Weapons

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)

There's a steady hand at work building tension as the movie progresses but unfortunately it all leads to a rather dull climax. You get hints of an explanation, and I'm not the type of person who needs everything spelled out, but it feels as though the film simply ends things "because it's time." I appreciate the different storylines overlapping and converging but it all felt pointless by the time the credits rolled. I'm also not sure what tone the director is going for here. There's certainly a horror element, but I've seen it classified as a dark comedy and I don't know that I would remotely consider it in that category. The acting is fine and the photography is decent but there's nothing here that you haven't seen before in better packaging.

I genuinely fail to see the buzz surrounding Weapons. The first half of the film did a commendable job of building tension. The atmosphere was thick with unease, and the slow burn of the narrative had me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the terror to strike. The mystery was compelling, and the gradual reveal of the plot promised a chilling experience. However, once the story began to fully reveal itself, the thrill completely evaporated. The suspense that had been so carefully crafted in the beginning was gone. The narrative shift from psychological tension to a more straightforward plot left me feeling underwhelmed and, frankly, bored. The film's "horror" element was almost non-existent. Ultimately, Weapons is a film that promises a gripping, terrifying experience but delivers something far more ordinary. It's a classic case of style over substance.

This was the most excited I've been about a movie in a very long time. Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB reviews were looking great. Maybe my expectations were too high but I really thought this movie was not that good. Extremely disappointed. The plot of the movie was kind of lame. It really wasn't that scary or suspenseful. It just didn't deliver like most moves rated high 7's or low 8's. Not sure why it's still rated high 7's.

Weapons is a tense and gripping new horror from Zach Cregger that lives up to much of its immense hype. The story follows a community reeling after all but one child from the same class vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, and from there it unfolds with a sharp mix of mystery, dread, and dark humor. The acting across the board is phenomenal, the suspense is crafted with precision, and the world building for the small town setting feels rich and lived in. Practical effects shine, the score adds weight to the tension, and there are even moments of levity that break up the intensity without ever killing the mood.

What makes Weapons stand out is how confidently it holds your attention. From start to finish, it's a film that refuses to let go, pulling you deeper into its unsettling premise. It's refreshing to see such commitment to originality in mainstream horror, and the movie feels like a love letter to the genre's willingness to take risks. While the final reveal of what truly happened may divide viewers, and for me personally, it didn't entirely stick the landing but the journey there is so compelling that it's hard not to walk away impressed.