antlers movie review reddit

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Inside Out 2 Link to Inside Out 2
The Bikeriders Link to The Bikeriders
Fancy Dance Link to Fancy Dance

New TV Tonight

The Bear: Season 3
That '90s Show: Season 2
My Lady Jane: Season 1
Orphan Black: Echoes: Season 1
Land of Women: Season 1
Savage Beauty: Season 2
WondLa: Season 1
Zombies: The Re-Animated Series: Season 1

Where to Watch

Rent Antlers on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

What to Know

It struggles to find a successful balance between its genre and allegorical elements, but Antlers is sharp enough to recommend as a richly atmospheric creature feature.

Antlers can be a little heavy-handed and it isn't very scary, but if you give this slow-burning story time to work, it'll get its hooks in you.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Scott Cooper

Keri Russell

Julia Meadows

Jesse Plemons

Paul Meadows

Jeremy T. Thomas

Lucas Weaver

Graham Greene

Warren Stokes

Frank Weaver

Movie Clips

‘Antlers’ Review: Keri Russell Takes on a Horned Wendigo in Freaky Folk Horror Movie

Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this genre outing from 'Crazy Heart' director Scott Cooper pairs real-world psychological trauma with fantastical creature effects.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: The Canadian Diva Has Never Seemed Stronger Than She Does in Prime’s Revealing Doc 1 week ago
‘Flow’ Review: Latvian Animator Gints Zilbalodis Follows Mesmerizing ‘Away’ With an Endearing Cat’s Incredible Journey 1 week ago
‘Despicable Me 4’ Review: Illumination Adds a Baby and Five Mega Minions to Gru’s Already Overcrowded Family 2 weeks ago

As movie titles go, “ Antlers ” seems ready-made for one of two holidays — either Christmas or Halloween — and it’s kind of a shame to see it squandered on the latter. Now what is some enterprising filmmaker supposed to call his revisionist Rudolph story when the time comes? The name’s a somewhat less obvious fit for director Scott Cooper ’s somber, character-centric stab at supernatural horror, although it makes sense once you realize that this slow-burn, Oregon-set monster movie is centered on the Native American “wendigo” legend, whereby an evil spirit possesses people and transforms them into deadly elk-horned creatures with an appetite for human flesh (in this iteration, at least).

Cooper has dabbled in many a genre across his five-movie directing career, although there’s been a consistent darkness to it all that puts horror squarely in his wheelhouse. Executed with style and perhaps a bit too much self-importance, his work has traditionally focused on the fault lines of the American condition, be it violence (“Black Mass”), racism (“Hostiles”) or addiction (“Crazy Heart”), and all of those themes come crashing together here to chilling effect.

Popular on Variety

Developed and essentially godfathered by producer Guillermo del Toro, the movie is based on Nick Antosca’s short story “The Quiet Boy,” which the author adapted with co-writer Henry C. Chaisson. In Cooper’s hands, it retains the central element of a teacher showing concern for a boy saddled with far more responsibility than someone so young should have to face. The most effective horror movies aren’t merely about frightening the audience — although this one has a few genuinely freaky scares — but exploring the deeper social issues that unnerve us. In this case, we’re confronted with a small American town on the decline, where employment opportunities are scarce, opioids are plentiful and relations with local Native Americans are overdue for a reckoning.

Following an ominous opening scene in which Lucas’ dad, Frank (Scott Haze), and younger brother, Aiden (Sawyer Jones), are attacked by a giant creature in an abandoned mine, Julia notices a certain darkness in her student. Asked to share a story in class, Lucas tells one much too bleak for someone his age. Upon further investigation, she finds a pile of drawings stashed in his desk that look like they could have been done by a serial killer, all sharp teeth and bloody animals. Her alarm may seem obvious, but keep in mind, no one in town knows what happened in that mine, nor are they privy to how Lucas spends his time after school: trapping wild animals, cutting them up and feeding them to Frank and Aiden, who are kept growling/whimpering behind a heavily bolted door.

Horror movies featuring terrifying transformations are usually motivated to let the monsters out, where they can rack up the victims for the benefit of bloodthirsty audiences. In this case, whatever havoc the wendigo might wreak on the town is nothing compared with what it’s doing to poor Lucas at home. There, with his father out of commission, he’s forced to play hunter, father and decision maker, and the weight of that responsibility is clearly eating him alive — to say nothing of the bruises and lacerations on his frail body.

There are multiple metaphors at work here, the most obvious being the overplayed cliché of an angry Native spirit seeking revenge for what the white man has done to exploit land that wasn’t his to begin with (it’s “Poltergeist” all over again in that respect). Far more unsettling, if you’ll pardon the pun, is the movie’s focus on how a child copes with being forced into the adult role when his parents are otherwise incapable. When Julia’s police officer brother Paul ( Jesse Plemons ) explains that Frank is a junkie, we understand that Lucas has probably had to step up in the past, caring for his brother when Dad was absent or high.

Flashbacks to Julia’s own complicated childhood — coupled with none-too-subtle shots in which she struggles to resist buying liquor at the local market — reinforce the connection she feels with Lucas and why it’s so important to her to protect him, no matter how awful his domestic situation might be. She has no idea what she’s in for, of course, but facing it serves as penance for Julia’s running away all those years earlier and leaving Paul to deal with their abusive dad.

At a certain point, the wendigo does get loose, resulting in the carnage audiences were probably expecting all along. (The creature design is somewhat disappointing — inadvertently comical almost — until it’s revealed that the beast is still wearing Frank’s face like a mask.) In any case, that stuff isn’t nearly as scary as what Lucas is dealing with, especially when it comes time for him to accept that Frank and Aiden can’t be saved and must instead be destroyed. The psychological scarring is nearly too much to imagine, though del Toro doesn’t shy away from subjecting kids to such hell.

It’s become a genre necessity that movies like this can never entirely kill the monster, but it would be a mistake to misread the ending as a crass sequel setup. Just look at what Julia obliges Lucas to do and now consider what’s asked of her.

Reviewed at Beyond Fest (closer), Oct. 11, 2021. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 99 MIN.

Production: A Searchlight Pictures release, presented in association with TSG Entertainment, of a Phantom Four, Double Dare You production. Producers: Guillermo del Toro, David S. Goyer, J. Miles Dale. Executive producers: Jim Rowe, Nick Antosca, Kevin Turen.
Crew: Director: Scott Cooper. Screenplay: C. Henry Chaisson & Nick Antosca, Scott Cooper, based on the short story “The Quiet Boy” by Nick Antosca. Camera: Florian Hoffmeister. Editor: Dylan Tichenor. Music: Javier Navarrete.
With: Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan.

More from Variety

Dc’s green lantern series ‘lanterns’ picked up as hbo series for eight episodes, live music blues: are black keys, jennifer lopez just the beginning, ‘harry potter,’ ‘it’ prequel ‘welcome to derry’ and other warner bros. tentpole series to be branded as hbo originals instead of max (exclusive), how content spending will grow in the post-peak tv era, more from our brands, anderson .paak will perform all of ‘malibu’ on 2024 tour, ferrari’s next supercar is coming sooner than we think, according to execs, jersey patches offer college sports a major revenue opportunity, the best loofahs and body scrubbers, according to dermatologists, cbs taking another stab at einstein, based on german genius/cop drama, verify it's you, please log in.

Antlers review: The freakiest folk horror of the year is here

Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this creature feature has teeth.

Scott Cooper tells ghost stories.

Antlers , hitting theaters this Friday, is the director’s first project set explicitly in the horror genre. And yet Cooper’s previous films — grim, rusted-out portraits of life in America’s margins — have been haunted by darkness.

Through menacing atmospheres and meditations on the sins of the father, Cooper’s films suggest that something sinister long ago seeped into the settings and souls of his characters.

And so, it should come as no surprise that Antlers , set in a forgotten pocket of Oregon, exudes a profound sense of despair even before mythological forces enter the equation. Life may have once been manageable in the film’s small-community setting, but that was before this once-prosperous mining town was starved of resources and flooded with opioids.

Boarded-up gas stations and rotting factories stand as silent monuments to industrial decay. The line for a pill mill stretches around the block. For those who live in this dying place, jobs are hard to come by, and hope isn’t falsified to reassure the children. Educators privately share their concerns that students who’ve stopped coming to school were told to do so by their parents, who didn’t want administrators to smell meth on their clothes.

When one such father, Frank (Scott Haze), enters an abandoned mine shaft to cook, he leaves his younger son Aiden (Sawyer Jones) behind in the truck. The flare he ignites to hold the dark at bay illuminates the tunnels with a dull red glow, as though he’s stumbled into the underworld. Perhaps he has, given the terrifying force he encounters deep in the mines.

Director Scott Cooper and Jeremy T. Thomas on the set of Antlers.

In this striking early sequence, Cooper establishes an oppressive atmosphere for Antlers , though the rest of the film can’t match its rich use of light and shadow. Instead, the film becomes more character-focused and settles into a stark, menacing slow-burn as we meet elementary school teacher Julia (Keri Russell, of The Americans fame) and her withdrawn student Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas, impressive in his first leading role).

A survivor of childhood abuse and still healing from its horrors, Julia senses real pain and fear in Lucas, who comes into class covered in soot and toting a book of disturbing drawings. What could lead an otherwise sweet-natured young boy to sketch these demonic, sharp-toothed creatures, ripping one another limb from limb? Julia surmises that something’s going on at home, though she doesn’t know half of it. After school, Lucas catches animals in traps then butchers them as food for Frank and Aiden, who are locked up and in the throes of a hideous transformation.

The strain of all this is grinding Lucas down, though it’s suggested his father’s battles with addiction — and, it’s implied, his use of Aiden as a mule — forced Lucas to accept such responsibilities a long time ago. Within the film’s economically ravaged setting, such circumstances are not uncommon, and Julia’s town-sheriff brother Paul (Jesse Plemons) isn’t surprised by her concern for Lucas, though he knows less what to do with it.

Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, and Keri Russell in Antlers.

Paul even seems unsure how to approach his sister, who’s recently returned to town and made it her mission to “save” one young boy. Julia got away from their abusive father. Paul stayed behind, and his affable lawman demeanor cracks in one scene where he reminds Julia she has no idea what was done to him after she left. Plemons and Russell are skilled performers, and they handle these agonized moments with grace. Still, their dynamic is one of many in Antlers that get short shrift as the film leans into its genre elements to become, more or less, a creature feature.

To risk spoilers, Antlers draws its darkness — and its title — from the Algonquin myth of the wendigo, in which a dark spirit possesses a man and turns him into a feral, elk-horned creature with a taste for human flesh. The more it eats, the hungrier it grows — and, intriguingly, the weaker it gets. But the film’s central characters are uniformly white, and their unfamiliarity with Indigenous folklore drives the horror. Eventually, retired sheriff Warren Stokes (First Nations actor Graham Greene, whose role appears strangely diminished) emerges to explain the wendigo’s ancestral roots in the landscape, making it clear that the creature’s emergence is a consequence of natural resource exploitation and extraction.

To trace the wendigo back to its folkloric roots is to find a scathing critique of capitalism and a monster brought about by colonial greed and consumption. Left to starve in the dead of winter after colonists ransacked their lands, Indigenous populations resorted to cannibalism, leading to the creation of the wendigo — or so the legend goes. Allegorically, the creature appears as a corrective force and a vengeful spirit, sent to punish those whose depletion of the land has caused a critical imbalance in nature.

Jeremy T. Thomas and Keri Russell in Antlers.

Within Antlers’ holistically drained setting, the wendigo makes for a rich metaphor. A primordial rejoinder to economic stress and environmental devastation, it can also be used as a vehicle to navigate the mistreatment of Native Americans in the area (though this angle is disappointingly underexplored in the film).

More effective is the way the wendigo reflects the scourges of addiction and familial abuse. Note the way that, after a prolonged period of withdrawal-like symptoms, the wendigo eventually tears out of Frank, antlers sprouting out of his mouth in a grotesque, flesh-rending manner that signals the ultimate annihilation of his humanity.

Guillermo del Toro, one of our foremost masters of the macabre, executive-produced Antlers and is said to have shepherded it to the screen. Glimmers of his emotionally baroque fairy-tale horror shine through in the film’s creature design, which positions it as something closer to a pagan god than a monstrous outcast. (Its Predator -like mandibles also harken back to del Toro’s Reaper design from Blade II , previously recycled into the strigoi of his FX series The Strain. )

That the monster’s appendages are made of bone adds a dark intimacy to its carnage. As the wendigo impales and penetrates its prey, the film frames these attacks as violative and profoundly destructive. One is reminded also of “savaging,” the behavioral anomaly in which wolves fatally maul their young, typically when they sense that something’s wrong with the environment. If these people live on poisoned ground, where nothing good may grow, could the wendigo’s retribution be considered as a show of mercy, even an act of love?

Keri Russell in Antlers.

Julia’s interest in Lucas stems from her need to save someone from the same abuse she endured. She’s unprepared to face a supernatural threat, but we’re made to understand that Lucas experiences his father’s transformation first as a child, psychologically fracturing under the pressure of tending to his unspeakable needs.

“I just have to feed him, and he’ll love me,” whispers Lucas, and Julia shudders in recognition. Their abusers may wear different faces — and the wendigo, in one rattling sequence, is revealed to be wearing Frank’s — but Julia and Lucas are connected as survivors, struggling to break cycles of abuse they were forced into.

Under all this narrative weight, Antlers’ scant 99-minute runtime makes it feel more truncated than trim. One hopes against hope that a director’s cut will eventually see the light of day. The trailers include plenty of footage excised from this theatrical version, and Cooper’s work is undercut by a rushed third act that doesn’t marinate in all the mood he so carefully establishes. One wonders whether Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures (which inherited Antlers after the Fox merger) balked at a longer, more gothic meditative vision from Cooper and del Toro, insisting on cuts that would allow it to be marketed as a straightforward Halloween spooker.

And so Antlers ends on an abrupt — yet fittingly bleak — note, offering grim answers to its questions of psychological trauma, cyclical harm, and communal devastation. Unsatisfying in the moment, the film’s denouement is more chilling in hindsight, as the significance of its final shot sinks in. For all Julia endures in her efforts to relieve Lucas of his terrible burden, she succeeds only in transferring that responsibility to herself — and ensuring the horrors ahead will hit even closer to home.

Antlers opens in theaters this Friday.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Keri russell and jesse plemons in ‘antlers’: film review.

Scott Cooper’s first horror film revolves around a teacher trying to help a student who has a very disturbing home life.

By John DeFore

John DeFore

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Send an Email
Show additional share options
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest
Share on Reddit
Share on Tumblr
Share on Whats App
Print the Article
Post a Comment

Thoroughly successful both as icky art house horror and as an allegory of generational trauma, Scott Cooper ’s Antlers continues the director’s hot streak while bearing the unmistakable mark of one of its producers, Guillermo del Toro . Adapted from a short story by Nick Antosca (one of three screenwriters here), it watches as an ancient, malevolent monster terrorizes a small community already wracked by drugs and despair. Child actor Jeremy T. Thomas impresses in his first lead performance, a haunted turn embodying the picture’s deepest conflicts about family, duty and self-preservation.

Thomas’ Lucas is a 12-year-old shouldering terrible responsibility. His father, a single parent who cooks meth in an abandoned Oregon coal mine, has undergone a frightening transformation, and must now be kept under lock and key so he can’t harm Lucas. Lest he escape and feed on townsfolk, he eats roadkill and small animals the boy traps. The film will eventually identify him as the embodiment of a wendigo, a deerlike creature from Native American folklore, which has been awakened by unspecified atrocities (take your pick!) that humans have inflicted on the land.

Full credits

Distributor: Searchlight Pictures Production companies: Phantom Four, Double Dare You Cast: Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, Graham Greene, Scott Haze, Rory Cochrane, Amy Madigan Director: Scott Cooper Screenwriters: C. Henry Chaisson, Nick Antosca, Scott Cooper Producers: Guillermo del Toro, David S. Goyer, Miles Dale Executive producers: Jim Rowe, Nick Antosca, Kevin Turen Director of photography: Florian Hoffmeister Production designer: Tim Grimes Costume designer: Karin Nosella Editor: Dylan Tichenor Composer: Javier Navarrete Casting director: Yesi Ramirez

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Amazon mgm, ryan gosling team for zombie comedy ‘i used to eat brains, now i eat kale’, film academy invites 487 to join including duncan crabtree-ireland, lily gladstone, chris silbermann and celine song, kevin costner on directing for first time in 20 years with ‘horizon’: “you wonder if you can still ride the bike”, new yorgos lanthimos movie ‘bugonia’ gets 2025 release date, ‘sound of freedom’ director alejandro monteverde signs with wme (exclusive), dwayne johnson, chris evans search for santa in ‘red one’ trailer.

‘Antlers’ a scary story of being traumatized by a monster — and by reality

What does a boy do when the murderous beast in the attic is his dad this is a moody, creepy, scary as hell horror story in which dread rules the day and the night..

Schoolteacher Julia (Keri Russell) comes to the aid of a troubled student, Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas), in “Antlers.”

Searchlight Pictures

What if the monsters in the attic once were family? What if you were terrified of them but you also wanted to feed them and protect them because what else can you do?

This is just one of the many creatively twisted elements in Scott Cooper’s moody, creepy, scary as hell “Antlers,” a horror story in which dread rules the day and the night.

Writer-director Cooper (“Crazy Heart,” “Out of the Furnace,” “Hostiles”) is an enormously gifted storyteller who infuses nearly every moment of this movie with a sense of despair and hopelessness, as some genuinely goodhearted but in most cases deeply damaged souls struggle mightily to battle a mythical, flesh-eating creature from the deep woods while also dealing with real-world trauma that’s equally frightening.

Producer Guillermo del Toro was undoubtedly a guiding force as well in this adaptation of a short story by Nick Antosca titled “The Quiet Boy.”

With Vancouver standing in for an eternally gray, economically depressed, meth-riddled small town in Oregon, “Antlers” kicks off with a tense and perfectly paced sequence in which single father and small-time meth dealer Frank Weaver (Scott Haze) is cooking his product in a dark and daunting abandoned mine — which, as it turns out, isn’t entirely abandoned.

Soon, we see Frank’s 12-year-old-son Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas), a quiet and closed-off boy who is constantly bullied at school, making his way home, where his father has locked himself and Lucas’ little brother Aiden (Sawyer Jones) in the attic. Frank has been attacked by a monster from First Nations Algonquin folklore — a wendigo, a malicious and malevolent spirit that possesses people and turns them into horned beasts with an insatiable appetite for human flesh, bone and blood.

Aiden appears to be collateral damage and perhaps a danger to Lucas, which is why Frank keeps him locked away as well. (The makeup, lighting and sound, along with Haze’s manic performance, all contribute to some truly horrific imagery.)

As Lucas scribbles mad and deeply unsettling images in his notebook and retreats ever further into himself, his elementary schoolteacher Julia (Keri Russell) takes an interest in the boy, who appears to be emaciated and quite possibly physically and emotionally abused. (Let’s just say Julia recognizes a fellow survivor.)

Julia has only recently returned to town after a long absence, having essentially abandoned her younger brother Paul (Jesse Plemons) at a time Paul needed her most. Julia and Paul (who’s now with the local police department) are living in the house where they grew up — a house that contained nearly the same level of trauma and damage that young Lucas is experiencing.

When Julia expresses her concerns about Lucas to Paul, we learn Paul has been trying to put away Lucas’ drug-dealing dad for years — but what will happen to the boys if their father is in prison? They’ll get swallowed up by the system, and that might be an even worse alternative.

As I said: bleakness all around.

“Antlers” features invaluable extended cameos by Amy Madigan as the school principal who decides to pay a visit to the Weaver household and hears some strange noises emanating from the attic (uh-oh) and Graham Greene as a former sheriff who shows up from time to time to deliver exposition about the origin of the wendigo legend, a symbol of retribution for all the injustices inflicted upon the local Native Americans.

As is the case with most monster movies, the deadly creature is most effective when seen in flashes and glimpses in the shadows, though it’s pretty terrifying when we get a better look.

Jesse Plemons does his Jesse Plemons thing, which is to disappear into his role. He’s one of the best character actors of his generation.

And Russell delivers a deeply empathetic performance as Julia, who comes to realize she might be the only chance young Lucas has in this world — and that’s even before she learns there are actual monsters in the attic.

Images & Screenshots

Antlers Review

No Results.

Be the first to rate & review this game!

'Antlers' Review: Stunning but slight folkloric horror

Scott cooper’s 'antlers' unleashes mother nature's fury on a small oregon community already impacted by broken homes and drug addiction..

What to Watch Verdict

'Antlers' is a monstrous woodland fable that's defined by highs and lows, as dazzling cinematography accentuates an otherwise underdeveloped creature experience at odds with its core conflict around emotional trauma.

🦌 Blues and reds are such a blast of color

🦌 Looks top-notch

🦌 Says a lot about trauma and abuse

🦌 Better at introductions than exits

🦌 Shifty scare composition

🦌 Ponders aloud too much

Scott Cooper’s Antlers started as countless moviegoers’ most anticipated horror film of 2020 and, after a curiously silent sideline wait for its October 2021 release, will top some critics’ best-of lists this year — but not unanimously.

Producer Guillermo del Toro opened the Beyond Fest screening I attended with a brief introduction that waxed romantic about '80s literary horror approaches on-screen, meant to set our expectations for Antlers . It’s adapted from Nick Antosca’s short story “The Quiet Boy” and favors Americana folklore rooted in our country’s forgotten pockets. Cooper establishes coastal Oregon through mineshafts, meth hideouts and Native American mythologies as an attempt at ponderous horror that asks questions it doesn’t necessarily want to answer. A collaborative screenplay between Cooper, Antosca, and Henry Chaisson uses hunter-killer creature stakes as a metaphor for confronting traumatic abuse — emotional and physical — but it’s an unbalanced exercise. The movie cares more about introducing moods than seeing all development angles through until the end.

Julia Meadows (Keri Russell) is a small-town Oregon teacher who’s back home living with her sheriff brother Paul (Jesse Plemons). One of Julia’s students — Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas) — draws attention due to abuse red flags. Julia knocks on Lucas' front door unannounced and hears guttural growling coming from inside the residence. Paul later remarks about Lucas’ father Frank (Scott Haze) being a no-good junkie who’s one overdose away from the grave but is still deemed fit to raise Lucas and little brother Aiden (Sawyer Jones). Julia refuses to accept such endangerment, so she pushes others to rescue Lucas from his unstable homelife, which is precisely when mutilated corpses start filling morgue coolers.

Credit to Florian Hoffmeister’s cinematography, because Antlers is a stunning plethora of lighting choices and shot composure. Darkness cloaks forested highways and labyrinthian coal shafts with only Paul’s patrol car reds-n’-blues or fiery flares saturating figures in reddened haziness. Visuals succumb to the alarming nature of woodland dangers from Native American Wendigo nightmares, while Hoffmeister captures the rural desolation of an American community ravaged by impoverished despair. I thought about It Comes At Night frequently during Antlers , the way Hoffmeister’s lens peers into the darkness and flees from an almighty unknown — fluttering embers, despicable crime scenes and Nowheresville mountain landscapes become the visual signatures of a rather gorgeously grim journey.

Antlers is a spiritual summoning of Mother Earth’s defenders — we’ll get there — but centers on Julia’s overwhelming desire to save Lucas (instinctual based on her own suffered, family-bred abuse). How Lucas protects whatever’s pounding against a door with multiple bolt locks is a representation of immense undertakings that linger in a child’s recesses far after the suffering concludes. It’s an arc that carries weight and yet struggles to balance the textbook Wendigo mythos in equal bounds. Graham Greene is used as a token Native American information dump to introduce white saviors to Wendigo fearfulness, which gets brushed under a third-act rug based on a decision to serve Julia’s retribution solely.

I understand that everything exists as a vehicle for Julia’s conquering of unshakable memories from a haunted childhood. Still, the climax wonkily juxtaposes attacks and acknowledgment as Cooper pushes back against the A Quiet Place berzerker vibes that prior tension relies on to amplify intensity.

That’s where Antlers loses points and ultimately fails itself — Cooper’s better at understanding the horrors of humanity when he’s not outright trying to compose straightforward horror narratives. An opening tunnel sequence is a blurry swirl of hyper cuts and handgun flashes that underserve an introductory massacre. Mangled, chewed and mauled cadavers are Hannibal -quality disgusting, yet the visual device of gored bodies missing chunks of muscle tissue or rib cage rows becomes a misdirect away from the persistently contemplative emotional terrors.

Cooper honors the tried-and-true Jaws method of hiding your aggressor until zero hours with a practical effects staredown between Julia and this demonic deer with a man’s fleshy facemask like mortal mockery, however, it feels too late given the multiple out-of-view teases and quietness prior. Strangely enough, the experience can be carnivorously brutal and yet squander impact as scenes sway between psychological duress and ferocious animalistic attacks without ever finding the same fluid speed.

My frustration with Antlers stems from standout elements — cinematography, Keri Russell’s strength of presence, supernatural associations to mental health — that aren’t fully conceptualized beyond their atmospheres. The more Julia addresses her sexually explicit scars, the more Paul hunches over another gnawed-bone-clean victim, the more we ready ourselves for an ending that humbly bows as Mike Flanagan might — except Cooper isn’t Flanagan.

Antlers exists in the nebulous area between vulnerable arthouse horror and primal folklore confrontation, where ideals float like bubbles that burst before merging with other delicately hovering concepts. Everything is explained, and this isn’t a “plot hole” takedown — Antlers just isn’t all that thoughtful as it lets on, made evident by its cut-and-run exit.

Antlers will be released exclusively in theaters on Oct. 29.

Matt Donato is a Rotten Tomatoes approved film critic who stays up too late typing words for What To Watch, IGN, Paste, Bloody Disgusting, Fangoria and countless other publications. He is a member of Critics Choice and co-hosts a weekly livestream with Perri Nemiroff called the Merri Hour. You probably shouldn't feed him after midnight, just to be safe.

The Karate Kid turns 40 this weekend—here's how to watch it on TV tonight

New on Hulu June 22-28: The Bear season 3 is back and other new Hulu titles this week

Mayor Of Kingstown season 3 episode 4 recap: Mike pursues another bomber

Most Popular

Antlers Blends Creature Feature & Folklore Into a Memorable Horror Movie

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

10 Best Horror Movies With the Most Remakes

10 best action scenes in the jurassic park trilogy, a forgotten sith lord is the key to palpatine's resurrection.

Scott Cooper's latest movie, Antlers , aimed to hit theaters in spring 2020; however, the film's release was delayed until October 2021. And, it's definitely worth the wait. Antlers is a modern fable that mixes in some crime thriller elements with a memorable monster. The film tells the story of a young boy, Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas), coping with a family trauma with a deep and dark connection to a deadly and legendary creature tormenting a mining town in rural Oregon. Meanwhile, Lucas' teacher, Julia Meadows (Keri Russell), and her cop brother, Paul Meadows (Jesse Plemons), tackle the mystery at hand while addressing their family issues.

With Guillermo del Toro on as a producer, the bar was set high for the creature itself as del Toro has made a name for himself as a master of monsters -- whether that be for Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy , or The Shape of Water . As Cooper and his crew bring this creature to new heights, Antlers excels. The film uses moments of body horror and references to the legendary creature this monster is based on to create an imposing villain that feels pulled from a dark fable. However, the film knows when to show it off and when to hold back.

RELATED: Guillermo del Toro's Netflix Horror Anthology Reveals Cast & Directors

Another strength of this film is its focus on the power of storytelling. It's clear Cooper, as well as co-writers Nick Antosca and C. Henry Chaisson, are passionate about stories and what they mean, regardless of if they are fiction or nonfiction. Antlers exemplifies this by bringing an Indigenous legend to life and with it comes a story that is more than just an impressive monster tale.

Taking place in a mining town that is down on its luck, Antlers features a community facing numerous issues -- from drugs to environmental problems to poverty. These outside forces eventually work their way into the families of the town. Some adults handle this worse than others, thus putting their children in toxic and dangerous situations. Lucas in particular must grow up faster than any child should, and seeing the toll this takes on him is heartbreaking. It also leads to powerful discussions about who is looking out for the next generation and how our actions impact more than just ourselves -- it impacts the environment, the community, and those closest to us.

The way these wider issues are integrated feels organic, thanks in part to the visual cues showing how these problems affect Lucas. Thomas' performance alone conveys a child in need of help; however, there is also strength in his tragedy. This approach carries over to Lucas' brother, Aiden Weaver (Sawyer Jones). While both actors are young, and this marks their first feature film, they deliver minimalistic yet grounded performances, thus making their pain all the more gut-wrenching. They may not say much, but how they carry themselves speaks plenty.

RELATED: A24's Lamb Sacrifices Its Scares for a Modern, Heartwarming Fable

Another powerful performance lies with Russell. Her character somewhat acts as a conduit for the audience, as she initially seems like the only person who cares about Luke. That is not necessarily the case, as there are a number of systemic issues that make standing up for a child harder than it should be; however, that doesn't invalidate her anger. Russell leads this movie with heart, and her performance with Thomas captures how much she cares and understands him. Thankfully, this movie treats Luke as a child without talking down to him.

For a film based on both an Indigenous legend and a short story titled "They Quiet Boy," Antlers becomes its own modern folktale. It builds off the myths and fables that have come before. While light on jump scares, there is plenty of horror and heart in this haunting tale about family and survival.

Antlers can be caught in domestic theaters on Oct. 29.

KEEP READING: V/H/S/94 Is a Welcome Return to Form for the Horror Anthology Franchise

Movie Reviews
CBR Exclusives

Screen Rant

Antlers ending explained: mythology, twist & sequel setup.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Eddie Murphy Elaborates On Beverly Hills Cop 3 Criticism: "That Means The Movie's Not Going To Work"

Ana de armas' ballerina now has serious competition to be 2025's best john wick replacement, nicolas cage's monster movie with 79% rt score gets streaming release date.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Antlers.

Antlers ending twist, mythology, and sequel setup explained. The horror film, directed by Scott Cooper, faced plenty of delays before finally releasing to theaters. Starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons, Antlers is a film that explores a creature from Indigenous lore, and the darkness lurking inside humanity as well.

Produced by Guillermo del Toro , Antlers follows Julia Meadows, a middle school teacher in Oregon who grows concerned about the wellbeing of Lucas, one of her students. Along with her brother Paul, the local sheriff, Julia attempts to figure out what’s really going on with Lucas, what happened to his father and brother, and exactly what supernatural creature is out for blood and wreaking havoc. The horror film is disquieting as it builds towards its finale, allowing for a couple of shocking and heartbreaking subplots that changes the direction of Antlers’ ending.

Related: The Best Horror Movies On Netflix For Halloween 2021

Antlers reveals the creature is a wendigo, an ancient being that emerges in particular situations that are set up in the film. With a tragic end and the introduction of a new plot direction, here is how Antlers’ ending sets up what might come next in the story, and the mythology surrounding the wendigo and where it comes from.

Antlers Ending Explained

Following Warren Stokes’ explanation of a wendigo, Julia and Paul find themselves embroiled with the creature, who followed them home in a bid to find Lucas. The middle schooler was convinced that if he kept feeding the wendigo, under the belief that it’s a new version of his dad, it would love him no matter what and he could keep it happy. Lucas is still afraid of the creature, but his response to it is born of trauma and abuse, with Antlers establishing that Lucas, like Julia and Paul, had an abusive father. It’s a coping mechanism for Lucas and a means to continue to receive affection by aiding someone under threat of harm.

Following the wendigo’s assault on Paul and Officer Dan , Lucas goes to the cave with the creature; Julia follows, knowing she has to stab the wendigo and rip out its heart to save Lucas and the rest of the town. Unfortunately, Aiden, Lucas’ younger brother, is a casualty of the wendigo’s first attack. Sensing he was about to transform fully and leave behind his human flesh like his father Frank, Julia also stabs Aiden before that can happen. With the reign of the wendigo seemingly over, Julia and Paul, now recovered from the creature’s attack, take Lucas in, three orphans caring for one another.

Why Julia Returned To Oregon After So Long

Graham Greene talks to Keri Russell in Antlers.

The abuse Julia faced at the hands of her father growing up is shown in flashbacks to her youth. However, Antlers keeps things vague , alluding to brutality and devastation without showing the grisly details. The reason she returned to Oregon after living in LA for so long was to be closer to her brother Paul, whom she left behind in a bid to get away from their father. While Julia could have come back years prior, she didn’t do so until after her dad died, likely because she couldn’t face returning to her childhood home if he was still around. Julia is very much working through the lingering trauma in Antlers , and it’s easy to see how her father’s mistreatment still affects her. Facing him would have been a raw emotional ordeal, and so Julia stayed away until it was safe to drop in on Paul and reestablish their relationship.

Related: The Best Horror Movies On HBO Max For Halloween 2021

Antlers Mythology Explained & Why Wendigo Was Used

Antlers movie showing a drawing on a table

Antlers adapts the wendigo mythology, which originated with the First Nations Algonquian tribe. The creature is a part of the folklore of Algonquian-speaking peoples, passed down through the generations. In mythology, a wendigo is a supernatural creature that can possess humans and take on their form, becoming malevolent and cannibalistic. This cannibalism consumes it as the wendigo continuously feasts on human flesh without ever feeling satisfied. The use of the wendigo is purposeful when considering the setting and characters in Antlers . The wendigo is a representation of excessive consumption, which is why the cannibalistic traits appear, with the creature’s hunger never satiated. The wendigo’s appearance conveys imbalance in nature, greed, and destruction of land and the natural state of things.

In short, the creature is all-consuming, a striking reference to how colonization of Indigenous lands consumed and destroyed First Nation tribes, taking without giving back. The wendigo essentially consumed Frank because he trespassed and disrupted the mines, ignoring the sigils that were in place as a warning to anyone who entered; he was also a bad person. The supernatural creature is representative of the darkness that lurks within human beings, feeding off of their hatred, their negative energy, and the disregard they have for each other and the environment, among other things. The wendigo’s existence in lore is deeply tied to Indigenous struggles against colonial violence, greed, and starvation facing their communities. The wendigo is the personification of these things, with ties to restoring what was lost.

How The Wendigo Lore Is Different In Antlers

Lucas in Antlers walking from Movie Monster

In Indigenous stories about the wendigo, the creature is humanoid and has a heart made of ice. Additionally, Native folklore suggests the surrounding environment turns cold whenever a wendigo is near, which is not dissimilar to a spirit entering a room in ghost stories . The coldness is specific to the creature’s lore, which is most closely associated with the winter months. In Antlers , the wendigo appears in what looks like late fall rather than in the dead of winter. The creature in the film sheds its human skin when it’s fully ready to take over rather than being a humanoid giant with pulled flesh and its bones jutting out.

What’s more, the wendigo has literal antlers coming out of its head in the film. This aesthetic trait is not prevalent in Indigenous stories of the wendigo; the antlers — or horns, as is sometimes depicted — are more aligned with Hollywood’s view of the creatures rather. What Antlers also keeps out of is the wendigo’s agility, its mimicry of voices, which is done to lure people to it, and the infiltration of not just the flesh, but of people’s minds as well.

Related: The Best Horror Movies On Amazon Prime For Halloween 2021

How Antlers’ Twist Ending Sets Up A Sequel

Antlers ends in a fairly ominous way. Sure, all the loose ends have been seemingly tied up, with Julia and Paul taking Lucas in to care for him (at least for a while). What is unexpected is seeing Paul start bleeding from his eye as Julia and Lucas walk away. There is a close-up on the black, soil-like substance staining Paul’s hands and it’s clearly foreshadowing his turn as the wendigo. Antlers’ twist could set up a sequel that will see Julia having to face down her brother. It would be emotionally resonant because she and Paul have been through a lot together in their childhoods and are still close. Antlers saw Julia remorsefully kill Aiden because she knew he was too far gone to be saved.

Considering her close relationship with Paul and how they finally seem to be on the mend after their father’s passing, an Antlers sequel could create some tension between them, forcing Julia to fight for her brother or kill him like she did Frank and Aiden. What ultimately stands out, however, is that despite killing the wendigo haunting the town, it continues to infect others, passing down its traits from one person to the next while devouring more flesh, always hungry and never gratified. Whether there will actually be a horror sequel to Antlers remains to be seen, but the twist with Paul having been infected surely leaves the door open for more of his and Julia's story to tell.

Next: Every Horror Movie & TV Show Coming To Shudder For Halloween 2021

SR Originals
Antlers (2021)

12 Best Mythical Monster Movies Like 'Troll'

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Mythology and legends have existed since before humans could even write. Stories were passed orally from one generation to the next about how the world worked and what our place was in it. Often these stories had a purpose aside from entertainment; they sought to teach us something, and sometimes that message was conveyed as a monster or legendary creature, like the siren or cyclops.

Netflix's film, Troll , is one of those myths brought to life. The troll holds special significance in Scandinavian tradition, just like the vampire in Romania or the dragon in China. These monsters, as scary as they may be, are always there to help us see something about ourselves. Other times, it's just for entertainment: whatever the reason, monsters have always fascinated humans. The best movies like Troll combine magic and mythology to create fantastical adventures that will have viewers wanting more.

12 'Salem's Lot' (1979)

Director: tobe hooper.

Vampires are the undisputed kings of the mythic creature menagerie. They have been a staple in cinema since the iconic but, ironically, unauthorized Dracula adaptation, Nosferatu . Cultures worldwide have variations of the vampire, but the most pop-culture-relevant version is the Eastern European variety, symbolizing fear and mystery.

Based on the novel of the same name and directed by the legendary Tobe Hooper , Salem's Lot portrays the vampire as a nigh-unstoppable force, eventually infecting an entire town in the American Northeast . Hooper's creature design remains memorable to this day. With a remake from It screenwriter Gary Dauberman on the horizon at some point, now is a perfect time to watch this adaptation.

Rent on Apple TV

11 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981)

Director: john landis.

american-werewolf-in-london-david-naughton-social-featured

The werewolf is another well-known mythological creature in the film. The story of werewolves themselves goes back even further though it is unclear where exactly it originated. Usually, a person changes into a wolf or wolf-like creature in reaction to a full moon, a symbol of man's desire to give in to animalistic desire. In terms of the greatest and most recognizable adaptations of the werewolf in film, it's hard to get more iconic and memorable than An American Werewolf in London .

An American Werewolf in London is a darkly comic and sharply written interpretation of the werewolf mythos. It gives viewers one of the most well-done wolf transformations on film, and one that can be revisited in American Werewolf 's gorgeous 4k version . For a twist on the classic werewolf formula, be sure also to check out Sean Ellis ' 2021 film The Cursed .

An American Werewolf In London

Watch on Pluto

10 'Antlers' (2021)

Director: scott cooper.

Keri Russell and Jeremy T. Thomas hiding in the corner of the house

The Wendigo is an incredibly popular monster in film today. Examining the specifics around the legend, it is easy to understand why. A part of Native American folklore, the Wendigo is an evil force associated with greed and insatiable hunger. It symbolizes starvation and depravity faced by those braving the American West, usually resulting in cannibalism.

Scott Cooper 's 2021 film Antlers is just as dark as the myth of the Wendigo. Antlers is a beautifully shot and surprisingly disturbing creature feature covering themes of abuse, addiction, and lingering trauma. If Cooper's ability to craft deeply atmospheric stories carries over to his newest film, The Pale Blue Eye , then fans won't want to miss it.

Watch on Fubo

9 'Krampus' (2015)

Director: michael dougherty.

Toni Collette and Emjay Anthony in Krampus

Starting in the 2010s, there was an influx of films centered around Santa Claus' evil Eastern European counterpart, Krampus. However, only one of these films stars Toni Collette and Adam Scott and should therefore be the first on your Krampus-themed viewing list.

Krampus is essentially the opposite of Santa Claus. Krampus's job is to visit misbehaved children with birch rods and remind them why they should behave. 2015's Krampus isn't afraid to be silly, but don't let that fool you. The root word for "Krampus" is also thought to mean "rotten." There is nothing silly about this horned Anti-Claus, and anyone looking for a great Christmas horror movie should give this one a shot.

A boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.

8 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001 - 2003)

Director: peter jackson.

the-rings-of-power-balrog-social-featured

Maybe you'd like to see a lot of mythical creatures all at once. Look no further than Peter Jackson 's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. J.R.R. Tolkien , the writer of the books on which the films are based, populated his beloved fantasy world with mythical creatures from around the world, specifically Europe.

Giant spiders, fire demons, orcs, elves, trolls, dragons, and goblins; Tolkien took great lengths to portray these creatures accurately, pulling from mythological and historical sources and his imagination to build his fantasy world. Middle-Earth, where the books and films take place, has and continues to influence millions of storytellers and readers. The entire Lord of the Rings trilogy has easily gone down as some of the greatest mythical movies to ever be created , with the wide variety of creatures and monsters being only a single piece of its masterful puzzle.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Watch on Max

7 'The Host' (2006)

Director: bong joon-ho.

From award-winning South Korean director Bong Joon-ho , The Host sees a gigantic mutated squid-like creature causing havoc and chaos among the populace following the mass dumping of toxic waste. After the creature steals away Hyun-seo, the daughter of Gang-du, he is joined by the rest of his family to set off and rescue her from the mysterious and terrifying creature.

Bong Joon-ho has always been a master when it comes to high-stakes tension and thrills, so a film revolving around a nightmarish and mysterious creature fits perfectly with his filmmaking style. The Host uses the greatest aspects of all mysterious and mythical monster movies , as it equally balances its story around both the jaw-dropping monster at its center and how the world and characters adapt to said monster. It's a film that continues to stay relevant and thrilling over 15 years after its original release and will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come. – Rob Lee

Watch on Showtime

6 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

Directors: dean deblois, chris sanders.

Hiccup and Toothless as they appear in How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

You would be forgiven for thinking that the world of mythical monsters is one of horror and darkness. But for every destructive attribute these monsters represent, there are as many constructive ones. How to Train Your Dragon is easily one of the most immediately recognizable and memorable stories to revolve around the mythical creatures of dragons , thanks in part to its outstanding quality.

The dragon is a part of virtually every culture's history in some way, and it can represent several things, like wisdom and power. But the bond between an awkward teenage villager and a particularly ferocious breed of dragon in the film conveys kindness and understanding. Myth is scary because it is often about the unknown. However, not everything new has to be difficult if we take the time to examine and appreciate it. How to Train Your Dragon is full of strong creatures and rich lore worth exploring.

How to Train Your Dragon

Watch on Prime Video

5 'Sinister' (2012)

Director: scott derrickson.

Crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke) expresses concerned intrigue as he watches through disturbing video tapes.

Dubbed the " scariest movie ever made ," Sinister has no shortage of chilling imagery. However, one image lingers long after the credits, and it is the figure of the child-snatching deity in Sinister , Baghuul . In the film, Baghuul is a Babylonian god living off children's souls.

While Baghuul is an invention of the filmmakers, he shares similarities with the ancient Pagan Deity, Moloch. There is some debate about whether the term "moloch" refers to a specific deity or a great sacrifice in general. In the end, either interpretation is disturbing since a child will likely be the one to pay the price. Moloch is not a monster in the strictest sense, but his demands on followers are monstrous.

4 'The Golem' (2018)

Directors: doron paz, yoav paz.

The golem is a monster from Jewish traditions, inhuman, and created from dirt or mud. It may appear as a person and is often tasked with protecting its creator or following the creator's commands. Themes associated with the golem include protection from enemies and the dangers of pride: namely, pride on behalf of its creator. The 2018 film The Golem shows viewers what happens when the creator loses control of the creation, much like in Mary Shelley's Frankenstein .

Directors Doron and Yoav Paz refer to it as such in interviews and say that they pull heavily from older Jewish folklore. They felt that the golem had not been adequately presented on-screen in some time. This meticulous research and the brothers' Jewish upbringing lend this film its sense of authenticity.

3 'Smile' (2022)

Director: parker finn.

Caitlin Stasey as Laura, a woman smiling creepily at the camera, from Smile (2022)

Smile may not be based on any ancient myths or monsters. However, Director Parker Finn states that he indeed took inspiration from urban legends and stories. Urban legends are just modern-day myths. Humans may have moved on from fireside and cave paintings, but that doesn't mean that people don't still construct narratives to help interpret the world around them.

A smile is usually associated with friendliness and can signify that someone is approachable. But in Smile , that sign becomes repellant and unsettling. Masking something evil under something familiar is a concept that dates back well into ancient times. Loki does it frequently in Norse myths (and the MCU). As for the monsters, Smile shows audiences that often one's scariest monsters are unresolved grief, trauma, and guilt .

Watch on Paramount+

2 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' (2022)

Directors: guillermo del toro, mark gustafson.

Honestly, any Guillermo del Toro film is worthy of mention when discussing myth and fantasy. But with the release of his interpretation of Pinocchio , it feels right to include this film because of the Blue Fairy, Fée du Boi .

Fairies sound like the least harmful of all the creatures that populate del Toro's films , but don't let that mental picture of Tinkerbell fool you. As with any myth, each culture has its interpretation, but Celtic tradition (a widespread understanding of the myth) paints them as mischievous and occasionally outright dangerous, symbolizing death and immorality. Del Toro portrays them as such in his 2010, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark . Tilda Swinton masterfully voices Blue Fairy in del Toro's Pinocchio , bringing the chilling character to life.

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Watch on Netflix

1 'Troll Hunter' (2010)

Director: andré øvredal.

The crew encounters a troll in 'Trollhunter'

Much like Netflix's own Troll , Troll Hunter is a Norwegian horror fantasy movie that follows the dangerous and highly mysterious native creatures known as the giant troll. Troll Hunter specifically follows a group of students who, while investigating a series of mysterious bear killings, uncover the secrets of trolls, with an expert troll hunter being their guide. The film uses found footage to add to the realism surrounding the story, making it feel as if trolls truly do exist in our world, alongside the groups of people who dedicate their lives to hunting them for the government.

Troll Hunter may just be the most similar movie to Troll to exist, yet despite following the same mythical creature at its center, has a completely different tone and style to set itself apart. Despite leaning much more into horror elements with its found footage style and darker setpieces, the film also manages to keep a comedic angle, finding comedy in the darkness of the unknown and unexpected. Especially for fans of Netflix's Troll , Troll Hunter is the perfect follow-up film for those looking for more gigantic troll action . – Rob Lee

Watch on Hoopla

NEXT: Horror Movies With the Most Realistic Monsters

THE VOURDALAK Gives Us a Vampire Folk Tale with One Major Selling Point

Finding new and interesting takes on vampire stories is a pretty tough row to hoe at this point. They’re among the oldest and most famous folklore monsters and the lore surrounding them, at least as laid out in Bram Stoker’s Dracula , feels mostly concrete. It’s strange, then, why more movies don’t explore the folklore in a different way, from a different part of the world. Adrien Beau’s debut feature The Vourdalak does this, exploring the Russian/Slavic vampire legend through its most popular written work. Oh, and it also makes the vampire a creepy puppet. That helps.

The Vourdalak adapts Aleksey K. Tolstoy’s 1839 novella, The Family of the Vourdalak , which predates both Le Fanu’s 1873 Carmilla and Stoker’s 1897 Dracula . Vourdalaks differ from our traditional understanding of vampires. They drink blood, sure, and they are undead, but the sun has little to no effect on them, and they tend to only feast on members of their family. That aspect forms the foundation of the story. It’s the breakdown of a family unit in a time and culture that values family, and respecting elders of the family, above all else.

The movie places the action in the late 1700s wherein French nobleman Marquis Jacques Antoine Saturnin d’Urfe (Kacey Mottet Klein) finds himself stranded in Eastern Europe, looking for a place to spend the night. The Turks had recently raided the village, but the villager tells the Marquis to seek shelter at the house of an elder named Gorcha. On the way, the Marquis meets Gorcha’s daughter Sdenka (Ariane Labed) and immediately becomes infatuated. Unfortunately for him, Sdenka—who desperately wants to leave for a better life—has other things on her mind.

A gaunt vampire sinks its teeth into a boy's neck in The Vourdalak.

The Gorcha household, we and the Marquis learn, consists of the aged Gorcha, Gorcha’s three children—eldest Jegor, Sdenka, and younger son Piotr—and Jegor’s wife and son. Jegor left to find the Turkish raiders and, returning after a month, discovers Gorcha himself went out after the Turks. Gorcha told his family if he does not return in six days, they should assume he’s dead. If he returns after the six days, they should assume he’s a vourdalak and refuse him entry. Jegor finds this absurd and the Marquis finds it peculiar.

However, after assuming the missing Gorcha had indeed died, the old man appears at the edge of the forest at exactly six days, to the minute. He looks like a corpse, clearly little more than a skeleton with skin, but he holds so much sway over his children, especially Jegor, they allow him to stay. Would you be surprised to hear he’s a vourdalak?

The family and a French aristocrat look at a horribly gaunt bloodsucker in The Vourdalak.

Beau makes a couple of really clever choices that set this movie apart from other adaptations. Famously, Mario Bava’s 1963 anthology film Black Sabbath adapts the story with Boris Karloff as Gorcha. Less famously, the 1972 Giorgio Ferroni film The Night of the Devils moved the action to the modern day. But Beau in fact moves it further back in time, so that our French nobleman is a ridiculous, white-makeup-faced fop. He’s a ridiculous sight to us, but it makes him especially ridiculous to the locals who know nothing of French courtiers. He’s an outsider.

The other major change, obviously, is that Gorcha himself when we see him is so inhuman, so far gone down the road of undead monster, that he’s not even a person. Gorcha is head to toe a full-size rod puppet, with Beau providing the voice. He has full scenes of dialogue, in full light—more than enough to make it clear, this ain’t a man. This is entirely the point! It’s easy to look at Boris Karloff and, even with some makeup, recognize he’s the man you used to know. It’s impossible to look at the thing in this movie and see anything but a grotesquery. And yet…

The Vourdalak's face reflects in a pool of water.

The Vourdalak uses its uncanny visuals to its benefit, heightening a story that certainly feels pretty familiar to horror fans. In addition to the puppetry, we have some lovely, gloomy dream sequences and bloody set pieces. The cast acquit themselves very nicely, perfectly playing the severity of the situation, even amid the unreality of the threat. Klein also manages a compelling protagonist who is at once compassionate and forthright, and a ridiculous buffoon who is a rich creep.

I think if The Vourdalak has any downside, it’s that none of it is particularly scary. Parts of it, especially later in the story involving Gorcha’s feeding, should be eerier than they are. Perhaps that isn’t the point, however the aforementioned Italian versions certainly slanted toward a growing creep factor I don’t think The Vourdalak ever comes close to. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad movie, and if grotesqueness is all you’re after, this French-language offering has plenty for you. The puppet alone is worth the 90 minute watch.

The Vourdalak

The Vourdalak opens exclusively in US cinemas on June 28th from Oscilloscope Laboratories .

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus . You can find his film and TV reviews here . Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd .

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, black writers week, the exorcism.

Now streaming on:

In Joshua John Miller 's "The Exorcism," Russell Crowe plays Anthony Miller, an actor and recovering addict who is thrown into a role as a priest beset upon by demons. As Crowe dives into the role, under horrible and unflinching guidance from a director played by Adam Goldberg , he is forced to confront his own personal "demons." But as more strange things begin to occur on set, the question becomes how much is him and how much is from something else at play? During his attempt to exorcise his demons, is Miller forced to confront actual demons plaguing the creation of this film?

Whenever the word exorcism is used in the cinematic realm, audience's first thoughts go to one of the ultimate horror classics, “ The Exorcist .” This film recognizes its ultimate predecessor and some other horror classics as well. Yet the connection between this film and the iconic original lies far deeper than this casual mentioning. Joshua John Miller is the son of Jason Miller , who played Father Karras in "The Exorcist." Additionally, the title of the film featured in “The Exorcism” is “The Georgetown Project,” a sly reference to the part of the city in Washington, DC, where “The Exorcist” was filmed.

The extremely cool feature of the film is that it looks like "The Exorcist" and seems to document the curious nature of the strange happenings that occurred during the actual filming of the classic in which Jason Miller starred. It's not beyond conception that many of the truly strange and well-documented occurrences during the filming in the seventies were re-created in this film. One can hear Jason sharing stories with his son that he has waited until now to share.

For this reason and others, “The Exorcism” becomes more of a meta-psychological thriller than a true horror film. While some creepy and unsettling events are in the film, none truly rise to a level most would recognize as horror. There are a few minor jump scares, but this film lives in its own realm.

Rarely does an actor get the opportunity to redeem a work, but Crowe’s work in this film is much better in depth and substance than the one he gave in “The Pope’s Exorcist.” Ryan Simpkins is very good as the rebellious yet loving daughter concerned for her father’s safety and sobriety. Kudos also go to Adam Goldberg for embodying one of the most dangerous types of directors an actor can face, one who disregards concern for the person and cares only for the work.

“The Exorcism” is an exercise in story and creative visuals that attempts to create a new type of horror. It may not succeed, but the attempt is admirable.

Now playing

Jim Henson Idea Man

Peter sobczynski.

Tomris Laffly

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever

Simon abrams.

STAX: Soulsville, USA

Matt zoller seitz.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Robert daniels.

Ultraman: Rising

Film credits.

The Exorcism (2024)

Russell Crowe as Anthony Miller

Ryan Simpkins as Lee Miller

Sam Worthington as Joe

Chloe Bailey as Blake Holloway

Adam Goldberg as Peter

David Hyde Pierce as Father Conor

Joshua John Miller
M.A. Fortin

Latest blog posts

Furiosa Doesn't Feel Like Any Other Mad Max Film, and That's What's Wonderful About It

DC/DOX -- Washington DC's Documentary Film Festival in its Second Year

Beautiful and Haunted: Jeff Nichols on The Bikeriders

Willie Mays: The Greatest to Ever Play

Supported by

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: You Saw the Best in Me

Dion’s voice made her a star. A new documentary on Amazon Prime Video brings her back to Earth, showing her intimate struggles with stiff person syndrome.

Share full article

Celine Dion, wearing a dark outfit, raises her arms above her head and looks upward.

By Chris Azzopardi

Illness shows no regard for even the most revered figures in pop music.

In “I Am: Celine Dion,” a documentary about the global songstress on Amazon Prime Video, it quickly becomes clear that Dion can’t even move her body, let alone deliver a soaring ballad with the full force that, from her teenage years on, roused millions. The film, by the director Irene Taylor, records the singer’s agonizing reality as she battles the rare neurological condition called stiff person syndrome .

In an Instagram post in December 2022, Dion tearfully revealed her diagnosis to her fans, but the documentary had already been in production by then. Taylor opens the film with relaxed scenes of Dion at her home in Las Vegas with her children and staff. Then the part that’s painful to watch: The singer is heard moaning as she has a seizure on the floor. Learning early on that she had always wanted to sing “all my life” intensifies the tragedy of watching Dion, now 56, struggle to continue to live that dream. Dion’s voice made her a star; this film is keen on making her a person.

But there is nothing subtle in Taylor’s montages, such as a high-energy past performance cut with the subdued domestic energy on display while Dion is vacuuming her couch. One shot pans to her eerily empty living room, a severe departure from playing packed stadiums. Even the score aches. All this palpable sadness is, perhaps, why Taylor interjects clips of Dion in better times.

I understand the inclination to not define Dion by her diagnosis. But Dion’s spontaneously expressive personality already shines through her pain in raw footage that feels more connected to her healing journey, like when her physical therapist nags her about a cream she hasn’t been applying to her feet. “Give me a break,” she says with playful exasperation.

She then sings “Gimme a Break,” the Kit Kat commercial jingle. While that welcome touch of humor pulls you into this intimately told story — what’s more Celine than an impromptu vocal? — inconsequential clips take you out of it: her impersonation of Sia on a late-night talk show; a part of her “Ashes” video that lets the Deadpool cameo go on for too long; her career-defining ballad “My Heart Will Go On” but, mystifyingly, the “ Carpool Karaoke ” version with James Corden.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

Want all of The Times? Subscribe .

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: The Iconic Singer Opens Up About Stiff Person Syndrome in a Superb, Intimate Documentary

Ryan lattanzio, deputy editor, film.

Share on Facebook
Share to Flipboard
Share on LinkedIn
Show more sharing options
Submit to Reddit
Post to Tumblr
Print This Page
Share on WhatsApp

“Her very best” is so many things more than “ My Heart Will Go On ” or insert-any-other-single you most remember the Quebecoise singer for. “I traveled the world and didn’t see anything,” Dion tells the camera, in the presence of two of her three sons she shares with her late husband and producer René Angélil, who died in 2016. (Angélil is surprisingly not much of a presence in this film , which, instead of a panoply of home movies or other cinematic elegies, only reveals his presence through brief footage of his funeral.) What she means to say is that her culture-transcending song craft has taken her around the globe, but with each tour stop never came one of the revelatory travel moments that affect us all. She was instead living a life in dressing rooms and on stages, all the while concealing an anomalous neurological condition that’s now prevented her from singing as she once did with such gravitas.

“I Am: Celine Dion” rarely looks backward, only waiting until well into the film’s under-two-hour running time to introduce archival footage of her childhood and early career days on TV and eventually in arenas. She reminds us that she didn’t create or invent herself; she rather is just the person she always was, and not some persona conjured for the stage or screen. Dion’s flippant sense of humor is preserved here, as she’s just as willing to laugh at herself and her condition as she is the circumstances around her. You sometimes yearn for the context of testimony from her family — she has 13 siblings! — but are reminded of the power of documentary when it leaves such platitudes behind. Not since Asif Kapadia’s “Amy” has a documentary looked so closely and with so few holds barred at a singer/songwriter made iconic by a spotlight that has also ended up shrouding her.

But a fan reminded her that “we’re not here for the apples; we’re here for the tree.” And indeed, “I Am: Celine Dion” graces us with plenty of footage of Dion’s ballad-belting, even while she reveals that past moments where she perhaps shook the mic in a sound-checking gesture or feigned a cough, she was fighting back extreme pain in her body due to what was a then-unknown illness warring within her.

Dion participates in Taylor’s extraordinarily intimate and revealing documentary in an often disheveled state, or at least without the makeup or adornment of the many beautiful clothes she keeps stored in a warehouse, revisiting with a bright-eyed nostalgia. But she never feels sorry for herself or collapses into self-pity, instead insisting that, god damn it, she will crawl back onto that stage if she has to.

“I Am: Celine Dion” premieres on Prime Video Tuesday, June 25.

Kinds of Kindness

A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual pro... Read all A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide. A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.

Yorgos Lanthimos
Efthimis Filippou
Jesse Plemons
Willem Dafoe
16 User reviews
83 Critic reviews
71 Metascore
1 win & 3 nominations

Top cast 35

Cheval Barman

Collectibles Appraiser …
Collectibles Appraiser 2
Mr.Smith's Secretary
Cheval Bar Piano Player
Recoiling Woman in Cheval Bar
Police Chief

Female Police Officer
All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

The Big List of Summer Movies

More like this

Did you know

Trivia According to Hong Chau , 'Kinds of Kindness' tells three separate stories with the cast playing different characters in each.

User reviews 16

grigoraaakis-889-295918
May 31, 2024

The 2024 Festival Films You Need to Know

When was Kinds of Kindness released? Powered by Alexa
June 28, 2024 (United States)
United States
United Kingdom
Merhamet Hikayeleri
New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Element Pictures
Searchlight Pictures
See more company credits at IMDbPro
Jun 23, 2024

Technical specs

Runtime 2 hours 44 minutes
Black and White
Dolby Digital

More to explore

site categories

Edward norton to narrate wellness doc ‘fasting and the longevity revolution’ directed by ‘blackkklansman’ editor barry alexander brown.

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: A Raw And Gut-Wrenching Documentary Reveals A Music Superstar Through Her Most Challenging Physical Trauma

By Pete Hammond

Pete Hammond

Awards Columnist/Chief Film Critic

Céline Dion Tells Fans At ‘I Am’ NYC Premiere: “I Hope To See You All Again Very, Very Soon”

Celine Dion Makes Surprise Appearance At The Grammys Amid Stiff Person Syndrome Diagnosis

Given the keys to 800 hours of previously unseen archival video and photos over the last 50 years from Dion’s vault, Taylor had the goods to make a feel-good documentary that would be a love letter from the star to her fans. It would cover her Vegas residency at Caesars Palace, her world tour, her life at home with her kids, and her storied career as the youngest of 14 kids growing up in Quebec who would become a superstar beloved around the world.

Make no mistake, the vintage Dion is on display here with generous use of past concert footage. The archival material is also well-used throughout, including her marriage to the love of her life and career-long manager Rene Angelil. There is footage shown of his funeral as well. The sacrifices of her mother and father for their family of 13 children is documented too. Her home life with her sons, and beloved dog Bear, is all on view. In many ways this is a gift, something she can still give to her fans.

But this film is ultimately about resiliency in the face of one of life’s cruelest tricks, taking away the engine that drives Dion’s existence. “My voice was always the conductor of my whole life,” she says, and suddenly it was in crisis. She talks of the need for pills to get through a performance, first one, then two, then five. Over the course of the year of filming Dion ventured out from her Las Vegas mansion only three times. We see them all as she comforts herself in a visit to her past in the incredible 12,000-foot warehouse that contains every item, gowns, shoes (so many shoes ) , childhood ballerina outfit, you name it. The camera is also there when Dion goes to a sound studio to fulfil a commitment to finish a movie, her first, she did before the pandemic. She now must dub the French version of that film, a romantic comedy called Love Again, as circumstances have changed in her life since filming it.

And then there is the stunning sequence that captures Dion back in the recording studio for the first time in three years, attempting to sing a new song and going through all the pain, second guessing, perfectionism, frustration and finally satisfaction that managed to get to a special result. Then it all goes dark when shortly after, cameras still rolling, she feels a muscle spasm in her foot, her body stiffens up, and her sports physical therapists go to work laying her down on the table face-down in unimaginable pain and body breakdown. Warning: this scene, as raw as it gets, is excruciating to watch, especially knowing that no one there, including the filmmaker, would know how it would turn out. Was Dion going to die with the cameras close on her face and still rolling? It feels invasive, but this is a person who for a year put her hair back in a bun, wore little or no makeup, and insisted the cameras show her as she is — now versus then.

Forty minutes later the episode was over, and she gets up. Her therapist cues one of her favorite songs (“Who I Am” by Wyn Starks) and Dion sings along, ever the performer even in a moment like this one. It is the new reality of her life, and one still waiting for the happy ending we see in those showbiz stories where there is always a comeback. “I always have a plan B,” she says. “I still see myself dance and sing. If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. But I won’t stop. I won’t stop.” Hopefully there will be a sequel for Celine Dion.

Producers are Stacy Lorts, Tom Mackay, Julie Begey Seureau, and Taylor.

Title: I Am: Celine Dion Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios Release Date: June 25, 2024 (Prime Video) Director: Irene Taylor With: Celine Dion Rating: PG Running time: 1 hr 42 min

Must Read Stories

Tremors hit german tv drama biz after u.s. players exit scripted.

‘All American’ Star Daniel Ezra To Exit As Series Regular After Season 6

‘acolyte’s leslye headland sets broadway debut; trip cullman helms ‘cult of love’, narges rashidi & joseph fiennes lead nazanin zaghari-ratcliffe drama.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Oilers vs Panthers Game 7 live stream: Can you watch for free?

The Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers clash in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight. Either way, history will be made–either the Panthers will win their first Stanley Cup in history, or the Oilers will become the first team since 1942 to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win the Cup.

Is there a free Oilers vs Panthers Game 7 live stream?

Watch the oilers vs panthers game 7 on espn+, watch the oilers vs panthers game 7 live stream from abroad.

Game 7 starts at 8:00 p.m. ET. In the United States, it will be televised on ABC, but if you’re looking to stream the NHL playoffs without cable, we’ve compiled the top options for watching a live stream of the game for free or cheap.

In the United States, you can watch a live stream of Game 7 on Fubo (“Pro” channel package), YouTube TV (“Base Plan”) or DirecTV Stream (“Entertainment” channel package or above). All three of these live-TV streaming services include ABC (available live in most markets) among their channel packages, and all offer a free trial, allowing you to watch tonight’s game without paying anything at all.

The Fubo free trial is seven days long compared to five for YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream. Fubo also has ABC live in a few more markets than the other two, so we’d recommend going with that as your first option, but all things considered, any three of these options should work perfectly fine for watching a live stream of tonight’s game for free.

If you’ve exhausted all of your free-trial options, and you just want the bare-minimum cheapest way to watch a live stream of the game, then ESPN+ is what you want. ESPN+ costs $11 per month, or, if you want to bundle it with Disney+ and Hulu , you can get all three for a total of just $15 per month.

What’s particularly great about this option, besides the fact that it’s cheap, is that anyone in the United States can watch the game. You don’t have to worry about what market you’re in. Plus, it’s available in English, Spanish and ASL.

For those who are outside of the United and don’t have a good way to watch a live stream of Game 7, you may want to check out a virtual private network (VPN). With a VPN, you can hide your IP address/location and connect to a digital server in the United States. This makes it look as though you’re physically located in the US, allowing you to use location-restricted services such as Fubo, YouTube TV, DirecTV Stream or ESPN+.

We recommend NordVPN thanks to its reliability, speed and current sale price, but there are a number of good options out there. You can check out our ranking of the 18 best VPN services for some other choices.

Editors' Recommendations

Panthers vs Oilers Game 6 live stream: Can you watch for free?
Copa America 2024 live stream: Can you watch for free?
Oilers vs Panthers Game 5 live stream: Can you watch for free?
How to watch Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin live stream: PPV cost, time, and more
Panthers vs Oilers Game 4 live stream: Can you watch the Stanley Cup for free?
How to Watch

Just one win away from their 18th title in franchise history, the Boston Celtics take on the Dallas Mavericks in Game 4. After winning the opening three games of the finals, the Celtics are now 15-2 in the playoffs and have won 10 straight. They look truly unstoppable, but if there's one thing you don't want to underestimate, it's Luka Dončić with his back against the wall.

Game 4, which could potentially be the final game of the NBA season, is about to begin, at 8:30 p.m. ET tonight. It'll be on ABC, but if you want to stream the NBA playoffs without cable, here are some easy ways you can watch a live stream of the Celtics vs Mavs. Is There a Free Celtics vs Mavs Game 4 Live Stream?

Before we get to the 2024 Summer Olympics in July, the athletes must qualify in their respective events. Qualifying is done differently across different sports, and many have already booked their spots in Paris, but for others, the most important competition of their lives is about to begin.

In the United States, Olympic qualifying for four major sports are all on the horizon:

With domestic leagues done for the season, the footballing world now turns its attention to Germany for the highly anticipated 2024 European Championship. Italy enter as the defending champs, but with a stacked field that includes hosts Germany, as well as Portugal, France, Spain, England, Belgium, Netherlands and Croatia, Euro 2024 is wide open.

The championship starts on Friday, June 14. In the United States, most matches will be televised on Fox or Fox Sports 1, while others will stream exclusively on Fubo. Here's a complete rundown of all the different ways you can watch a live stream of Euro 2024. Watch the Euro 2024 Live Stream on Fubo

Get the Reddit app

A subreddit for movie reviews and discussions

After 2 months of research I have scientifically found out which are truly the best 10 movies of all time.

IMAGES

Antlers Review: Atmospheric Monster Flick Isn't Scary
Antlers (2021)
Antlers Movie Review
Film Review: Antlers is a Visually Stunning Create Feature Uniquely
Antlers Full Movie Review
Antlers

VIDEO

The Antlers
Antlers (2021) A Quick Review

COMMENTS

Official Discussion
Summary: In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher and her sheriff brother become embroiled with her enigmatic student, whose dark secrets lead to terrifying encounters with a legendary ancestral creature who came before them. Director: Scott Cooper. Writers: Henry Chaisson, Nick Antosca, Scott Cooper.
What are your thoughts on Antlers? Is it worth a watch? : r/horror
It's very grim. I watch a lot of horror but this one definitely got under my skin. It's not the best horror movie of the year by any mean but it knows what it wants to be and relentlessly commits to it. It was ok. But I absolutely loved the short story and the movie was nowhere near as good.
Antlers: Critic Reviews Megathread : r/movies
A creepy little movie boasting impressive (and large) practical monster effects, it aims to tackle a few personal and societal issues. Some are more effective than others. Kyle Anderson Nerdist 3/5. Given its promise and everything it does right, Antlers winds up being a frustrating experience. Eric Eisenberg CinemaBlend 2.5/5.
Antlers movie review & film summary (2021)
Antlers. "Antlers" is a film about darkness. Human darkness. Supernatural darkness. Literal, low-lit filmmaking darkness. It is a slimy, icky, violent film that doesn't always come together but it also undeniably feels like it has emerged from the passions of its creators, particularly director Scott Cooper and producer Guillermo del Toro ...
Antlers
From the visionary world of acclaimed director Scott Cooper and horror maestro Guillermo del Toro comes ANTLERS. In an isolated Oregon town, a middle-school teacher (Keri Russell) and her sheriff ...
'Antlers' Review: Keri Russell Takes On a Horned Wendigo
Scott Cooper. 'Antlers' Review: Keri Russell Takes on a Horned Wendigo in Freaky Folk Horror Movie. Reviewed at Beyond Fest (closer), Oct. 11, 2021. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 99 MIN ...
Antlers Review
Antlers is a satisfying, unsettling, and rather bleak horror movie when it focuses on its main creature. It's also a thought-provoking character drama when it deals with parental neglect, but ...
Antlers review: The freakiest folk horror of the year is here
review: The freakiest folk horror of the year is here. Produced by Guillermo del Toro, this creature feature has teeth. Scott Cooper tells ghost stories. Antlers, hitting theaters this Friday, is ...
'Antlers' Review
Rated R, 1 hour 39 minutes. Painfully withdrawn at school, Lucas attracts the attention of a teacher who has just returned to this small town after a long absence. Keri Russell 's Julia endured ...
Antlers Review: The Human Horror Is Scarier Than The Supernatural
Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Flipboard Copy link Email. Link copied to clipboard. Antlers (2021) ... Antlers was released in theaters on October 29, 2021. The film is 99 minutes long and is rated R for violence including gruesome images, and for language. ... Release Date: 2021-10-29. Our Rating: 3 out of 5 (Good) Movies. Movie Reviews. 3 star ...
ANTLERS Is a Solid Creature Feature with a Bit More to Say
Antlers, which premiered as part of L.A.'s annual Beyond Fest, is mostly worth the wait. A creepy little movie boasting impressive (and large) practical monster effects, it aims to tackle a few ...
'Antlers' review: Scary story of being traumatized by a monster and by
Searchlight Pictures presents a film directed by Scott Cooper and written by Cooper, C. Henry Chaisson & Nick Antosca, based on Antosca's short story "The Quiet Boy.". Rated R (for violence ...
Antlers [Reviews]
A small-town Oregon teacher and her brother, the local sheriff, discover that a young student is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences. Oct 14, 2021 - A grotesque and ...
'Antlers' Review: Stunning but slight folkloric horror
Antlers is a spiritual summoning of Mother Earth's defenders — we'll get there — but centers on Julia's overwhelming desire to save Lucas (instinctual based on her own suffered, family-bred abuse). How Lucas protects whatever's pounding against a door with multiple bolt locks is a representation of immense undertakings that linger ...
Thoughts on the movie Antlers (2021)? : r/horror
Big fan of the original short story. While I think the movie was really well-shot and competently directed, with some killer performances (especially by Jeremy Thomas), it was the script that killed the movie for me. It lacked focus and just kind of... meandered through the beats of the original story. Probably the most disappointing movie of ...
'Antlers' movie review: Dark, moody horror film reflects cycle of abuse
The sun doesn't shine in Antlers. Not once. The darkness isn't solely metaphorical in this story, either; following a mysterious local family that falls on very bad times, the horror movie is ...
Antlers Movie Review
Scott Cooper's latest movie, Antlers, aimed to hit theaters in spring 2020; however, the film's release was delayed until October 2021.And, it's definitely worth the wait. Antlers is a modern fable that mixes in some crime thriller elements with a memorable monster. The film tells the story of a young boy, Lucas (Jeremy T. Thomas), coping with a family trauma with a deep and dark connection to ...
Antlers Ending Explained: Mythology, Twist & Sequel Setup
Antlers ending twist, mythology, and sequel setup explained. The horror film, directed by Scott Cooper, faced plenty of delays before finally releasing to theaters. Starring Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons, Antlers is a film that explores a creature from Indigenous lore, and the darkness lurking inside humanity as well.
12 Best Mythical Monster Movies Like 'Troll'
Starting in the 2010s, there was an influx of films centered around Santa Claus' evil Eastern European counterpart, Krampus. However, only one of these films stars Toni Collette and Adam Scott and ...
THE VOURDALAK Gives Us a Vampire Folk Tale with One Major ...
Beau makes a couple of really clever choices that set this movie apart from other adaptations. Famously, Mario Bava's 1963 anthology film Black Sabbath adapts the story with Boris Karloff as Gorcha.
Antlers- worth a watch or nah? : r/horror
R/HORROR, known as Dreadit by our subscribers is the premier horror entertainment community on Reddit. For more than a decade /R/HORROR has been reddit.com's gateway to all things Horror: from movies & TV, to books & games. Antlers- worth a watch or nah? Saw that HBO just added Antlers onto their streaming platform and was wondering what people ...
The Exorcism movie review & film summary (2024)
In Joshua John Miller's "The Exorcism," Russell Crowe plays Anthony Miller, an actor and recovering addict who is thrown into a role as a priest beset upon by demons. As Crowe dives into the role, under horrible and unflinching guidance from a director played by Adam Goldberg, he is forced to confront his own personal "demons."But as more strange things begin to occur on set, the question ...
'I Am: Celine Dion' Review: You Saw the Best in Me
Dion's voice made her a star. A new documentary on Amazon Prime Video brings her back to Earth, showing her intimate struggles with stiff person syndrome.
'I Am: Celine Dion' Review: This Documentary Is a Stunner
Irene Taylor's 'I Am: Celine Dion' is a devastating and inspired portrait of the singer at her lowest, and transcending despite of it.
Antlers (2021)
Antlers (2021) - Movie Reviewing Bites! Movie Review. Dir. Scott Cooper. Overview. Middle school teacher, Julia (Keri Russell), moves in with her brother Paul (Jesse Plemons) in her old hometown following the death of her abusive father. Clearly uncomfortable and haunted by memories of her dysfunctional childhood, she finds herself drawn to an ...
Kinds of Kindness (2024)
Kinds of Kindness: Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. With Yorgos Stefanakos, Margaret Qualley, Jesse Plemons, Fadeke Adeola. A man seeks to break free from his predetermined path, a cop questions his wife's demeanor after her return from a supposed drowning, and a woman searches for an extraordinary individual prophesied to become a renowned spiritual guide.
'I AM: Celine Dion' Review: Gut-wrenching docu on singer's ...
Hollywood is full of the movies, many made in the 40's and 50's, of major musical stars who go through personal trauma their fans don't see as they eventualy emerge triumphantly performing ...
Antlers
829 subscribers in the FlickDirect community. FlickDirect™ carries a wide assortment of entertainment news, release information, video clips…
Oilers vs Panthers Game 7 live stream: Can you watch for free?
The Oilers and Panthers play for the Stanley Cup tonight. Here are the best ways you can watch a live stream of Game 7 for free in the U.S.
After 2 months of research I have scientifically found out ...
A subreddit for movie reviews and discussions Members Online Movies you loved as a kid, and thought were serious masterpieces with great acting, but now realize they were intentionally cheesy, and preposterous films for people with short attention spans

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Email not verified

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Movies / TV

Where to Watch

What to Know

Critics Reviews

Movie Clips

‘Antlers’ Review: Keri Russell Takes on a Horned Wendigo in Freaky Folk Horror Movie

Peter Debruge

Related Stories

Popular on Variety

Reviewed at Beyond Fest (closer), Oct. 11, 2021. MPAA Rating: R. Running time: 99 MIN.

More from Variety

Antlers review: The freakiest folk horror of the year is here

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

site categories

John DeFore

Related Stories

Full credits

THR Newsletters

More from The Hollywood Reporter

‘Antlers’ a scary story of being traumatized by a monster — and by reality

Images & Screenshots

Antlers Review

Be the first to rate & review this game!

'Antlers' Review: Stunning but slight folkloric horror

What to Watch Verdict

Most Popular

Antlers Blends Creature Feature & Folklore Into a Memorable Horror Movie

10 Best Horror Movies With the Most Remakes

Screen Rant

Eddie Murphy Elaborates On Beverly Hills Cop 3 Criticism: "That Means The Movie's Not Going To Work"

Antlers Ending Explained

Why Julia Returned To Oregon After So Long

Antlers Mythology Explained & Why Wendigo Was Used

How The Wendigo Lore Is Different In Antlers

How Antlers’ Twist Ending Sets Up A Sequel

12 Best Mythical Monster Movies Like 'Troll'

12 'Salem's Lot' (1979)

11 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981)

An American Werewolf In London

10 'Antlers' (2021)

9 'Krampus' (2015)

8 'The Lord of the Rings' Trilogy (2001 - 2003)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

7 'The Host' (2006)

6 'How to Train Your Dragon' (2010)

How to Train Your Dragon

5 'Sinister' (2012)

4 'The Golem' (2018)

3 'Smile' (2022)

2 'Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio' (2022)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

1 'Troll Hunter' (2010)

THE VOURDALAK Gives Us a Vampire Folk Tale with One Major Selling Point

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...

Movie Reviews

Now playing

Jim Henson Idea Man

Tomris Laffly

Nightwatch: Demons Are Forever

STAX: Soulsville, USA

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Ultraman: Rising

The Exorcism (2024)

Latest blog posts

Furiosa Doesn't Feel Like Any Other Mad Max Film, and That's What's Wonderful About It

DC/DOX -- Washington DC's Documentary Film Festival in its Second Year

Beautiful and Haunted: Jeff Nichols on The Bikeriders

Willie Mays: The Greatest to Ever Play

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: You Saw the Best in Me

‘I Am: Celine Dion’ Review: The Iconic Singer Opens Up About Stiff Person Syndrome in a Superb, Intimate Documentary

Most Popular

Kinds of Kindness

Top cast 35

The Big List of Summer Movies

More like this

Did you know

User reviews 16