In 2022, filmmaker Zach Cregger blew me away with his horror-thriller Barbarian. His direction, storytelling, and ability to deliver surprises showed that he is a director who deserves more opportunities to show his talents. So, it was with much excitement that I attended the screening of his new film, Weapons, a movie I, thankfully, knew little about, save for one trailer that teased me just enough to get me interested. Well, now that I have experienced Cregger’s new horror entry, I can honestly say that Barbarians was not at all a one-time fluke.
In the rough-and-tumble city of Maybrook, a community is still reeling from the most bizarre experience they have ever encountered. At 2:17 a.m., one morning, a group of elementary school students from one particular classroom disappears from their homes, save for one student, Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher), and their teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner). This insane event has left the community’s parents dumbfounded, frustrated, and craving answers. The movie reveals not only the intense response of the community but also the truth behind the episode. The result is a riveting and phenomenal character study of the people involved, along with an inventive vision for storytelling.
Audiences are best off if they go into this movie knowing as little as possible about it, because they will experience an incredible ride if they do so. I was particularly grateful that the trailer I saw did not spoil the movie at all. Zach Cregger is a mad genius. He knows how to unfold an intriguing story and develop his characters so well. He also has a strong feel for what works well when it comes to blending suspense, shock, gore, and humor. Yes. This movie can be gory at times. It is, after all, a horror movie. If horrific gore is not your cup of tea, this is not the film for you. For horror fans, this movie is an absolute dream.
The cast assembled for Weapons is excellent. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and Amy Madigan are all incredible here. Amy Madigan, whose movie career blossomed during the eighties, gives a standout performance . I won’t reveal who she portrays, but trust me, she is fantastic.
Weapons is sure to make my top ten list of movies of this year. Zach Cregger has crafted a horror yarn that is remarkable and entertaining in so many ways. I recommend it for fans of horror who crave tremendous storytelling with their suspense, frights, gore, with a hearty dash of humor.