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Review: ‘Weapons’ is a Bizarre and Bloody Suspense Thriller, and a Creepy New Classic for the Horror Genre
August 7, 2025Ben MK
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Within the horror genre, there are films that rely largely on jump scares, and there are others where the terror is more inherent in the storytelling. Occasionally, however, you might come upon a horror movie that effectively balances both of these vital elements, such as with Zach Cregger's Barbarian. A critically acclaimed sleeper hit that marked his fist foray into the genre, Barbarian established Cregger as an emerging creative force to be reckoned with. And with his latest, Weapons, Cregger is back doing what he does best, in this suspenseful mystery thriller about the disappearance of a group of elementary school students all belonging to the same class. Set in the small town of Maybrook, the story follows Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), a teacher who's relatively new at Maybrook Elementary School, and who also happens to be the unlucky educator at the center of the vanishing of 17 of her students. It was roughly one month ago, at 2:17 in the morning, that these kids all suddenly woke up, walked out of their homes, and disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. But while many of Maybrook's citizens, especially grieving parents like Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), suspect that Justine had something to do with their kids' inexplicable disappearance, for Justine herself, the event remains just as much of a conundrum. Contrary to the wishes of the school's principal, Marcus (Benedict Wong), Justine embarks on a quest to get some answers from the only child in her class who didn't vanish that fateful night, a quiet nine-year-old named Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher). What she discovers, however, might be far too disturbing for her to handle on her own, a fact evidenced by the other strange occurrences that have been taking place in town. It's something that has been happening under the radar of Maybrook's homegrown police department, but which hasn't gone unnoticed by those who have persisted on digging deeper into the mystery — people such as Archer, and even Justine's cop friend, Paul (Alden Ehrenreich). But as they inch closer to solving a puzzle that at first seemed utterly bewildering, will they wind up putting themselves in mortal danger as well? Also wrapped up in the chaos is an unwitting drug addict named Anthony (Austin Abrams), who's less concerned with reuniting these missing kids with their parents than he is with obtaining the $50,000 reward associated with the case. Little do they all realize that there's something decidedly more sinister at the core of this tragic riddle. And when that something — or someone — gets wind of what this group of individuals are up to, they'll stop at nothing to protect their secret and prevent the population of Maybrook from discovering their evil scheme. Told in several separate but related chapters, each unfolding from the unique perspective of its various participants, the result is a nail-biting ensemble character drama that's oftentimes downright terrifying and other times surprisingly funny. For fans of Cregger's previous film, though, what resonates strongest about Weapons is its commitment to telling a genuinely creepy, twisty-turny tale that feels very much of the same ilk as Barbarian. From the guess-whodunnit aspect of the narrative to the movie's big, third-act reveal, this is one genre entry that absolutely lives up to the hype. And just as Barbarian gained a cult following in the wake of its release, so too does this film seem destined to become a new modern classic for the horror genre. Throw in a few Easter eggs nodding to other genre icons, such as Stephen King and Stanley Kubrick, and it's easy to see why Cregger has joined the likes of Ari Aster, Osgood Perkins and Robert Eggers as one of horror's new vanguard of filmmakers. Thanks to its own unmistakable tone and style, not to mention Cregger's bold, distinctive vision, Weapons is, without a doubt, one of the year's best movies. Just don't go into it expecting a conventional horror thriller — this may be a genuine contender come awards season, but it's certainly one of the most bizarre and bloody roller coaster rides you'll ever experience at the multiplex. Weapons releases August 8th, 2025 from Warner Bros. Pictures. The film has an MPAA rating of R for strong bloody violence and grisly images, language throughout, some sexual content and drug use. Its runtime is 2 hrs. 8 min. |
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