Pilgrim

The 2019 horror film, Pilgrim, is part of Hulu's exclusive 'Into the Dark' anthology series, aiming to embody a significant holiday from each month through a horror and thriller lens. This film, directed by Marcus Dunstan with the screenplay written by Noah Feinberg, Marcus Dunstan, and Patrick Melton, takes on the concept of Thanksgiving. A noteworthy distinction about this movie is that it's inspired by true events, providing an extra chills factor for viewers.

Pilgrim stars Reign Edwards, Kerr Smith, and Courtney Henggeler in a setting that at first glance appears ideal – a typical, upper-middle-class American family getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. The film's premise, however, takes a fascinating twist when the family's matriarch, Anna (played by Courtney Henggeler), in her quest to bring authenticity and familial bonding back to the holiday, decides to hire a group of professional actors to recreate the story of the first Thanksgiving at their home. She believes this would contribute towards her family's appreciation for their privileges and lineage and mend the largely materialistic, disconnected family vibes that have set in.

The actors who arrive take their roles exceedingly seriously – a pair of Pilgrims, Ethan (Peter Giles) and Patience (Elyse Levesque), who inhabit their roles to the extent where reality and pretend begin to get blurred. The actors' dedication prompts an escalation of events in a thrilling, uncanny, and horrifying manner, brutally exposing the raw and divided family dynamics.

Reign Edwards plays the role of Cody, Anna's adolescent daughter. Cody becomes the primary character who suspects something is entirely and insidiously wrong with the hired Pilgrims. Unfortunately for the family, Cody's misgivings meet with indifference and dismissal from her parents. Kerr Smith portrays Cody's stepfather, Shane, whose primary concern appears to be his wealth and status. Consequently, the family's Thanksgiving experience devolves into something strikingly sinister and far from the wholesome historical simulation Anna intended.

Pilgrim does an admirable job in incorporating classic horror tropes into its storyline. It serves as a horror offering that doesn't just rely on gore and shocks to frighten audiences but also uses psychological mind games to instill fear and dread. The eerie manner in which the Pilgrims overstep boundaries and take over the family's life, combined with the family's baffling acceptance of the invasion, builds up a grotesque atmosphere.

The movie's creators also manage to weave in the social and historical commentary on the true nature of Thanksgiving, addressing the aftermath of colonization in a uniquely haunting manner. The film attempts to expose the reality of what the Pilgrims actually represented, which adds an extra layer of horror to the narrative.

From a visual perspective, the movie boasts excellent cinematography. The settings are vivid, the costumes are realistically rustic, and the entire production enables viewers to immerse themselves fully into the narrative. Also, it's worth mentioning that Pilgrim’s pacing is well-executed, keeping the audience engaged till the end.

All in all, Pilgrim is a distinctive horror flick within Hulu's 'Into the Dark' series. With excellent performances by the lead cast, intriguing storyline incorporating historical and family drama elements, and palpably scary moments, it delivers a different and thought-provoking twist on the traditional Thanksgiving narrative. Pilgrim takes the audience on a disturbing journey that embraces and embodies the full potential of today's horror cinema.