Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
After the surprise hit that was “Barbarian”, director Zach Cregger returns to give us another skin crawling experience. The story examines the town of Maybrook, a quiet suburb full of families. But on a random night at 2:17 AM, seventeen kids flee their house and run into the darkness for unknown reasons. These kids are all under the care of one teacher, who shows up the next morning to find one student remaining. What follows is a perspective based recollection of events from each of the adults involved, providing different angles of the situation. Can the town figure out why these children disappeared and find them before it’s too late?
Positives:
Although I was more mixed on “Barbarian” due to the tonally jarring act structure, I admired the film for being unique. “Weapons” grabbed my attention from the first trailer, leaning into the horror elements Zach Cregger created in his first film. The story borrows from films like “Prisoners”, “Longlegs”, and “Barbarian”. I believe this is an improvement over Cregger’s first film, leaning more into the aspects I enjoyed about that story. “Weapons” is again told in segments, providing context to the children’s disappearance from different perspectives. We see how a teacher, a parent, a drug addict, a police officer, a principal, and a child all connect to these horrific events. Each segment eventually streamlines into one storyline that builds to a climax so intense that viewers will be bouncing their legs and gripping their knees. Cregger once again displays an ability to tell a thoughtful story through rich character building. Each person involved displays different emotions when dealing with the disappearance of these kids. Everyone is integral to the story. What may have seemed like a small interaction or meaningless appearance turns into an important piece of exposition as the plot moves along. Despite being a slower pace, I was never bored. This is a wonderful display of capturing viewer’s attention through excellent storytelling.
Another impressive attribute is Cregger’s ability to get meaningful performances out of his actors. Each person involved is excellent. I was surprised that some of the characters highlighted in the marketing get less screentime while others who weren’t shown at all actually carried most of the heavy lifting. Each character feels nuanced and important, providing an integral piece to this story. Once every perspective merges into one storyline it really kicks into high gear. As we get revelations to the events taking place, it adds another sinister layer to an already disturbing situation. I won’t say too much…but once the character of Gladys is revealed, my eyes were locked onto the screen wondering where the story would go next. Fans of last year’s “Longlegs” will enjoy the similarities between the antagonists. The film does a wonderful job at making the suburbs feel scary. The imagery of children running through dimply lit streets into the darkness sent shivers down my spine. There are visions throughout the film that slowly give audiences hints as to what is going on. What surprised me the most about the story is how mystery based it is. Those expecting it to be a fully fledged horror may be disappointed but the intrigue makes up for it. I enjoyed piecing together the mystery throughout the film and wondering how everything would turn out. The ending is also one of the most absurd yet satisfying finales in recent memory. It won’t work for everyone but I appreciate the big swing as it highlights lingering traumatic events and how it stays with a small community.
Negatives:
Much like Cregger’s first film, “Weapons” includes some comedy that feels misplaced. Although it is appropriately disturbing, there is humor sprinkled throughout each segment that may be a divisive element. One of my biggest frustrations with modern filmmaking is the constant addition of humor into situations that don’t need it. That being said, the humor in the film didn’t bother me as much as it did in “Barbarian”. The film also has some dream sequences that don’t always make sense in the context of the plot. They feel more like studio mandated scary sequences that were added to keep this listed as a horror movie. Again, the story acts more as a mystery rather than a horror, so some of these scenes feel more gimmicky rather than logical.
Conclusion:
“Weapons” is an upgrade over “Barbarian” for director Zach Cregger. It masterfully creates a story that peels back the layers through perspective based storytelling. The performances are all excellent, creating a unique examination of a town dealing with such a horrific event. Once the reveal occurs, the tension ratchets up even further, featuring a scene so unsettling that it will burn into the audience’s mind for a long time to come. I do wish Cregger leaned away from the comedic elements and focused more on the horror/mystery. But all things considered, this is a fresh story that is well worth the price of admission. Check it out in a packed theater to listen to other’s reactions (especially in the final act).
