Review - Weapons (Spoiler free)

Zach Cregger once again had me wincing and looking away with his wacky and terrifying Weapons. After his wildly entertaining and highly regarded Barbarian (2022), Cregger fires on all cylinders to bring us a ride worth hitching. With shots that test your courage, and gore that turns your stomach, Cregger is making sure you know you're in for a treat. Leaving even the most seasoned horror fans sleeping with the lights on, Weapons isn't something you want to leave off your watch list.

Weapons follows a community that has recently been through a tragic event where 17 students from 1 class disappear in the night with no warning. Archer (Josh Brolin) a student's father and Justine (Julia Garner) the teacher of the missing children, try to unravel the mystery whilst slowing falling into a pit of chaos and terror. The school tries to power through the traumatic events, with Marcus (Benedict Wong) as its backbone, even with an active investigation taking place.

The feeling of despair in the community oozes through the screen which makes for a fantastic bit of atmosphere when there is a slight breather in the terror, which is few and far between. The plot had me so engaged I couldn't look away, even though the tension on screen had my brain begging me to hide.

Weapons feels like an anxiety attack waiting to happen by building tension and mystery, paying off in a way that can only be described as bonkers. The performances of the cast push this anxiety fuelled nightmare even harder with Josh Brolin portraying a convincing grief-stricken father and carries that weight throughout the film. Brolin delivers some funny lines as well, with one making me giggle a little louder than I usually would in a packed Cinema.

Julia Garner shows again why she is becoming a big name, superbly portraying a devastated and paranoid teacher who feels like the world is against her. Garner depicts the emotional toll the situation takes with conviction, at times venturing further into the abyss than you might expect. The depths the character reaches made me cringe a little, making herself look even more of a creep than she was being accused of.

Wong, Ehrenreich and Abrams deliver fantastic performances which really pull the film together alongside Garner and Brolin. Showing the depth in which an event like this affects a community, as no one can escape it. Each character brings something unique to the film, and each actor presents that uniqueness with passion that fills the screen and adds to the dread.

From the stellar cinematography to the brilliant sound design, Weapons delivers. Certain shots turn the atmosphere up a notch inducing more anxiety that even I had trouble managing. The cinematography really stands out as some of the best in the genre. One shot caused an audible reaction from the movie goers around me and myself, it has us all cowering.

Ultimately Weapons had me leaving the Cinema feeling like I needed medical attention and is a must see for any fan of the genre. An engaging plot and masterfully crafted scenes will cause your inner cinema lover to jump for joy. With genuinely funny moments comparable to that of Sam Raimi's signature Horror/Comedy blend. Reminiscent of Ozgood Perkins' LongLegs (2024) with its stunning cinematography and Philip Kaufman's Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) with its terrifying unravelling community mystery, Cregger demonstrates why he's becoming a household name in the genre. Weapons is a powerhouse that imposes dread, makes the viewer laugh and most importantly scares.

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Blake Reilly