Trailer for Guillermo del Toro-produced Antlers tells of a dark fairy tale

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

History has shown that many of the world's fairy tales are born as cautionary tales of terror, meant to frighten children into good behavior, lest they want to be devoured by something strange and sinister.

Today, Fox Searchlight Pictures has unleashed a trailer for ANTLERS, a disturbing fantasy horror thriller that takes place in a quiet Oregon town, where something tortured and hungry is waiting to sink its teeth into anything and anyone that dares disturb its iron-clad prison.

Here's a brief synopsis for ANTLERS:

A small-town Oregon teacher (Keri Russell) and her brother (Jesse Plemons), the local sheriff, discover that a young student (Jeremy T. Thomas) is harboring a dangerous secret with frightening consequences.

Directed by CRAZY HEART and BLACK MASS director Scott Cooper and produced by Guillermo del Toro, ANTLERS is based on the short story "The Quiet Boy" by Nick Acosta (THE ACT, CHANNEL ZERO, HANNIBAL). Acosta penned the script alongside C. Henry Chaisson, which has Keri Russell (THE AMERICANS), and Jessie Plemons (FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS starring as the film's lead characters. Co-starring are Graham Greene (DANCES WITH WOLVES) and Rory Cochrane (ARGO), with Jeremy T. Thomas playing the role of Lucas Weaver.

I don't know about y'all, but this trailer gave me chills. Literal chills. Creepy kids are one thing, but what is up with Papa Bear and Baby Bear? For real. How much human porridge do you think Lucas will need to serve up before either of them are satiated? Could it be that their hunger is bottomless, and that no one will be able to rest until they've gobbled up the entire town? I shudder to think of who will be forced to open those doors, only to find that Lucas has been hiding abominations that no one can tame.

ANTLERS has yet to receive a solid release date, though we hear the film is expected to travel over the river and through the woods and into theaters sometime in 2020.