Antlers - What We Know So Far
In January 2019, Guernica published a haunting short story written by Nick Antosca. "The Quiet Boy" takes place in a remote town where a child harbors a devastating secret that threatens the well-being of everyone around him. It's the perfect chilling plotline you can read for free online, but some people may feel compelled to steer clear. After all, the tale's about to receive the big-screen treatment courtesy of the upcoming adaptation — "Antlers."
Antosca helped write the screenplay for the film along with Scott Cooper and C. Henry Chaisson. Cooper also directs the film, while the entire project receives a healthy dose of horror street cred thanks to Guillermo del Toro's presence as a producer. "Antlers" is one of the many highly anticipated horror projects coming out this year, and it's faced a long, harrowing journey to make it to theaters finally. Here's everything you need to know about "Antlers" before it releases.
What's the release date for Antlers?
You aren't alone if you feel like you've seen the "Antlers" trailer play on your TV for the better part of two years now. The film had an original release date of April 17, 2020 (via The Playlist), but Searchlight Pictures scrapped those plans when most businesses had to shut down in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline later reported the movie would open on February 19, 2021, but that date has come and gone. With movie theaters gradually reopening, it appears as though "Antlers" will stick with its newest release date and drop for everybody who's over the age of 16 to see on October 29, 2021.
Coming out just a couple of days before Halloween is appropriate, considering the spooky nature of the project. As of this writing, the film should release exclusively to theaters initially before landing on any streaming service. Expect to watch it at home sometime in early 2022.
Who's in the cast for Antlers?
A young boy named Lucas Weaver (Jeremy T. Thomas) is at the center of all of the action in "Antlers." He begins acting strange at school, which catches the attention of his teacher, Julia Meadows (Keri Russell). She brings the situation to her brother, Paul (Jesse Plemons), who also works as the local sheriff for the small Oregon town. Russell and Plemons are both immensely accomplished actors, so it'll be intriguing to see what they manage to do within the confines of a horror movie.
They're not alone in the upcoming feature, as other actors include Amy Madigan ("The Last Full Measure"), Graham Greene ("Wind River"), Rory Cochrane ("White Boy Rick"), and Scott Haze ("Minari"). There's also the central monster at the heart of "Antlers" that director Scott Cooper has described as being close to the "wendigo" (via IndieWire). Considering Cooper describes the monster as being "ancient, powerful, and one with nature," it may just upstage everyone else.
What's the plot of Antlers?
Julia realizes something is amiss with one of her students after he writes a disturbing story for class. After speaking with him, she learns that he has a supernatural entity in his house. She brings the case to her brother's attention. To unravel the mystery, they have to research local myths and legends. Judging from the "Antlers" trailer, it looks as though the creature also has a connection with a string of deaths that have taken place around town.
"Antlers" looks to follow in the grand tradition of horror movies revolving around creepy kids, like "The Omen" and "Orphan." The young boy within the film seems to have a special connection with the monster, and it'll be interesting to see how everything plays out. Of course, if you can't wait that long to terrify yourself, you can always read the short story online. That way, when "Antlers" releases, you can have an opinion on which version is better.