There is a moment in Weapons when Josh Brolin’s character, Archer Graff, yells out, “What the fuck!”. This moment and his sentiment exactly capture what the audience is thinking at this point in the movie. Weapons is unlike most horror movies released this year. This movie is more of a mystery and psychological thriller with some horror elements. The mystery slowly unfolds as the film plays, and the audience is a participant in solving the mystery.
Weapons begins with a voiceover of a young child telling the audience about what happened in this town. The child explains how the children in Mrs. Gangy’s (Julia Garner) class got up at 2:17 AM and just disappeared. While Mrs. Gangy is the prime suspect in the missing children, the film tells the story in short chapters of vignettes for the people involved. Just like Zach Cregger’s first movie, Barbarian, Weapons is told in a non-linear style that at times takes you out of the story. Once things start to get heated or intense, the scene is cut off and goes in a different direction with one of the other characters in the film.
JULIA GARNER as Justine in New Line Cinema’s “Weapons,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
This format, while confusing, pays off as it helps the audience attempt to piece the mystery together. By showing a previous moment, the audience can see different points of view of the same event. The audience can form their conclusions as the film plays. This technique pulls the audience in and makes them invested in the film, to that point where we relate to Archer yelling “What the fuck!” in the moment mentioned at the beginning of this review.
The mystery itself is a masterclass in storytelling. Cregger has a knack for giving the audience bits and pieces to satiate them just enough. Once the audience is comfortable and feels relaxed, he pulls the rug from under their feet. Weapons has a few moments in it that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The jump scares are spread out evenly throughout the film, which makes them very effective. It also helps that the score of the movie helps to build that tension in these moments.
The entire cast in this movie is incredible. Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, and an unrecognizable Amy Madigan all shine during their chapters in the film. Austin Abrams’ character, Anthony, steals the moments he is in, especially during one home invasion scene. Getting these chapters with these characters is great because it helps with the overall mystery and helps you to know the characters better. The final chapter with one of the characters feels a little long, but it helps with the pay-off of the movie. (I am not saying the last character’s name so as not to spoil the film.)
A scene from New Line Cinema’s “Weapons,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
The pay-off of the film is brilliant. The final 10-15 minutes of the film are insane and will have you either cheering or looking away from the screen. Though some pieces of the mystery are solved, it feels like a certain part of the mystery was not discussed. Maybe this is a story for another film or a bonus feature on the home release. Weapons is a fantastic new take on horror films and will stay with you long after the bizarre credits roll.
Final Thoughts: Weapons is freaking insane. Zach Cregger has a knack for telling stories in parts and tying them all together in a crazy way. Julia Garner and Josh Brolin are terrific. The last 15 minutes of the movie will have you on the edge of your seats. This is a horror film that transcends the genre of horror.
Violence: Weapons has some very gory moments that are stomach-churning. There is some adult language in the movie, but not as much.
Kid Friendly: The movie is rated R, and that is well-deserved. Along with the gore and language, there is a sex scene in the film that is pretty short, and no nudity is shown.
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.