Antlers

Set in a rain soaked town in rural Oregon, Antlers follows Julia Meadows, a teacher who senses something wrong lurking in her classroom. She teams with her brother, Paul, the town sheriff, to look into the troubling behavior of a quiet student. As the mystery deepens, the corridor of the school and the nearby woods reveal a secret rooted in a family history of trauma and survival. What starts as a case of disturbing secrets soon becomes a widening horror that tests the limits of trust and protection. The danger grows not just from a child’s strange acts, but from what the adults must confront about themselves and their town.

Directed by Scott Cooper, Antlers adapts a story by Nick Antosca and Henry Chaisson. The film arrived in 2021 with a tight budget of 17 million and stars Keri Russell, Jesse Plemons, Jeremy T. Thomas, and Graham Greene. The screenplay adds a measured slow burn that lets the dread simmer, while tense performances ground the otherworldly elements in emotional realism.

Antlers grossed about 18.9 million worldwide against a reported budget of 17 million, a modest showing for a horror title. The financials reflect a limited release with steady but not explosive audience turnout. Its release strategy emphasized regional markets and gradual word of mouth, rather than a blockbuster launch.

Even if it did not topple the box office, Antlers sparked conversations about how horror can mirror pain and resilience. Viewers noted the film's stark rural atmosphere and its uneasy blend of family loyalty with primal fear, marking it as part of contemporary folk horror.

Critics offered a mixed reception, praising the mood and the performances of Russell and Plemons while noting pacing and tonal shifts. The film probes maternal protection, hidden trauma, and how a small town copes with a past that just won't stay buried.