Weapons

I must say, this movie truly has it all - mystery, horror, and excellent storytelling.

Normally, it takes a while for a film to draw me in and build up the suspense, but this one grabs your attention from the very first scene and keeps you hooked all the way through.

The pacing is tight, the atmosphere is intense, and the story unfolds in a way that keeps you constantly curious. I also really appreciated the performances - the acting felt authentic and added depth to the overall experience.

The ending was satisfying, though I gave it 8 stars because a few elements of the mystery remained unresolved - or perhaps intentionally left open to interpretation.

Still, a fantastic film and a must-watch for fans of smart, original horror!

I liked Creggers' Barbarian a lot, but he didn't entirely stick the landing for me. Weapons is his sophomore effort, and you can see the confidence in direction and story telling is more refined. I had a blast watching this, as much as i love serious horror, Weapons wasn't afraid to inject some huge laughs to release the tension. Its gonna be hard to choose between this and 'Bring her Back', as my fave horror of the year thus far...

I caught an advance screening of Weapons (2025) tonight. The storyline follows a town in shock after an entire elementary school class mysteriously vanishes one night, after all the children suddenly run out of their homes. The blame falls on the teacher, who becomes desperate to clear her name-but she has no idea where to begin. Maybe she should start with the one student who didn't go missing...

This picture is written and directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian) and stars Julia Garner (Ozark), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Amy Madigan (Streets of Fire), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), and Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers).

Weapons is a unique and gripping addition to the horror genre, evoking the tone of both Hereditary and The Children. The acting is phenomenal-every cast member delivers a grounded, emotionally authentic performance. The story unfolds in a Pulp Fiction-style structure, allowing the audience to piece everything together from different characters' perspectives.

The horror builds slowly and methodically, but once it kicks in, it really kicks in. The gore is intense, and a few scenes even brought Drag Me to Hell to mind. The villain is top-tier, and the central concept is executed with precision. Standout moments-especially the kitchen and gas station scenes-are packed with tension and shot beautifully. The camerawork throughout is exceptional, particularly in the climax, and even everyday settings like the liquor store are filmed with eerie familiarity. There's a cloud of mystery hanging over the film, and as the pieces finally click into place, the ending lands perfectly.

In conclusion, Weapons is everything you want it to be-methodical, well-written, and even better executed. I'd give it an 8.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

1) I love horror movies.

2) I avoided all trailers, marketing and reviews, so I am not a victim of overhyping.

3) I felt like this would be another example of a movie that will be unanimously praised and lauded as the best/scariest horror movie of the year. That seems to be the case.

4) Six stars is a positive score, but this review will be mostly negative as I try to explain why I didn't like this more.

5) The mystery is built masterfully. But once we find out who or what is behind the horror, all I could think is, "That's it?" I hoped there was more to the story or somewhere interesting the plot could go from there. But there really isn't.

6) They keep telling us more about the flawed characters, and have them involved in drama, which I enjoyed as it happened. But it doesn't come into play even a tiny bit, not with the story or any character arcs.

7) There are some really good horror elements and jaw-dropping moments. But I ask myself if I would watch this again, and the answer is... probably not.

8) It's a good movie, but I can't help but feel underwhelmed.

(1 viewing, opening Thursday EMX 8/7/2025)

Exceeding all my expectations, "Weapons" is an incredibly powerful film where Zach Cregger masterfully blends tension and dark humor to a new level of sharpness.

The mystery of a mass disappearance and its impact on a small town unfolds in a mesmerizing, layered way, giving each character a chance to shine. The story is divided into several nerve-wracking chapters, ending with a gripping finale.

Special credit goes to Josh Brolin and Alden Ehrenreich, though the entire cast delivers strong, harmonious performances that brilliantly maintain the balance Cregger has created.