Though he is only a producer on the film Antlers, you can see and feel Guillermo del Toro’s influence everywhere in it. The film has a dark and gloomy Pacific Northwest setting that he enjoys.
He hands over the direction to Scott Cooper, who has shown he can create a haunting atmosphere in his previous films like Out of the Furnace and The Pale Blue Eye. Antlers is based on Nick Antosca’s 2019 short story called “The Quiet Boy.”
It is now available on Peacock. In this movie, del Toro works with Cooper and two talented actors known for horror roles, Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons.
Graham Greene also plays a wise man with a story to share. Together with newcomer Jeremy T. Thomas, they create one of the creepiest films of the decade. The film features serious body horror and an ancient, evil force from nature that will kill and harm everything to survive.
Set in a dull, rural mining town in Oregon, Antlers tells the story of a middle school teacher named Julia Meadows, played by Russell.
Julia returns to her hometown after facing childhood abuse from her father and struggles with drinking. She moves in with her brother Paul, the local sheriff, played by Plemons. They become involved in the life of a strange student named Lucas Weaver, played by Thomas.
Julia notices Lucas arrives at school looking dirty and hungry, and he tells odd stories. Curious about his home life, she digs deeper, not knowing what she will find.
After asking Paul for help with a possible child abuse case, they all become caught in a terrifying change when Lucas’ father, Frank, played by Scott Haze, gets possessed by an ancient Native American spirit.
This spirit takes over human bodies and becomes the Wendigo, a creature that needs a human host to live. The Wendigo is a bizarre mix of man and twelve-point buck, which fits del Toro’s style.
Every good Guillermo del Toro film has many layers of horror that hold the audience’s attention. Antlers shows Scott Cooper creating a haunting mood. The first layer is about the loneliness and slight hope that runs through the whole film.
The gray and gloomy setting acts like its own character in the story. People from that area of the United States understand how dark and cold it can feel living without sunlight for a month.
It can take a toll on your mind and body. Cooper cleverly uses a pale blue-green lens filter to make the most of the natural surroundings.
The second layer of horror is the incredible body horror that often appears in del Toro’s films. As the Wendigo creature slowly takes over Frank’s weak and drug-affected body, it is painful to watch him lose himself completely.
Lucas gathers roadkill to feed his father before he starts to eat humans. Lucas becomes so wild and unstable that he has to be locked away in the attic.
Once the Wendigo breaks free from its human host, chaos ensues, and bodies start piling up while Paul tries to keep control.
The creature’s design comes from ideas by Cooper, concept designer Guy Davis, producer Shane Mahan, and the horror legend del Toro.
At its core, Antlers tells a story about siblings. The main theme is Julia and Paul trying to reconnect after being apart for years, or Lucas trying to protect his younger brother, Aidan, played by Sawyer Jones.
Cooper and del Toro skillfully mix horrifying scenes with relatable, sad family relationships tested in tough times.
The film also deals with the heavy issue of parental abuse, which adds to the total gloom. Together, they create a fantastic and creepy film that del Toro can be proud of, even as he oversees another director who delivers the dark story.
As long as del Toro is involved in the production, it is almost guaranteed to be unique and a memorable viewing experience.
