So the poster for the new horror film Weapons shows a bunch of kids running down a suburban street with the ad line saying: “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.”
Immediately I start thinking, “Yeah, a Children of the Corn or Children of the Damned kind of riff.” But look closer at the credits and the writer-director is none other than Zach Cregger, whose debut feature film Barbarian was one of the most impressive first films, as well as horror genre entries, I had seen in years. There was just something so unique and compelling about its “house of horrors” concept that grabbed me instantly, and I have been talking about it ever since its 2022 debut, and anxiously awaiting whatever Cregger had in store for us next.
That film is Weapons, and though the poster indicates it is about these 17 third-graders who all mysteriously disappear, it is, like Barbarian, so much more. This is really a character drama in the horror genre, an examination of several different people connected in one way or another to this frightening occurrence that suggests maybe aliens had come down and abducted them or something. Not that simple and, no, not aliens.
The fun of this smart-as-hell movie is in the structure Cregger has created for his screenplay. It becomes a puzzle for the viewer as the film basically is divided into 15-minute-or-so chapters, each titled with the name of a character at the center or periphery of this mystery. The first is Justine, as in Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), the teacher of a class at Maybrook Elementary with the aforementioned 17 students all gone AWOL in the middle of the night. That is all except one, Alex (Cary Christopher), who did not follow the crowd. But why? And why only Gandy’s class and none of the other Maybrook students?
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It all comes slowly into focus as each part of the puzzle is revealed. With Gandy, we see her at the center of a storm — angry parents demanding answers and pointing suspicious fingers in her direction at a school meeting called to deal with it all. We also see her personal life as she seems to be involved with a rather frustrated cop, Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), who we later learn is married, a fact that vividly comes to life when Justine is assaulted at the supermarket by a woman we can assume is his wife (June Diane Raphael). Justine also is taking it upon herself to investigate, leading to a creepy house with the windows all covered with newspapers. But a glimpse through a small hole reveals a couple sitting there in the dark in a zombie-like state. Shudders.
As for Paul, his “chapter” sees him connected to the missing-kids case when a loser drug addict named James (Austin Abrams) comes into his purview in not-so-pleasant ways. Later, another encounter with James leads both of them to the aforementioned house as the druggie is looking to get rich quick with the $50,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of the kids.
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Another chapter is devoted to Archer (Josh Brolin), the devastated father of Matt, one of the missing, who takes a leading role in demanding action and answers on the case, putting himself front and center in taking command. And there also is Marcus (Benedict Wong), who first is revealed as the school principal who has to deal with all the suspicions and suspects but later appears out of nowhere in a very different way.
Another chapter fills us in on young Alex’s home life with his parents (Whitmer Thomas and Callie Schuttera), a seemingly normal family. And best of all is the entrance of Gladys (Amy Madigan), the almost clownish-looking eccentric, red-wigged aunt of Alex who comes to visit. She either needs a serious makeover or maybe there is more to her than meets the eyes and ears.
All of this adds layer after layer, expertly crafted, and gorgeously acted by the ensemble cast Cregger and his team have put together. In this way it is reminiscent of Barbarian’s structure, which slowly uncovers more clues to its ultimate denouement. To say more would be critical malpractice, and I have probably said way too much as this is a movie you just want to take in as it unfolds throughout its over two-hour running time.
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Garner is a nice fit as the teacher on the edge personally and professionally, someone who is a bit of a mess in her own life but successful in leading a classroom — until it all goes away. Brolin, also an executive producer, has one of his best screen outings in recent years, a father willing to go the distance to find his son. Similarly, Ehrenreich — who has been building back a very interesting and strong career after taking some unfair critical brickbats along the way — is just terrific as this somewhat messed-up local cop. Wong is ideally cast in an extremely tricky role, and Christopher delivers one of the least-annoying child performances in some time.
But acting honors in Weapons must go to Abrams and Madigan, who prove to be classic scene-stealers extraordinaire. Abrams, a talent to watch in Euphoria and recently being chased all over the city in his tighty whities in Wolfs, is an arresting presence as an addict just looking to scrape up the cash for his next score. Abrams is a total original, delivering a portrayal at once pathetically funny but also of a sad sack you can’t help but root for. And then there is Madigan, a veteran actress so good in so many smaller movies over the years. But she ain’t never had a role like this one, and she is all in all the way, no problem hitting the gas from zero to sixty to bring Aunt Gladys alive and kicking and infinitely watchable. She’s deliciously entertaining, and quite frankly I had no idea who it was playing the role until the end credits.
All of this is a step up production-wise for Cregger as his sophomore film is targeted for Imax screens. Larkin Seiple’s top-notch cinematography is up to the task, as is the way editor Joe Murphy has put all the pieces of this puzzle together. Look for an amusing cameo from Barbarian star Justin Long.
Producers of the New Line Cinema production are Cregger, Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules (the latter pair also responsible for Barbarian and another impressive 2025 horror thriller, Companion, through their BoulderLight Pictures).
Title: Weapons
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Release date: August 8, 2025 (August 6 internationally)
Director-screenwriter: Zach Cregger
Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan, Toby Huss, June Diane Raphael, Callie Schuttera, Justin Long
Rating: R
Running time: 2 hr 8 mins
