‘Antlers’ Movie Review

Antlers is the latest film from director Scott Cooper, based on a short story by co-screenwriter Nick Antosca. A little boy named Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas) has a pretty rough life. He lives in squalor, he’s bullied relentlessly at school, and worst of all, his methhead father (Scott Haze) is possessed by the spirit of a demonic creature from Native American folklore called a wendigo. When his teacher (Keri Russell) begins to notice a troubling pattern in her behavior, she decides to investigate. All the while, her brother, the town sheriff (Jesse Plemmons), is terrified of what could be the cause of a string of horribly mangled bodies turning up.

This is yet another movie that had its release date pushed forward a year as a result of the pandemic, so trailers had already been playing for a while. While the trailers never explicitly said that the featured monster was a wendigo, those familiar with said creature could clearly tell. I really liked Antlers, and one thing that made it extra special was how it emphasizes and celebrates Indigenous folklore. It takes place in Oregon, and there is a somewhat sizable Native population there, so being a teacher, Keri Russell’s character, Julia, mentions how Native tribes often told legends and fairy tales as a way of teaching lessons, which gave way to modern literature. This theme never feels like a gimmick, either. It comes across as a very sincere celebration of said culture, and I liked that about it.

Scott Cooper is a pretty prolific indie filmmaker, having directed Jeff Bridges’ Oscar-winning performance in Crazy Heart. He’s always been really good at creating a bleak, gritty atmosphere, and Antlers has that in spades. The world feels almost post-apocalyptic at times, despite taking place in the present. It’s a suitable vibe, considering Lucas has such a desperate home life. Julia and her brother, Paul, are two genuinely good, caring people who are being forced to confront a cold, cruel world. In this respect, it’s a bit similar to Fargo, my favorite movie of all time. It’s a thematic undercurrent that I’ve always really liked.

Jeremy T. Thomas makes his big screen debut in Antlers, having only appeared here and there in various television episodes prior to this. He is a remarkable find, and his performance is incredibly impressive. It’s some heavy material, especially for a kid, and he manages to handle it with commendable strength. Keri Russell and Jesse Plemmons are both gifted performers, and their work in Antlers doesn’t disappoint. Both are able to remain fairly understated without feeling flat, and this suits the grim, brooding tone of the film. Scott Haze, on the other hand, is manic and ferocious, as his character is possessed by a supernatural creature. He’s incredibly frightening, but for the first half of the movie, he still shows traces of humanity, and that is a testament to his skill as an actor. We also get a supporting performance from seasoned Indigenous character actor Graham Greene. He adds some extra gravitas to the film as the retired former sheriff who, being Native American, is familiar with the wendigo. While the “wise old sage” archetype is nothing new in horror, Greene’s sincere performance, as well as the aforementioned emphasis on Indigenous culture, make his character feel much less played out.

The creature effects are really good here. The team, led by Academy Award nominee Joel Whist, does a fantastic job bringing the wendigo to life, as well as the aftermath of said monster’s wrath. Oh yeah, this movie gets pretty gruesome. The wendigo isn’t just killing people. It’s destroying people. Granted, most of it happens offscreen, followed by the bodies being examined, but we do get a few scenes where we see the carnage taking place. Either way, it looks awesome!

Honestly, the film really only has two notable flaws. One of them is that there are a couple of times where the dialogue is a little clunky when providing exposition, like acknowledging people’s relationships with each other when one wouldn’t naturally do so. This was a tad distracting, but it’s hardly a constant throughout the film. The other thing about it that didn’t quite work for me was the way they tried to incorporate environmental commentary into the story. While this is a cause about which I’m very passionate, the movie doesn’t appear to have any actual insight or stick the landing with any sort of allegory. This was more of a minor, superfluous detail, though, and I can’t imagine it having any effect on one’s enjoyment of the movie. There is, however, some slightly more effective symbolism regarding the way addiction can destroy a family, given the situation with Lucas and his father (who, prior to being possessed, is shown cooking meth and presumably using it himself). It’s on the nose, sure, but it’s still pretty potent.

Antlers is an exceptional creature feature that is equally disturbing and emotionally engaging. The performances are fantastic, especially from young Jeremy T. Thomas, the viscera is never scarce, and the stark, dreary world that director Scott Cooper creates is paired nicely with a reverent appreciation for Indigenous folklore.

SCORE: 4.5/5

Trigger warning: depiction of child abuse