Weapons
“Last night at 2:17 AM, every child from Mrs. Gandy's class woke up, got out of bed, went downstairs, opened the front door, walked into the dark ...and they never came back.”
7.3
2025
2h 9m
Horror
Mystery
About
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.
Trailer
Cast
Julia Garner
Justine
Josh Brolin
Archer
Alden Ehrenreich
Paul
Austin Abrams
James
Benedict Wong
Marcus
Amy Madigan
Gladys
Cary Christopher
Alex
Toby Huss
Captain Ed
Whitmer Thomas
Alex's Dad
Callie Schuttera
Alex's Mom
June Diane Raphael
Donna
Scarlett Sher
Narrator (voice)
Julia Garner
Justine
Josh Brolin
Archer
Alden Ehrenreich
Paul
Austin Abrams
James
Benedict Wong
Marcus
Amy Madigan
Gladys
Cary Christopher
Alex
Toby Huss
Captain Ed
Whitmer Thomas
Alex's Dad
Callie Schuttera
Alex's Mom
June Diane Raphael
Donna
Scarlett Sher
Narrator (voice)
Reviews
Manuel São Bento
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/weapons-movie-review-an-ambitious-film-that-defies-horror-expectations/ "Weapons confirms Zach Cregger as a filmmaker with a distinct vision, capable of combining impressive technical command with uncommon narrative ambition. Josh Brolin and Julia Garner's performances are fundamental pillars supporting the film's intensity, while the tense and bloody scenes contribute to a truly visceral experience. Despite the abrupt and somewhat disappointing ending that weakens some of the accumulated impact, the way themes like collective trauma and suburban decay are explored reveals an authorial confidence deserving recognition. With all its imperfections, the movie provokes, engages, and leaves striking images and sensations, reinforcing Cregger as one of the most intriguing voices in contemporary horror cinema." Rating: B+
Read full reviewChris Sawin
Seventeen children ran out of their homes one night at 2:17 am. They ran into the street and disappeared into the darkness. They all attend Maybrook Elementary, and all of them were from Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner) class. The one student who didn’t leave was Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher), who is now quieter and reserved than ever. Parents of the missing children, including Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), believe that Justine Gandy either had something to do with it or knows where they are. Things turn hostile, and people begin dying in gruesome ways as this seemingly cursed town scrambles for answers. In 2022, writer and director Zach Cregger wowed audiences and critics with Barbarian. Now Cregger returns with Weapons, a film with a bigger budget, bigger stars, and a more intricate story that intertwines horror, drama, and comedy. How the children are disappearing can be solved relatively easily while researching the film online, but it’s best to go in blind. Half the charm of Weapons is riding through the mystery as it unravels because it takes some violent and unexpected detours. The film is told through the perspectives of five individuals: Justine, Archer, a cop named Paul (Alden Ehrenreich) who has a complicated relationship with Justine, Alex, and a drug addict named James (Austin Abrams). Weapons isn’t as shocking or as scary as Barbarian. There are still moments of extreme gore and several moments that take you off guard, but the creepiest parts of Weapons are nightmares that Justine or Archer has. The unsettling sensation is there, but the fact that you know that these are nightmares and the film chooses not to hide that in the slightest makes its impact less potent. Everything in Weapons is tied to Alex’s aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan). Gladys is incredibly sick and comes to stay with Alex and his parents. She wears a bright red wig, puts on entirely too much red lipstick, and wears vibrant, colored clothes. If it wasn’t for her pale, wrinkly, and sickly looking frame, she’d have a clown-like appearance. She appears in the dreams Justine and Archer are having, and there’s a reason for that. The film is surprisingly funny. There are several laugh-out-loud moments sprinkled throughout the film, but James is in the film for several important reasons. His motivation is simple for a guy who is constantly tweaking, as he is constantly trying to make money as quickly as he can to get to his next fix. He becomes the comedic catalyst for Paul, and his audible reactions as he’s caught on multiple occasions are amusing. James is the main comic relief of Weapons, but he also stumbles onto the first strong lead of what happened to the missing children. Camera placement is interesting in weapons as it’s constantly behind the actors. You notice body language more while staring at someone’s back, and it also makes it feel like you’re either following or chasing them the entire film. There’s also an emphasis on doors. There is a specific door to a specific house in the film that is just as threatening closed as it is open. From the outside looking in, there’s no difference. So the threat of not knowing what’s inside and what’s on the other side of that door is always there. Weapons expands upon Zach Cregger’s storytelling and directing capabilities and offers what is arguably the biggest crowd-pleasing finale of any film this year. It’s much more layered and caters to more than just one specific audience, like Barbarian did. There’s gore and tension, humorous interactions, and the character drama in between keeps you interested throughout. It’s a well-written and unpredictable story, but it also feels like something is missing. It could be that it isn’t straightforward horror or that its reputation has built it up a bit too much. Weapons is a bonkers mystery that is worth seeing, and Zach Cregger is as bold as ever as a filmmaker, but it simply doesn’t leave you with that same sense of being completely blown away like after viewing Barbarian for the first time.
Read full reviewLast_Z10n
"WEAPONS" strikes the perfect balance between visceral horror and psychological discomfort. The deeply unsettling premise stems from the simultaneous disappearance of nearly all the students in a class (except one) in a single night, without explanation, creating a constant tension in the narrative. Zach Cregger, in his dual role as director and screenwriter, creates a web of parallel narratives that intertwine with precision, proving emotionally powerful and insidious in its construction of mystery. The cast - especially Julia Garner as teacher Justine, Josh Brolin in a tormented fatherly role, and Amy Madigan as a sinister, mythical figure - infuses the characters with depth and dramatic intensity. The technical quality is on par with the performances: Larkin Seiple's cinematography imbues the most disturbing scenes with an almost supernatural light, while the editing pace maintains suspense without resorting to easy solutions. The film doesn't just scare; it makes us think, reflect, and feel the growing panic in the community it portrays. Overall, "WEAPONS" stands out as a sophisticated and ambitious thriller that goes far beyond conventional horror. Its approach, anchored in symbolic realism and imbued with metaphorical violence, stands as a social and psychological commentary on the contemporary climate of paranoia, evoking, without explicitly stating, echoes of real school tragedies. The tension builds organically and culminates in a brutal climax, yet consistent with the entire preceding development. It's a remarkable cinematic experience, one of those films that crush your mind and continue to resonate even after you leave the theater.
Read full reviewClips(7)
James Breaks In - Movie Clip
Marcus Meets Gladys - Movie Clip
Gladys Haunts Justine's Nightmare - Movie Clip
Marcus Attacks Justine - Movie Clip
Full Movie Preview
Mrs. Gandy’s class was never the same.
Perfect Score
James Breaks In - Movie Clip
Marcus Meets Gladys - Movie Clip
Gladys Haunts Justine's Nightmare - Movie Clip
Marcus Attacks Justine - Movie Clip
Full Movie Preview
Mrs. Gandy’s class was never the same.
Perfect Score
Featurettes(9)
Exclusive Interview
Summer’s scariest movie.
Bonkers in the best way possible.
Modern horror perfection.
Raising the stakes in every way.
Just when you think you have it figured out.
Eerily compelling and utterly terrifying.
Behind you.
Are you watching?
Exclusive Interview
Summer’s scariest movie.
Bonkers in the best way possible.
Modern horror perfection.
Raising the stakes in every way.
Just when you think you have it figured out.
Eerily compelling and utterly terrifying.
Behind you.
Are you watching?
Behind the Scenes(3)
Gore, Stunts, & Sets - Behind the Scenes
Weaponized: The Cast of Weapons - Behind the Scenes
BTS Featurette
Gore, Stunts, & Sets - Behind the Scenes
Weaponized: The Cast of Weapons - Behind the Scenes
BTS Featurette