Following the success of his first horror feature, Zach Cregger has chased up Barbarian with the mysteriously-titled Weapons. One night at exactly 2:17am, all but one child from Mrs. Gandy’s class got out of bed, ran into the night and vanished without a trace, sending the community into a frenzy.
With this psychological horror film, Zach Cregger has announced himself as one of the most inventive horror writers and directors in the modern age. Barbarian was celebrated for its ability to subvert expectations, but Weapons takes it up a notch by crafting one of the most brilliantly unexpected rides of the year. It’s not only surprising in terms of the twists, turns and shifts in the narrative, but also in that the horror sequences subvert nearly every cliche-born expectation. Its ability to keep you guessing stems in part from the unique structure that Cregger seems to have a knack for.
The structure is certainly risky and unconventional, but Cregger proves that if executed correctly it can really enhance the depth and mystery of a story. The film is cut into overlapping chapters, with each one giving focus to a different character in the story. As the film moves from character to character, we get to see the lead-up to certain events from a new perspective, which recontextualises the things we’ve seen previously. It’s a great way to hide details from the audience until later in the film without stretching the narrative longer than it needs to be. Not only does it benefit the bigger picture story, but it helps flesh out characters by taking them from a supporting character to temporary lead. It’s a refreshing structure that makes the mystery a little more fun to piece together.
When it comes to the scares, this is one of the most chilling horror events of the year. Cregger uses lighting, tone, score and pacing to create a tense atmosphere that had me firmly on-edge for the entire first 2/3 of the movie. There’s a looming sense of dread and unease layered over the entire film, and regardless of which character the story switches to, that uncomfortable sense of fear follows. There’s one horror sequence shot from inside a car that’s just phenomenal. The way it’s shot, the slow-panning and zooming camera, the eerie score and the way it plays with your expectations all blend together to create a brutally tense and terrifying moment. That scene may be the highlight, but it’s not alone – the bulk of the horror is just as suspense-driven and effective at delivering quality scares. Cregger also has an eye for good body horror, utilising makeup and prosthetics to create some terrifying looks bound to make some a little queasy.
It should also be noted that as the absurdity of the film starts to show, there’s a couple of scenes in which Cregger embraces a slightly more campy tone. The moments are brief and go against the horror roots of the film, but it’s essential that they’re presented that way as it’s so crazy that it’s just impossible to avoid it. The moments garnered huge laughs from the crowd, some being nervous laughter, and acted as a great tension-breaker.
Performance-wise there’s a lot to love about the talented cast Cregger has assembled. First off, Julia Garner has had a year almost as big as Pedro Pascal, appearing in three major feature films and making a memorable impact in all three. Having celebrated her work in Wolf Man and calling for her to be a horror mainstay, I only have more faith in her abilities within the genre. She’s captivating in this lead role as a teacher who is being haunted and traumatised in more ways than one. There’s moments where you side with her character and moments where you question her decisions, but across every one of those she sells the terror, confusion and desperation. She’s matched by great performances by Josh Brolin and Alden Ehrenreich, each bringing a unique dynamic to the film and showcasing great chemistry opposite Garner.
In the end, Weapons is such an achievement in horror that it’s going to be tough if not impossible for another 2025 horror film to top it. Zach Cregger takes the chapter-like structure he experimented with in Barbarian and goes full tilt with it, bringing added depth to the story and ramping up the eerie mystery elements. It’s an unpredictable delight both in terms of the narrative and horror, so throw those expectations out the window and just go along with the ride. Riveting, intense and drenched in suspense, this is one of those special horror events that will be remembered for years to come.
9.6/10
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