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Rating
Synopsis
One night in the town of Maybrook, seventeen children ran out of their homes at 2:17 am and vanished. A month later, the townspeople blame the kids’ teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), branding her a witch. Among them is Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), whose son is one of the missing children, and he’s desperately seeking answers. Also suspicious is that Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher) is the only student who didn’t disappear. It doesn’t help that Alex is very quiet and reserved, almost as if he’s trying to hide something. Local cop Paul Morgan (Alden Ehrenreich) tries to uncover the mystery but finds himself overwhelmed. Soon, more strange things start happening around town, including people randomly attacking each other or disappearing altogether. Where are the kids? Will they be found? Who or what is responsible? And what exactly is going on in Maybrook?
Review
Much like Barbarian, Weapons is a fantastic movie best enjoyed without knowing anything about it going in. If the plot synopsis sounds vague and scattered, it’s because I’m trying my best not to spoil the movie. I have to commend Warner Bros and New Line Cinema for not outright giving away what happens in the trailer. The film is structured in a nonlinear way, where we see how the events affect each of the leads. Not only is it an effective way to give each character their spotlight, but the way they connect is brilliant. Zach Cregger does a fantastic job planting little hints that provide enough information without spelling everything out. Additionally, he manages to infuse dark humor in a way that works in tandem with the horrific sequences. It’s a tricky balance, and not many can pull it off, but Cregger is one of the few who can.
Everyone in the cast delivers a career-defining performance, with Julia Garner’s portrayal as the victimized teacher being the highlight. She gives a very real and human quality to her character as she tries to make sense of what happened. As always, Josh Brolin is fantastic as a father determined to get his son back at any cost. You get sucked in as he uses his skills to figure out the kids’ whereabouts and eventually side with Garner. Alden Ehrenreich from Solo also gives a layered performance as a cop with a darker side. Benedict Wong is memorable as the concerned principal trying to maintain the peace, and Cary Christopher shows tons of potential. Unfortunately, there are some performances that, while they’re fantastic, I can’t mention without going into spoilers. Suffice it to say, there isn’t one bad performance in the entire movie, and each actor should be commended.
Also worth mentioning is the cinematography from Larkin Seiple, who also worked on Everything Everywhere All at Once. He manages to capture some truly creepy imagery through the use of shadows and low lighting. Adding to the unnerving feeling is the score by Cregger, Ryan Holladay, and Hays Holladay, which is hauntingly simplistic. In terms of cons, the nonlinear narrative might put off some audiences more accustomed to a typical narrative. The movie lasts slightly over two hours, but the pacing flows in a way that it doesn’t feel slow. Additionally, while the horror and humor blend well, some viewers might find the tone inconsistent based on their personal preferences. Regardless, this is one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in years, and I’m glad it’s financially successful. Overall, Weapons is another top-tier shocker from Zach Cregger with great acting, a solid story, and suspenseful scares.
Buy Weapons from Amazon: https://amzn.to/43AxcEV.
Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.
Where to watch Weapons (2025)
