Antlers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A teacher and her sheriff brother discover that a student’s family has some… unconventional dietary needs stemming from a grumpy forest spirit with anger issues.

🍿 Antlers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Weaver Family’s Secret

In a desolate Oregon town, Frank Weaver operates a meth lab within an abandoned mine. His son, Lucas, lives in fear as Frank and his younger brother, Aiden, are attacked by a creature in the mine. Returning home, Frank’s condition deteriorates, leading him to confine himself and Aiden, demanding Lucas keep them locked away and supplied with meat.

Julia’s Return and Lucas’s Troubled State

Julia Meadows, a recovering alcoholic, returns to her hometown to work as a teacher, haunted by her own abusive childhood. She notices Lucas’s disturbing drawings and withdrawn behavior, suspecting abuse. Her brother, Paul, the town sheriff, is skeptical, but Julia’s concern grows as she investigates Lucas’s home life, uncovering horrifying truths about what Lucas is hiding.

Unveiling the Wendigo

As Julia delves deeper, a series of gruesome events unfold. Former sheriff Warren Stokes, knowledgeable in Native American lore, identifies the creature as a Wendigo, a spirit born of cannibalism and environmental destruction. The town’s efforts to ignore the Weaver family’s plight unleash a primal evil, forcing Julia and Paul to confront not only the monster but also their own inner demons.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Julia Meadows (Keri Russell): A troubled middle-school teacher, haunted by her past, who becomes deeply concerned for the well-being of her student, Lucas.
• Paul Meadows (Jesse Plemons): The town’s sheriff and Julia’s brother, wrestling with their shared traumatic past while investigating a series of disturbing events.
• Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas): A young boy burdened with a terrifying secret, struggling to protect his family from a malevolent force.
• Frank Weaver (Scott Haze): Lucas’s father, who transforms into a monstrous creature after encountering a wendigo in an abandoned mine.
• Aiden Weaver (Sawyer Jones): Lucas’s younger brother who is endangered by the circumstances surrounding his father’s transformation.
• Warren Stokes (Graham Greene): A former sheriff and Native American, possessing knowledge of the local legends and the dangers lurking within the land.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Lucas Weaver: “Once, there were three bears that lived in a dark and wet cave above a small town. Every day, Little Bear went to school, and at night he would come home and eat dinner. But one day, the little bear came home, and Big Bear and Baby Bear were different.” – Lucas tells Julia a haunting story, which is a metaphor for his life and the situation with his father and brother.
• Lucas Weaver: “Big Bear got sick and his insides turned black. Big Bear has become more angrier and meaner, because they had no food, no meat. But they had each other.” – Continuing the bear story, Lucas describes the deterioration of the ‘Big Bear’, symbolizing his father’s transformation.
• Warren Stokes: “It’s here. He’s here.” – Warren confirms that the Wendigo spirit is present and active, bringing horror to their town.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $15,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $10,619,670
• Worldwide Gross: $18,867,659

💥 Antlers Reviews

Personal Review

I was really drawn in by the atmosphere of ‘Antlers’! The Pacific Northwest setting felt so gloomy and oppressive, it really set the tone. Jeremy T. Thomas’ performance was haunting, and I actually felt a lot of sympathy for Lucas. The creature design was awesome, but I wish they showed it a little more. Overall, it was a disturbing and thought-provoking movie that stuck with me.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of folk horror and creature features”
  • “Viewers interested in stories exploring trauma and abuse”
  • “Those who appreciate atmospheric and visually striking films”
  • “Fans of Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence and gore”
  • “Child abuse”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Disturbing imagery”
  • “Themes of cannibalism”

Professional Reviews

• IndieWire: “Cooper crafts a bleak and atmospheric horror film that uses the Wendigo legend to explore themes of trauma and societal decay. While some plot points feel underdeveloped, the film’s visuals and performances make it a chilling experience.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Antlers is visually stunning, but its reliance on familiar horror tropes undermines its potential. The performances are strong, particularly from Thomas, but the film struggles to balance its monster movie elements with its social commentary.
• Variety: “A rare horror film with depth. The film’s central metaphor, that abuse and trauma can transform us into monsters, is potent and moving. Though terrifying, there is real emotion driving this story. The cinematography is very good.

Audience Reactions

The creature design was terrifying and unique!: Viewers appreciated the movie’s blend of folk horror and social commentary.

Jeremy T. Thomas gave an incredible performance!: The acting was praised for adding depth and believability to the characters.

Overall Consensus: Antlers is a dark and atmospheric horror film that blends creature feature elements with social commentary, but some find it too slow-paced or reliant on familiar tropes.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Guillermo del Toro was a producer on the film and his influence is evident in the creature design and the film’s exploration of dark themes.”
• “The film incorporates elements of Native American folklore, specifically the legend of the Wendigo, and features some dialogue in the Ojibwe language.”
• “Director Scott Cooper wanted to create a horror film that was also a character study, exploring themes of trauma, addiction, and child abuse.”

🖥️ How to Watch Antlers?

Antlers is available for streaming on platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV, where you can rent or purchase the film. Check your local listings for cable VOD options. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD are also available for purchase from major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Antlers, you might like these similar films:

• The Witch (2015): Shares a similar slow-burn atmosphere and folk horror elements, exploring dark themes within a historical setting.
• Ravenous (1999): Another horror film centered around the legend of the wendigo and cannibalism
• The Babadook (2014): Deals with themes of trauma, grief, and a lurking monster, creating a similar atmosphere of dread and psychological horror.
• Wind River (2017): Focuses on the bleak realities of life in a marginalized community and explores themes of violence and despair, although in a modern crime drama context.

🛒 Antlers Related Products

• Wendigo Tales: The Complete Collection: Explore the origins and variations of the Wendigo myth with this digital collection of stories and lore. Delve deeper into the legends that inspired Antlers.
• Antlers: Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook: Own the film in stunning high-definition with this limited edition steelbook featuring exclusive artwork and bonus content, including behind-the-scenes features and interviews.
• Antlers-Inspired Forest Escape Game: Test your survival skills in this tense forest escape room game, based on the movie. Solve puzzles, evade the creature, and escape before it’s too late.
• Wendigo Plushie: Unique fan-made plushie made to resemble the monster from the movie. Creepy and cuddly.

🎧 Soundtrack

Antlers features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Leave Oregon” – performed by Tyler Stenson
• “Antlers Suite” – performed by Javier Navarrete

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Antlers Review (2021)

Wondering if ‘Antlers’ is worth a watch? IGN’s spoiler-free review breaks down the good and the bad, helping you decide if this horror film is right up your alley. I personally found the review balanced and helpful!

ANTLERS (Spirits, Violence and The Wendigo in Cispus Falls)

Intrigued by the supernatural elements in ‘Antlers’? This video dives into the lore of the Wendigo and its role in the film’s story, offering a fascinating look at the folklore behind the horror. Seriously, this video helped me understand the movie’s ending way better!

✨ Rate