Antlers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A teacher tries to solve a student’s family issues, but it turns out his dad is just really, really into taxidermy, taken to a disturbing extreme.

🍿 Antlers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Weaver Family’s Dark Secret

In the impoverished town of Cispus Falls, Oregon, Frank Weaver operates a meth lab in an abandoned mine. An encounter with a mysterious creature leaves Frank and his younger son, Aiden, infected and changing. The older son, Lucas, is forced to care for them, keeping them locked away in their home.

Julia’s Return and Concern for Lucas

Julia Meadows, a teacher with a troubled past, returns to her hometown and becomes concerned about Lucas, one of her students. She notices alarming signs of abuse and becomes determined to investigate his home life. Julia’s own history of abuse fuels her desire to help Lucas.

Unraveling the Mystery

As Julia delves deeper into Lucas’s situation, strange events begin to unfold in Cispus Falls. People disappear, and unsettling discoveries are made, including the mauled remains of a local. Julia and her brother, Sheriff Paul Meadows, start to suspect a connection between Lucas’s family and the growing darkness in their town.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Julia Meadows (Keri Russell): A recovering alcoholic teacher haunted by her past, who returns to her hometown and becomes entangled in the life of a troubled student.
• Paul Meadows (Jesse Plemons): Julia’s brother and the town’s sheriff, grappling with the town’s dark secrets and his own trauma.
• Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas): A troubled young boy harboring a terrifying secret within his family.
• Frank Weaver (Scott Haze): Lucas’s father, a meth cook who becomes the host of a horrifying ancestral creature.
• Aiden Weaver (Sawyer Jones): Lucas’s younger brother, who is also caught in the family’s horrifying situation.
• Warren Stokes (Graham Greene): The former sheriff who is well aware of the lore, and explains how the wendigo curse has been awoken.

💬 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. 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.” – Lucas tells this story to Julia, using it as a metaphor to describe his family’s dark situation and the monster within his father.
• Warren Stokes: “The earth is sick, and we’re eating it from the inside out.” – Warren explains the origin of the Wendigo myth and its connection to environmental destruction.
• Lucas Weaver: “He’s here.” – Lucas quietly warns Julia when the Wendigo is near, signaling immediate danger.

💰Box Office

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

💥 Antlers Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, Antlers really got to me. The bleak atmosphere and Jeremy T. Thomas’s performance as Lucas were haunting. I really felt for him and his situation. It made the movie more about the tragedy of broken homes than just a monster movie, and I’m all in for that. The ending punched me in the gut. Seeing Julia make that choice with Aiden… it’s stayed with me since. A truly unsettling movie.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of folk horror”
  • “Viewers interested in Native American mythology”
  • “Those who appreciate atmospheric and character-driven horror”
  • “Guillermo del Toro fans”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Gore”
  • “Child abuse”
  • “Drug use”
  • “Disturbing imagery”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Antlers excels in its atmospheric tension and Keri Russell’s compelling performance. Scott Cooper crafts a bleak world where folklore and real-world horrors intertwine, creating a truly unsettling cinematic experience. Though it may not be a slam-bang thrill ride, the movie digs under your skin and lingers long after the credits roll.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “Antlers is a visually arresting film, thanks to Florian Hoffmeister’s superb cinematography, but struggles to balance its horror elements with its social commentary. The movie’s exploration of trauma and abuse is thoughtful, but the monster itself feels somewhat underutilized, diminishing the overall impact.
• RogerEbert.com: “Antlers is steeped in atmosphere and dread but ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying narrative payoff. The film’s slow burn becomes a tedious simmer, and the attempts to weave in themes of environmental destruction and societal decay feel heavy-handed rather than organic. Though the performances are strong, the story lacks the necessary bite to truly resonate.

Audience Reactions

The practical effects and creature design were genuinely terrifying and memorable.: Many viewers appreciated the film’s blend of creature feature elements with social commentary on poverty and abuse.

Keri Russell’s performance as a flawed and compassionate teacher was a highlight.: Audiences found Russell’s portrayal of Julia relatable and emotionally resonant, adding depth to the story.

Overall Consensus: Antlers is a visually striking horror film with strong performances, but some viewers found its pacing slow and its themes heavy-handed. It’s a thought-provoking creature feature that may not appeal to all horror fans.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the short story ‘The Quiet Boy’ by Nick Antosca, who also co-wrote the screenplay.”
• “Guillermo del Toro served as a producer on the film, bringing his signature style and love for creature design to the project.”
• “Director Scott Cooper wanted to explore themes of trauma, abuse, and environmental decay through the lens of a horror film.”
• “The Ojibwe narration at the beginning adds authenticity and pays respect to the Native American folklore that inspires the film’s monster.”

🖥️ 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 movie. Check your local listings for television airings. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD are also available from major retailers. Availability may vary depending on your region, so be sure to check your local streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

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

• The Ritual (2017): Features a group of friends encountering a terrifying creature rooted in Scandinavian folklore during a hiking trip.
• Tigers Are Not Afraid (2017): Like Antlers, it blends supernatural horror with the harsh realities faced by children in traumatic situations.
• The Witch (2015): A period horror film that evokes a sense of dread and despair, with its focus on folklore, isolation, and dark family secrets.
• Ravenous (1999): An American historical horror film which also features themes of cannibalism.

🛒 Antlers Related Products

• Wendigo: An Anthology of Myth and Lore: Explore the fascinating and terrifying history and cultural significance of the Wendigo legend with this comprehensive anthology. Delve into the origins of the myth and its various interpretations across different indigenous cultures.
• NECA Ultimate Wendigo Action Figure: Bring the terror of the Wendigo legend to life with this highly detailed action figure. Featuring multiple points of articulation and intricate sculpting, this figure is perfect for display or play. A must-have for horror collectors and fans of the creature.
• Wendigo T-Shirt – Native American Folklore: Showcase your interest in Native American folklore and the Wendigo myth with this stylish and comfortable t-shirt. Featuring a unique design inspired by the legend, this shirt is perfect for casual wear and makes a great conversation starter.
• Personalized HORROR MOVIE Poster: Give the gift of a custom poster of the Antlers movie! This poster is printed on thick, high quality, photo paper that is acid-free and archival for longevity.

🎧 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 Theme” – performed by Javier Navarrete

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

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Antlers Review (2021)

Thinking about watching Antlers but not sure if it’s worth your time? IGN’s spoiler-free review breaks down the good and the not-so-good, giving you a balanced take. Honestly, it helped me decide whether to add it to my watchlist!

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

Ever wonder about the creepy creature in Antlers and its backstory? This video dives into the lore of the Wendigo and how it connects to the movie’s themes. I found it super interesting to learn about the mythology behind the monster!

✨ Rate