Antlers Review: One of the Darkest Horror Films in Recent Times!
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Antlers is a dark and twisted horror film that incorporated mythology and folklore from the Algonquin people. Lucas Weaver is a young boy who becomes wrapped up in a horrifying reality centering on a dangerous mythological creature. His teacher Julia Meadows (Keri Russell) and the town sheriff, Julia’s brother Paul (Jesse Plemons), attempt to uncover the truth behind Lucas’s situation and his family. However, along the way, Julia must face her unsettling past to save Lucas from a similar fate.
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*Warning* This review discusses spoilers dealing with the theme of the film as I felt it was important to discuss how the theme was developed throughout the film to better review the film.
Antlers has an extremely dark tone with skillful direction by Scott Cooper, shooting the monster so that it is somewhat seen. However, the audience never gets a clear look at it, intensifying the fear of the creature. The film’s slow pace mirrors the reality as to how long it often takes to investigate and find answers in cases of abuse, either because people choose to turn a blind eye to it or wish not to get involved with such a serious situation.
As many horror films deal with deeper themes as part of their development, Antlers is no different. However, Antlers is able to weave its dark theme of abuse seamlessly into its mythological story making the reality of abuse even scarier than the monster that inhabits the town. Horror films are meant to tap into real human fears. Antlers handles the theme of abuse in a dark yet realistic manner.
Once we learn of Julia and Paul’s past abuse by their father, it becomes evident that Julia is one of the only people in the town who is willing to look into the home life of her troubled student Lucas. This thematic allegory continues throughout the film, mirroring the cycle and unfortunate inability to defeat certain evils entirely.
What some may see as holes in the plot regarding Lucas’s father’s involvement with such allegations, looking at the cycle of abuse as an “entity†that does not give victims a choice in the matter, I found the film to provide enough answers and consistency in its script to fill in these gaps with the likeliness that Lucas’s father never wished to cause any harm to his sons, but was unable to defeat the “monster†inside of him, thus locking himself away to try to protect them as best as he could. Antlers has one of the darkest horror film endings in recent memory.
*Ending spoiler ahead*. By the end of the film, Julia and Paul become Lucas’s guardians. As the creature was seemingly defeated, Julia feels hopeful for Lucas’s future, even though she understands how difficult it will be. The ending shot shows Paul coughing uncontrollably, telling Julia and Lucas that he will catch up with them as they move from the lake to their car.
On Paul’s hands is a black ink-type liquid, inferring that the creature has moved from Lucas’s father to Paul as its new host. This ending implies that Paul will continue the cycle of abuse as those who have dealt with it in their past rarely ever recover from the psychological trauma or become the “monster†themselves. It also implies that Lucas will likely not grow up healthily and suffer from constant trauma.
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Although not a feel-good ending, I admire Antler’s choice to consistently stick with the dark t ruth of abuse. It leaves the audience feeling horrified and deeply saddened by the film’s reality. Antlers will polarize horror fans, but I thought it was one of the best in years.
‘Antlers’ Rating – 4/5
Follow Steph (the Author) on Instagram – @cinemasteph_7
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