Zach Cregger is back in the directors chair after his debut film, Barbarian, was released in 2022. I did like that movie, although I will admit probably not as much as some people, as the 2nd half let it down a bit for me.
But like a lot of people, I had been looking forward to Weapons for a while, especially after the excellent marketing job they did with it.
Weapons presents a different vibe though to Barbarian, as it's a slower, and more moodier movie, but one that I found to be very interesting.
The story kicks off in Maybrook, Illinois, where seventeen kids wake up at the exact same time, 2:17 AM, and just vanish.
A third-grade teacher, Justine, (Julia Garner) then shows up after the disappearances, but only one kid has shows up to class, and everyone else is gone. And quickly you are asking questions and wondering about everything, which doesn't let go of you.
The movie’s broken into chapters, each one focusing on a different character, including Justine, the outsider trying to figure things out, Archer Graff, a grieving dad searching for his son, and the local cop trying to hold the town together, among others.
Each of these chapters adds pieces to the puzzle, while also raising more questions. Because of this setup, the pacing is slow and it does drag at times, but that is needed for a movie that leans into ambiguity and that is trusting you to connect the dots. I never found it boring though, and was always interesting.
I thought Julia Garner was excellent as Justine, the vulnerable outsider that pretty much no-one trusts, and Josh Brolin, playing Archer brings an energy of grief and anger that simmers quietly, ready to burst at any time.
And Amy Madigan deserves a big mention too, as she was excellent as the aunt. I don't want to say much more on her as it will venture into spoiler mode, but I really enjoyed her performance too.
Also, much like one of the films I watched last weekend, Together, this one was also way funnier than I expected. Barbarian had some comedy, but Weapons turns it up more. The humor is pretty sharp and fits perfectly alongside the more serious moments.
At times, it actually feels like a pure black comedy, which might not actually be what someone is looking for when they go to watch it after seeing the trailers, but I loved that side of the film.
The film also looks gorgeous, with Larkin Seiple producing some fantastic shots throughout the film. He seems to find the best camera angles for every shot when needed, concealing just enough behind the darkness, and this really adds to the overall mood.
As for the big reveal, why the kids disappeared, it worked for me, but I get that it might split people after what came before, but I liked it, and the ending pulls enough threads together to make the wait worthwhile.
I also think you have to ignore certain plot elements too as the story doesn't always make sense, and I don't mean in a purposeful ambiguous way either, as some of it seemed a bit half baked, but I have only watched it once to be fair, as that just might be me being thick.
Overall though, I enjoyed it. It is a slow burn movie that demands your attention throughout. It doesn’t always give clear answers, but it creates a mood that keeps you interested, and if you’re into movies that take their time, and leave room to interpret some things, it's worth watching
I do think a lot of people will be disappointed with how it plays out with regards to the horror elements, especially after the marketing and the dark comedy the film portrays.
I wouldn't say it's a scary film in the traditional sense (Although scary is very subjective), but it does have that creepy and unsettling dread running through the core of the film, even with the comedy elements.
But whether you end up enjoying it or not, I bet you’ll still be thinking and talking about it after.
It’s that kind of movie.