Overview

ThanksKilling 3 (2012) is a sequel to the earlier released skrimedium comedy ThanksKilling (2009). However, it is an unconventional sequel. The movie mercilessly ignores the storyline of ThanksKilling 2 and revels in the absurd and self-referential idea in which ThanksKilling 2 is an ‘in movie’ film that is assumed to have been destroyed. What you have here is a wild meta adventure that contains puppets and crude humor and incorporates absurdity on every level.

That movie was directed by Jordan Downey, who also directed the first one, and thanks to its unique comical jokes, its ‘do it yourself’ look, and a deranged plot, the movie has earned its life as worth watching.


Plot

The plot follows the evil, foul-mouthed, homicidal turkey (Turkie) from the first movie as he embarks on a quest to recover the last remaining copy of ThanksKilling 2. Why? Because he wants to destroy it himself! Along the way, he encounters a cast of bizarre characters, including:

  • Yomi, a puppet searching for her mind.
  • Rhonda Worm, a wise-cracking earthworm in a spacesuit.
  • Flowis, a living, talking grandma puppet made out of… a rickety talking toaster.
  • And plenty of other strange creatures and characters that feel ripped out of a twisted fever dream.

The movie essentially parodies Hollywood sequels, sci-fi tropes, and low-budget filmmaking, all while cranking the weirdness up to eleven.


Cultural Significance

Thanksgiving 3 is far from universal and, some might even argue, hardly bearable to watch, but from a certain angle, it’s a worthy cult examination. Parts 3 leans harder into the absurdity than its predecessor and is deeply self-referential, thanks to the filmmakers’ chaotic instincts. It becomes a parody which is tragic, since it mocks cheap horror flicks and the industry that produces them. The third part is again purposely delusional and chaotic which gives these cult film fans a reason to appreciate it.


Reception

The audience’s perception of the film is largely polarised. Some viewers hail the film due to its unabashed outlandishness and originality, while others see it as overly silly, monotonous, and unwatchable. Loosely, it has been compared to films like The Greasy Strangler and Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead which are known for their so bad that it’s good charm. For those who enjoy humor that lies within the realms of cringe and shock, this will surely be an enjoyable watch.


Behind the Scenes

  • The budget for ThanksKilling 3 was crowdfunded via Kickstarter, raising over $100,000—a big leap from the $3,500 budget of the first film.
  • It uses a mix of puppetry, live-action, and low-budget special effects to bring its bizarre world to life.
  • Jordan Downey and his co-creator Kevin Stewart said they wanted to make something even more outlandish than the original, which is saying a lot.

Should You Watch It?

If you appreciated the absurdity of ThanksKilling or if you relish schlocky movies, you will certainly appreciate this one. But if you’re in the market for a movie that has a real plot and expert production, this is not the film for you. This is the type of film you watch with friends who appreciate obscure cinema and are looking forward to a drink or two and heaps of crude humor.

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