Antlers: Neo-Retro Horror

I figured, with Keri Russell and Jesse Plemons in the lead roles, and for that matter, Graham Greene in a supporting role, how could you go wrong with a horror movie like Antlers on HBO Max?  And I discovered: you can't.

But let me also tell you, this neo-horror movie (I'm not really sure what neo means, and indeed Antlers also has retro elements, going back to the silent-movie era), is not for the faint-hearted and weak-stomached.  It has a scene or two with cannibalism, and other scenes will outrightly shock the bejesus out of you.

The basic story -- based on the short story ("The Quiet Boy") by Nick Antosca, who also helped write the movie -- is about a malevolent spirit in Oregon that craves human flesh and invades humans and turns them into horrendous deers with big antlers who continue eating humans and ripping them apart.  Russell is a grade school teacher.  The father and younger brother of one of her students have had first-hand experience with the antlers.  Plemons is the town sheriff.  Greene is the retired sheriff who knows all too well about the creatures with antlers.

As I said, the movie both feels like it was made in the 1920s, and has a hipness, especially regarding the power of women.  As a supernatural horror movie it has zero elements of science fiction, and indeed is drenched with dark fantasy.  So, if wanting a rational explanation is your thing, Antlers will most decidedly not be your cup of tea, or any civilized fluid.

But Scott Cooper (who also co-wrote for the screen) did a good job directing, the plot is tight, and not completely predictable (and, hey, I don't think I've spilled any spoilers), and if you're a secret or public buff of horror, I'd give antlers a shot.

 
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