Aside from the message that it’s not wise to mess with Mother Nature, “Antlers” explores the possibility of real threats behind myths and legends, which is frequently fertile terrain.
Adapted from the short story “The Quiet Boy” by Nick Antosca , the movie has an unsettling quality in the early going that dissipates as more revelations slowly drip out.
The net effect isn’t necessarily bad assuming that expectations are modest, and there’s something to be said for a more understated, small-scale approach to horror that doesn’t confuse body count with scares.