You’ve heard stories about children gone missing at the edge of the forest, cautionary tales about witches, stranger danger, and the blackness of the night. The Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel” is one classic that comes to mind.
Zach Cregger’s “Weapons” takes this premise and gives it his own wicked spin, conjuring a story that will quite instantly engulf audiences with an unnerving sense of dread, painfully (and intentionally) drawn out tension, and a cautionary tale unlike any other.
But what might divide cinemagoers is Cregger’s injection of dark comedy that brings something fresh and unexpected to a horror film, but at the same time, might annoy horror movie buffs.
After all, Cregger’s 2022 horror outing “Barbarian”, starring Bill Skarsgård, Georgina Campbell, and Justin Long, was considered a masterpiece.
“Barbarian” brilliantly drew audiences into a false premise before subverting it into a nightmarish episode. So, if you’re expecting something similar … get ready. Cregger delivers but not in the way you would expect.
“Weapons”, which runs for 128 minutes, stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Cary Christopher, and Amy Madigan.
Instead of tracking a particular character from start to end, Cregger offers multiple storylines and points of view, before turning it on its head and taking audiences on a wild and darkly comic ride.
In the small town of Maybrook, a community is shattered when 17 children from the same elementary school class vanish into the night. The disappearances are captured on home security cameras, showing the children running with their arms outstretched. Only one child (Christopher) is left behind.
The film’s narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, including that of the children’s teacher, Justine Gandy (Garner), and a grieving father, Archer Graff (Brolin).
As the town succumbs to paranoia and suspicion, they must confront a horrifying and inexplicable mystery that lies at the heart of their seemingly quiet suburb.
The premise of “Weapons” is simple enough: what happened to the children and why did they disappear?
But to get to the answer, Cregger purposefully draws out the narrative that can get frustrating, and when you least expect it, introduces the heart of the horror, and from there, it is a heart-thumping, anxiety-inducing, skin-crawling affair.
Cregger skilfully uses quick camera pans, slow zoom ins, and claustrophobic shots to trap both the characters and the audience in a nerve-wracking situation.
“Weapons” also relies on dissonance, abrupt shifts, and unsettling silences to keep viewers on edge. It uses high-pitched violins, pulsing bass, and escalating tempo to evoke a fight-or-flight response.
Nine-year-old Cary Christopher, who plays Alex Lilly – the only child not to go missing – delivers a standout performance. In a film led by adults, he becomes its emotional core, bringing a quiet sadness and raw restraint that grounds the movie’s intensity.
Garner and Brolin also shine, anchoring the film’s unsettling tone. Garner captures her character’s vulnerability and unravelling paranoia with nuance. Brolin, on the other hand, brings simmering rage and quiet despair, adding weight and tension to every scene he’s in.
As for the dark comedy treatment in the film’s third act, well, it is definitely genre-bending. And it is not done tactlessly. It creates a different kind of horror in those moments that can be both unsettling and cathartic. It may not sit well with some but it is nothing but inspired.
Ultimately, “Weapons” is a horror film that avoids clichés and cheap scares, delivering real danger and a fresh perspective. It shifts the terror of the forest into the heart of the city – leaving you rethinking what horror can be.
As of press time, ‘Weapons’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.