I went into Weapons already knowing the premise — seventeen kids from the same third-grade class disappear one night in a small Pennsylvania town, leaving behind only one survivor. Even before the movie started, that idea got under my skin. It’s the kind of story that feels like it could happen anywhere, and that’s what made it hit harder.
Julia Garner plays Justine, the kids’ teacher, and watching how fast her life unravels after the disappearances was uncomfortable in all the right ways. She goes from trusted educator to social pariah overnight — people whisper, vandalize her car, and you can feel the weight of guilt even though she hasn’t done anything wrong. When she’s told to take time off, she ends up reconnecting with her ex, a cop played by Alden Ehrenreich, and gets pulled deeper into the mystery. The quiet chemistry between them feels real, like two people who still care but don’t quite trust each other anymore.
At the center of everything is the one kid who didn’t disappear — Alex. There’s something off about him, about his house, about the aunt (Amy Madigan) who’s suddenly living there. The film does an incredible job of making you dread going back to that house every time it appears on screen. You know something’s wrong, but you can’t look away.
The first half is eerie and slow-burning, told from different characters’ perspectives — Justine, Alex, a grieving father (Josh Brolin), and even a drifter who gets tangled up in the wrong place. It reminded me a bit of his last film Barbarian, just more hiding under the surface. Around the midway point, things start to spiral. Once Aunt Gladys takes center stage, the movie shifts from quiet mystery to full-blown chaos. Amy Madigan is incredible, but her character turns the tone upside down — suddenly it’s darkly funny, then horrifying, then just plain strange. The final stretch is insane — bloody, wild, and so over the top that it somehow works.
On a technical level, the film looks amazing — moody, colorful, and atmospheric. The HDR presentation is gorgeous, especially the way light and shadow are balanced. You can practically feel the dampness of the town, the flicker of classroom lights, and the ugly glow of that cursed house.
When it was over, I didn’t know exactly how to feel — impressed, frustrated, but definitely intrigued for more (I’ve already heard about a prequel). Weapons doesn’t hand you easy answers, and it doesn’t really care if you “get it.” That’s what I liked most about it, it linger, you want to talk about it… I wanted to fix it.
Cregger clearly has a vision, and while it’s not perfect I appreciate when a director goes for something this ambitious. Weapons is weird, haunting, and out there — but that’s also what makes it memorable. It’s a horror film that dares to be messy, emotional, and unpredictable.
Are you a fan of this movie? Let me know what you think in the comments below.
Cheers,
Matt.
While your here, check out more of my 4K & Blu-ray reviews. Even more, see the newest trailers, press releases, music and more on the rest of the site. Follow me for faster updates on Twitter and Instagram.