sent to live with her draconian grandfather (Timothy V. Murphy) at his lavish estate, where she soon uncovers a dangerous ancient family secret. Suddenly caught between warring factions of the family, her only hope for survival may well come from a killer-for-hire (Jonathan Lipnicki) with a fortuitous stroke of culinary genius.

Broil is definitely not going to be for everyone, but I really enjoyed this film.  It starts off with some great style.  An interesting use of color means that there are often red splashes on the screen in various ways.  It's not Insidious level of always having something red, but there is enough to notice it.  The film also has some religious undertones and has some religious symbols prominently placed throughout the film.  It also has a lot of history and uses historical artifacts to highlight this.  And this is made all the more apparent by the amazing house that the film mostly takes place in, which also lends an air of class and history to the family.  None of these touches are specifically called out, they are just included in the scene and it is up to the viewers to decide.  The film has a nice, simple shooting style that emphasizes the characters and the environment.  There isn't a lot of fast motion, this is a meal that is meant to be savored.  And the accompaniment to this meal is some amazing music.  From full, pounding bass to classical piano and violin pieces, Broil has a varied and wholly appropriate soundtrack.  The classical pieces especially serve a dual purposes of imparting an age to the family and a level of class.  

The main course of Broil is the Sinclair family and the various members of this messed up family unit.  Timothy V. Murphy does an amazing job as the patriarch of the Sinclairs, completely transforming into August Sinclair.  He changes his speech, his gait, and his mannerisms to play this role.  Corey Large as the "weird" uncle November Sinclair does a great job, though it is funny that he is slated as the weird one when the entire family has its issues.  Annette Reilly and Nels Lennarson as the parents to Chance Sinclair show their care for their daughter but also their place in this crazy family.  Avery Konrad as Chance is another standout, as someone who doesn't quite fit into the family and is trying to forge her own path.  And Alyson Bath as May Sinclair is another standout just for how crazy her character is.  In fact, all of the Sinclairs have their quirks and the cast did a great job of pulling this forward.  And lastly, Jonathan Lipnicki as The Chef was another person who transformed for this role.  Like Murphy, he changed his mannerisms, gait, and his entire persona for this role and it is a very effective change.

The story of this film has a lot of build up and starts off slowly, but I really the simmering nature of it.  It lets you savor all the characters and the overall situation, and allows you to get comfortable with this whole scenario.  Most importantly, the story is not predictable and ends with a satisfying ending, letting you come away from this meal fulfilled.  And the story build up is accompanied by some good dialog and sharp writing.  The story is told a little out of order, but I didn't have a hard time following everything that was going on.  However, possibly due to budget, or simply time, the film leaves some of the points and backstory unexplained.  And although the movie uses few CG effects and mostly relies on make up for its special effects, the CG it does use is a little distracting.  Thankfully this doesn't happen often and the other aspects of the film let you sit back and sink into this creative world.  

Broil is a feast for the senses, with meaty characters, a savory simmering style, and an accompaniment of sharp writing and full bodied music.

Watch it.

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Broil Blu Ray Unboxing - Timothy V. Murphy, Jonathan Lipnicki, Avery Konrad Horror Movie

Thanks to our friends at Well Go USA, we have a special unboxing video for you of Broil.  Just in time for Halloween, Well Go USA Entertainment unleashes the chilling thriller BROIL on Digital, Blu-ray™ and DVD October 13.  Director Edward Drake (Breach, upcoming: Cosmic Sin) bring together a strong cast, including Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire, Stuart Little), Avery Konrad (TV’s “Sacred Lies,” TV’s “Van Helsing”), Lochlyn Munro (TV’s “Riverdale”), and Timothy V. Murphy (TV’s “Snowpiercer,” National Treasure: Book of Secrets), for this gothic tale of a troubled girl sent to live at her draconian grandfather’s creepy estate, where she uncovers a dangerous ancient family secret. Her only hope for survival may come from a killer-for-hire with a fortuitous stroke of culinary genius.

This video will show you what you get from the Blu-Ray copy of this movie.