Erik Nielsen

Antlers is at its best when grounded in familial trauma haunted by the mythical terrors of the beast.

Its setup is elevated, even after it goes from one close call to another, by the dream logic Filomarino instills in the minutiae of his story’s moving parts and John David Washington’s full-bodied performance.

Honing in on Andre’s uncanny ability to lure random people to participate in his absurdity is Bad Trip’s greatest strength. As every narrative beat he wishes to subvert can only happen if people buy into what he’s doing, it’s a fascinating double-edged sword to participate in as an audience member too.

Some may be exhausted by the emotional weight of divorce, but Delpy carries us through each stage of grief and motherhood with a deft directorial touch.

As various ideas entertainingly bounce around from conversation to conversation, the film ultimately culminates into a moving and heartbreaking experience.