Joey Magidson
Only two films in, it’s time to proclaim Zach Cregger as a master of horror. Not only does the filmmaker have a very unique sensibility that he deploys in his movies, he’s able to mix comedy, horror, and genuine surprises with deft social commentary. Weapons is a far bigger scope than Barbarian, operating on a comparatively epic canvas to tell a much larger story. Barbarian may have been a bit more fun, all things considered, but Weapons a better movie overall. In fact, it’s another highlight of 2025 so far, further establishing this year as one that will go down in the record books for horror.
Weapons is a slow burn that builds to an absolutely insane and deeply satisfying climax. The juice is definitely worth the squeeze here, as Cregger masterfully plays with your emotions and expectations. The mystery is handled in such a way that regardless of what you think is happening, you’re drawn further and further in. Each new character is compelling, each WTF revelation is engaging, and by the end, you feel like you’ve seen something not just big, but original as well. Bravo to Cregger and company.
The town of Maybrook is small and sleepy, though it’s about to be jarred awake. One night, all but one student in the same elementary school classroom wake up at 2:17, leave their homes, and disappear into the night. The teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) is immediately a figure of suspicion, mainly from parents who don’t know how to make sense of this tragedy, including Archer Graff (Josh Brolin). While they target her, she’s both concerned about and curious about her one remaining student Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher). Why is he still here? What happened to the others? Just what the hell is going on in Maybrook?
The film is told in chapters, each focusing on a different member of the community. We start with Justine, as she navigates harassment, attempting to make contact with Alex, despite her principal Andrew Marcus (Benedict Wong) forbidding it, and spending a night with police officer Paul Morgan (Alden Ehrenreich), whom she has a past with. Andrew and Paul get their own chapters, as does Archer, who takes the lead in looking into where the children might be. There’s also drug addict James (Austin Abrams), who intersects with several characters, as well as Alex himself. The less said about the other characters in the film, the better, as there are some fun surprises to be had.
The cast, especially the central ones, essentially get to each have their own short film to be showcased in, with appropriately effective results. Josh Brolin and Julia Garner are the closest thing the movie has to leads, though it’s very much an ensemble piece. Brolin does a wonderful job of mixing determination with grief, leading to some very bad decisions, as well as some potentially heroic ones as well. It’s a great use of not just his stature, but his talents as well. Garner does very strong work, slowly revealing some of her character’s flaws and struggles. The way the town sees her and the way she is winds up being a through line that envelops several characters, with surprising results. If there’s a supporting MVP, it’s Austin Abrams, who is both funny and tragic as the desperate junkie. Alden Ehrenreich is very good as well, while the aforementioned Cary Christopher and Benedict Wong certainly get their moments. The rest of the large cast includes Toby Huss, Amy Madigan, June Diane Raphael, and more.
Writer/director Zach Cregger has such confidence to his filmmaking that you’re compelled to follow him wherever he goes. Cregger doesn’t shy away from making this film clearly about how people deal with tragedy and trauma, looking for scapegoats as a coping mechanism. At the same time, the movie makes sure to still be funny, shocking, and an incredibly good time. Plus, it has some wonderful camera movements and visuals, courtesy of cinematographer Larkin Seiple. In terms of pure direction, Weapons is a huge step forward for Cregger. The screenplay is also just incredibly strong, making sure every character feels like the main character in their own story. It’s not necessarily a showy script, but it’s an impeccably done one by Cregger. Some might quibble with the pacing a bit, as it certainly is a slow burn, especially in the first half, but it’s all worth it for the payoff, which is bonkers in the best way possible.
Weapons may not exactly be Magnolia for horror fans, but now having seen the flick, it’s not super far off, either. This is the type of original cinema that people clamor for studios to put out. Well, we have an example of New Line and Warner Bros. actually doing this, backing the vision of Zach Cregger. He’s made not just one of the best horror films of the year, but one of the year’s best films overall so far. As such, you should make it your business to support this movie. Not only does it deserve it, you’ll be in for a treat as well.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
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