Antlers

By: Maggie Stankiewicz

Antlers has all the makings of an incredibly effective horror film. With uber talents like director Scott Cooper, producer Guillermo del Toro and writers Henry Chaisson and Nick Antosca at the creative helm – it seemed like little could go wrong. Pair these creative talents with powerhouse performers like Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons and promising newcomer Jeremy T. Thomas made Antlers have a whole hell of a lot going for it. After countless release delays, hype and potential, unfortunately Antlers couldn’t stick the landing.

Based on screenwriter Nick Antosca’s short story, The Quiet Boy, Antlers zeroes in on a downtrodden town in the Pacific Northwest. Riddled with drug addiction and economic distress, the town is in a collective pit of despair. It’s not a matter of who has it bad. It’s a matter of who has it worse. And there is certainly heavy competition for the title. Including the Meadows siblings, Sheriff Paul (Jesse Plemons) and schoolteacher Julia (Keri Russell), who have reunited after some extenuating circumstances. They’re both grappling with their roles within the community and reconciling with unresolved trauma from their childhoods.

When their lives intersect with a quiet young boy named Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas), things take a turn for the worse. Lucas is fighting countless beasts of burden. His mother is dead. His younger brother and father are ill and must be quarantined to the attic. He is bullied relentlessly at school. The list goes on. Julia takes a special interest in Lucas, seeing some of herself in him. As the days drag on Lucas’ home situation intensifies. His father and brother worsen in condition, craving human flesh and blood instead of grocery store staples.

Creative liberties then blend with indigenous folklore, bringing the popularized creature Wendigo to the big screen. Unfortunately, things don’t come together quite the way they should. Antlers, it seems, is a bit too ambitious with its multiple plot lines branching out into disparate character arcs. It’s a shame, too. Lucas and the Meadows family are compelling characters, but Antlers fails to give them adequate screen time or resolution. The result is a series of half-baked stories pushed aside for creature-fueled brutality.

Guillermo del Toro is known for his creature effects and unique ability to create distinctive atmospheres. Antlers is no different. What the film lacks in hopefulness or resolution, it makes up for in immersive mood, tone, and violence. The antlered creature design is earthy-dark and powerful while the mood is distinct and carefully crafted. It is clear that Scott Cooper had a vision for the world he was building within this story and he executed it flawlessly. If only the same craftsmanship could have been given to the script to provide the characters and their stories with more dimension.

Despite its flaws, Antlers is still worth a watch. It’s scary, steeped in darkness and downright brutal. When it comes to horror these elements are all some fans care about. It’s effective in its scares and provoking in its lore. The characters are lovable, and it will certainly leave fans yearning for more. A word of advice for any viewers, though, maybe skip this one if you’re looking for something fun and uplifting.