Antlers

Antlers

A small-town Oregon teacher and her brother, the local sheriff, discover a young student is harbouring a dangerous secret that could have frightening consequences.

  • Released: 2021-10-28
  • Runtime: 99 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery
  • Stars: Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan, Cody Davis, Sawyer Jones, Arlo Hajdu, Glynis Davies, Dorian Kingi, Andy Thompson, Jesse Downs, Dendrie Taylor, Emily Delahunty, Katelyn Peterson, Charmaine Wilson, Jay Brazeau, Lyla Marlow
  • Director: Scott Cooper
 Comments
  • damianphelps - 23 May 2024
    Sequel Could Be Antlers Vs Cocaine Bear?
    Aren't surprises just the best? Another great example of me having super low expectations for a movie only to come away with a really pleasant outcome.

    Antlers isn't earth shattering but it is a pretty solid 'horror' even though its not actually scary.

    I think the involvement, unbeknownst to me before watching, of GDT and David Goyer we big reason for the results. I am a huge fan of their works.

    The movie carries a nice tension throughout which is what helps keep the movie above average. The story is ok even though it borrows from a plethora of previous films.

    The acting is well above average for films of this ilk so its a solid well done to all :)
  • tjstins - 1 October 2023
    "Antlers: A Decent Horror with Lurking Potential"
    Antlers, directed by Scott Cooper and produced by Guillermo del Toro, is a supernatural horror film that left me with mixed feelings. While I appreciated the strong acting performances, I found the overall execution to be lacking.

    The film boasts a talented cast, with notable performances from Jeremy T. Thomas as the young boy Lucas and Keri Russell as his schoolteacher, Julia Meadows. Their portrayals added depth and believability to their characters, contributing to the film's overall quality.

    However, despite the commendable acting, I couldn't help but feel that Antlers fell short in certain aspects. One of my main criticisms was its length-while the movie had potential, I couldn't shake the feeling that it could have been condensed into a shorter timeframe. I found myself thinking that the story could have been effectively told in just 30 minutes, allowing for a tighter and more impactful narrative.

    Nonetheless, I still encourage you to check out Antlers. Film preferences are subjective, and just because the movie didn't resonate with me doesn't mean it won't resonate with you. The film does have its merits, particularly with its impressive acting performances and its exploration of themes such as trauma and ancient folklore.

    Antlers presents a unique and chilling story set in a small town in Oregon. The film delves into the psychological impact of trauma and grief, using the Wendigo myth as a metaphor for destructive forces. It creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere through its dark visuals and stunning cinematography, effectively enhancing the sense of unease and foreboding.

    In conclusion, Antlers is a supernatural horror film that features strong acting performances and explores intriguing themes. While it didn't fully meet my expectations, it may still appeal to viewers who appreciate atmospheric horror and psychological thrillers. Give it a watch and form your own opinion.
  • grantbullert - 19 January 2023
    Style prevails while substance fails in the folklore horror.
    I tend to avoid horror films at all costs, as I am no fan of sweating with anxiety just for the fun of it. Despite my fear, I was drawn to Antlers because of the fascinating folklore surrounding the wendigo. When I was a young boy, my cousins sometimes shared frightening fireside stories about the beast. Though the tales filled me with dread, my curiosity was never diminished. There was something about the mythical creature that piqued my interest each time it was mentioned. Needless to say, I have long been looking forward to seeing a well-produced film centered on the wendigo. I planned on watching this flick months ago, but my fear caused me to hesitate. However, now that I have finally watched the film, I realize there was not much to be afraid of. None of the scenes were particularly frightening, though some were rather unsettling.

    Antlers is its own worst enemy, unfortunately. It lacks focus and does not make any meaningful statements, either. The folklore surrounding the wendigo has no purpose in the film, which is a great shame. From what I can tell based on the fables I have heard in the past, the wendigo can serve as a metaphor for cannibalism or greed. The folktales are meant to warn people against such things. Those who ignore the warnings could have the spirit of the wendigo possess them - transforming them into a ravenous beast that is never satisfied. Antlers does not make these things clear, though. No reason is provided for how or why the wendigo first appears.

    The film takes place in a small mining community in rural Oregon, where Julia Meadows (Keri Russell) teaches a disengaged group of students at the local middle school. She has trouble connecting with the kids, but one boy, Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas), is especially hard to crack. He is a malnourished boy who keeps to himself and is often bullied. Julia finally gets a peak at Lucas' life when he presents a story for a myth and fairytale unit in school. Slightly disturbed by the tale, Julia later visits the boy's home under suspicion that his father is neglecting him or perhaps directly harming him. She discovers that nobody is home, though she does hear an odd sound coming from somewhere in the house. Put off by the strange noise, Julia leaves and contemplates taking Lucas to live with her and her brother, Paul (Jesse Plemons), who serves as the town sheriff.

    At first, Paul is not convinced that taking Lucas in is the right move, but he's forced to agree after learning of a horrific attack at Lucas' home. The circumstance makes it clear that Lucas' father is unfit to care for his son. Time goes on, and gruesome attacks continue to be recorded all over town, leaving behind mutilated bodies that baffle Paul as to who or what is responsible for the carnage. He and his fellow officers must find the source of the problem and deal with it, or mayhem will continue to rule the area. Despite their commitment to solving the mystery, nobody is prepared to face what torments the town.

    Antlers has a lot going for it, but its problems outweigh its benefits. Keri Russell is a fine actor but is given very little to work with. It is regrettable, but her character is almost entirely unlikeable. Her backstory is cloudier than it needs to be, which reduces her effectiveness in the present plot. Jesse Plemons steals every scene he is in, as does the wonderful Graham Greene - though he is terribly underused. Scott Cooper's direction was solid enough, but the weak script dulled much of his work.

    The film's greatest strengths are found in the excellent (but sparingly used) creature design of the wendigo and the eerie atmosphere courtesy of cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister, production designer Tim Grimes, and their crews. Javier Navarrete's score is chilling and suspenseful, lending greater power to the visual storytelling. The hollow and dark tone of Antlers finds a way to seep into one's bones. But as is the case for all films, production quality can only do so much. Substandard story pacing, dreadful decision-making from many characters, and a surplus of clunky dialogue cut down what could have been an absolute giant of a mystery-horror film.
  • PestVolk - 1 November 2022
    It's 2021 you can't get away with a script from the 1990's
    Good production value ruined by an exceptionally poor script.

    The first half is a boring drama, turning away most people looking for a horror flick

    And the second half is a beyond cliché slasher flick that ruins the movie for those that thought this was a more emotional, deeper movie.

    The characters and decisions they make are inexcusable even for a horror movie.

    Why does the young boy keep protecting his father but turn on him in the end? He chooses his teacher over his father all of the sudden but all the other characters he was okay with them dying?

    The two police officers are some of the poorest written police I've ever seen in a movie. They never radio in for backup, they just slowly walk into an extremely obvious trap over and over alone. One even sees his partner dead on the ground and doesn't radio in for backup. They investigate a house that smells like death but they just go eh, we'll get a warrant tomorrow. That's not how warrants work. With just cause like in this situation a warrant can be arranged in less than 15 minutes if need be through the phone.

    The school director is just as poorly written. Goes into a house, sees blood all over the walls and hears noises but just... walks in to investigate and not call the police? Are you kidding me?

    The plot characters including the father and his youngest son don't get killed by the creature, they just get some bruises and turn sick but all the sidecharacters just get straight up gutted and eaten. Why? How can the father ever have survived the first encounter? Getting jumped alone deep in a mine? Same with his kid

    For a moment I thought the father actually died and the wendigo shapeshifted into the father for the rest of the movie to trick the elder son, but no that can't be because the youngest son goes through the exact same thing.

    I could go on and on but this movie fails on every single front. Trying to set up a deeper movie than just a horror flick but failing that and then proceeding to fail at being above bottom of the barrel 1990's horror flicks.

    Avoid at all costs.
  • marialiiva - 12 August 2022
    Too dark (literally)
    It was a decent monster movie but a lot of the scenes were literally so dark that I could barely make anything out, definitely should have added a bit more brightness to it, I was also watching it in a dark room with no sun or anything but still could not see almost anything. Other than that it was alright and pretty cool.