I'm liking the movie Antlers less the more I think about it and read reviews. At first, it was a 5 star movie. But someone on you tube (PossessedbyHorror) brought up two very good points that I'd like to put into my own words and add my own thoughts on. So, thanks to her I'm making this post. The wendigo itself is barely seen. You get maybe two scenes where you can see it clearly. You could swap the creature out for anything and it would still be the same story, which the story with the kid and the father was great.
The true lore of the wendigo is mentioned briefly. The creature for one thing is a native American legend. How cool would it have been to have a cast of native American people against this creature? You could bring it so much new culture and ideas. Instead, it stars white folks. Yes, they did a great job with the creature effects and the lighting, but as far as the story of the monster-it lacked.
Also, the film seemed to hint at this theme of environmentalism. How we're destroying the world and the creature is angry. I think that should have been the focus of this plot. Instead of a kid helping his tortured father. A film of eco horror would've really fit with the monster better. You could've brought up themes of how we're gross and ruining the planet and that this creature is the manifestation of all the angry natives we killed and tortured. Why was the story about addiction and the sadness of children living in poverty? Yes, both very important themes-but I also don't think it serves the wendigo story at all.
Again, it's a good movie-but I really wanted the wendigo to feature more and for his lore to be explored and dissected.
Comments