User reviews

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.

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...

"Weapons" focuses on a Pennsylvania town where a large group of children-coincidentally (or perhaps not) from the same home classroom-flee their homes one night and disappear. Suspicion naturally falls on their teacher, but an intricate web of events unfolds, showcasing a dark, if not unbelievable, turn of events.

While writer-director Zach Cregger's "Barbarian" attracted a significant following among genre fans, I was not particularly a fan of that film; while I thought it had its share of strong elements and could see why some people loved it, the tone and genre-bending grotesque humor did not appeal to my taste. Because of this, I had tempered expectations for this film, but on the whole was pleasantly surprised. There is certainly dark humor here, but it is played in a more human way.

The screenplay utilizes segmented vignettes that interlock, forming a larger portrait of the strange, almost Stephen King-esque events unfolding in the small community. Tensions abound, as the missing kids' schoolteacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) receives her scarlet letter, with grief-stricken parents such as Archer (Josh Brolin) blaming her for their children's disappearances. Further characters are thrown into the mix and each have their own narrative strands in the chain of events, including a struggling cop (Alden Ehrenreich), a young drug addict and petty thief (Austin Abrams), and the school principal Andrew (Benedict Wong).

While this narrative mode can often be hit-or-miss, it is played to great effect here and is clever without being too gimmicky or pretentious for its own good. On a purely technical level, the film is solid-the cinematography and locations are atmospheric, the sparse use of music and silence is pointed, and the performances are uniformly good from everyone involved. That being said, Amy Madigan, playing the aunt of the sole child in his class who didn't vanish into the night, steals the thunder from everyone , giving a performance that is of "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" proportions.

Many have noted that the less you know about the film going into it, the better, and while I think that adage stands true for most moviegoing experiences, it is especially true here. The interlocking character vignettes are compelling in their own right, and the plot strands playfully connect by degrees, keeping the audience firmly planted on their toes. The truth eludes you until the outrageous final act, which is where I think the film could lose some people; however, by that point, I think even most hardened horror fans will remain invested due to the high level of intrigue that has brewed over the previous hour and a half. "Where could this possibly go?" was a recurring thought as I watched this, and even when it stretched credulity as the answers came, I remained firmly in the crosshairs, just as each of the children in Ms. Gandy's ill-fated homeroom. 8/10.

Weapons is without a doubt one of the most intense and fascinating horror movies I've ever seen. I rarely give good reviews to any horror film but this one went above and beyond my expectations. The premise is quite simple, a classroom of kids goes missing. It sounds normal, but something about the plot is so eerie and terrifying it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. The film does a good job of balancing the horror with some comedy to alleviate the underlying tension that is there. Weapons has so many twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout. Josh Brolin and Julia Garner carry this film. I highly recommend seeing this movie in theaters with an audience, it really makes the experience a whole lot better.

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)

A Pennsylvania teacher's nightmares begin when her entire classroom vanishes, leaving only one disturbed boy.

The trailer caught my attention, and I went in expecting a decent movie; I wasn't expecting to be as entertained as I was. Weapons absolutely delivered on all levels.

The storytelling was amazing; it was like an onion being peeled back, layer after layer. It was so clever. There were so many creepy moments, and the scenes inside the house were at times chilling and really unsettling.

Great characters; Gladys was an absolute riot and deserves to return in whatever format. Amy Madigan was fantastic, and credit goes to the makeup team as well. This is the most different and creatively imaginative film I've seen in ages. I loved it.

Out of interest, this is a challenging movie for snacks at the cinema, there are multiple silent scenes, you'll hear every slurp of coke and every crunch of popcorn. I'll never take pringles again.

8/10.

Spent the first half waiting for it to start. Watching the same events from a million different view points doesn't add anything and is incredibly boring. It doesn't cleverly come together as some have said, it's just unnecessary filler.

Second half is more of a spoof than a horror. I laughed a couple of times but at no point did I jump, feel on edge, or even get a creepy feeling from this film.

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!

Managed to avoid spoilers and watched it with no expectations and the whole horror-loving family. Everyone got into this. Fantastically spooky film, and the younger generation were actually a bit scared, which almost never happens. I mean, they laughed at Halloween.

We will recommend this one to everyone.

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.

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.

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 delivers a bold and refreshing take on horror. The cinematography is sharp, the casting is spot-on, and the jump scares are genuinely effective. Major credit to the writers - they've crafted a horror film that feels inventive and daring.

Director Zach Cregger continues to prove he's not afraid to break the mold, following up Barbarian (2022) with another unpredictable, non-traditional narrative. The story starts off familiar, but quickly evolves into something far more layered and unsettling.

I especially appreciated the decision to split the narrative across multiple characters - it added depth and gave the audience a clearer view of the bigger picture.

My only real critique is the ending - it was a bit abstract and left me slightly unsatisfied. Still, it fits the film's overall tone and ambition.

Highly recommended for fans of horror that challenges the norm.

I rarely write reviews, but I feel compelled after this disappointing experience. I watched this movie solely because of the glowing reviews it had received online. Many people described it as a masterpiece, engaging, and even a "must-watch." Unfortunately, my experience was the complete opposite. To be honest, it felt like a total waste of both my time and money.

From the very beginning, the movie struggled to capture my attention. The storyline was flat and lacked originality. Instead of being drawn into the plot, I found myself constantly waiting for something meaningful to happen, but it never really did. The pacing was uneven, with long, drawn-out scenes that added little to the overall story. For a film that was hyped as being full of drama and emotion, it was surprisingly dull.

The characters, too, were underdeveloped and one-dimensional. I didn't feel connected to any of them, which made it difficult to care about what happened on screen. Even the performances, which some reviewers praised highly, felt uninspired and unconvincing. It seemed as though the actors themselves weren't fully invested in their roles.

Cinematography and visuals were average at best. There were a few moments where the film looked appealing, but nothing memorable or striking. The soundtrack, instead of enhancing the mood, felt generic and forgettable. For a movie that had been built up with such positive reviews, I expected a lot more creativity and impact.

Overall, I honestly don't understand how this movie received so many good reviews. It might appeal to a very specific audience, but for me, it offered little to no entertainment value. If you're considering watching it, I would recommend saving your time and money for something more worthwhile.