Weapons may be a tad over ambitious but it’s a big swing that I’m glad was taken. Following up Barbarian was always going to be a monumental task but Zach Cregger has proved he can balance tone, scares, and technical skills behind the camera. With Weapons, he’s cemented himself as one of the most exciting directors working today.

When writer/director Zach Cregger made his debut in the horror scene with the film Barbarian, it felt like a knockout punch. The Whitest Kids U’ Know alum delivered a puzzle box of a horror film that kept audiences guessing at every turn. It was a biting commentary on red flags, misogyny, cancel culture, and gentrification. It was equal parts scary and funny. On paper, Barbarian should not have worked in the slightest but it did. 

So when Zach Cregger announced his follow-up film Weapons and promised something a bit more ambitious it sent studios into a frenzy (and apparently even caused Jordan Peele to part with his management when Monkeypaw Productions failed to acquire the spec script). There were a lot of expectations in place for Weapons but Cregger had earned the trust with how strong of a horror debut Barbarian ended up being.

Weapons is indeed ambitious and feels a lot bigger than Barbarian but falls short in numerous aspects. The film follows the mysterious disappearance of an entire class of schoolchildren and the effects it has on an entire town in the aftermath… and to say anymore would be diving into spoiler territory, which I won’t do here.

Weapons’ narrative takes a multiple perspective approach allowing us to see the story from multiple intersecting story beats of its main cast. For lack of better comparison think of films like Pulp Fiction or Magnolia but applied to a horror film albeit more episodic in nature. It’s admittedly a refreshing approach to diving into this dark tale of loss and confusion but at times feels unnecessary as characters often have dead space in their narratives or we see repeated moments of scenes we witnessed no less than 10 minutes prior. One can’t help but wonder if the story and script could have delivered the same or more impact from a linear narrative.The script is perhaps one of the nuanced narratives this year tackling uneasy and heavy topics while continuing thematic metaphors that I’m sure will send essayists into overdrive.

But a script is only as good as the actors you cast for it and Weapons features a stellar ensemble among the likes of Julia Garder, Josh Brolin,  Alder Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong. Brolin in particular is a standout as grieving father Archer, who brings a sense of determination and small town paranoia to this role. I found his character’s arc to be the most interesting in the film and his ending provides a sense of closure and comfort to the narrative.

Garner is superb as Mrs. Gandy, the teacher of the children that disappeared. She portrays her in a sympathetic nature and as the victim of a figurative witch hunt. I like how the story doesn’t shy away from the fact she’s not perfect and makes mistakes as a human but I can’t help but feel as if the script lets her character down in that he hardly get opportunity to know her character and it feels like she’s eventually sidelined in the story despite being on the central figures established from the start. I felt the entire movie had gone by and her character was unresolved.

That’s what my main issue with Weapons is. At times it’s just as fun as Barbarian and tackles just as timely themes, it delivers a brooding atmosphere and a world that feels fully realized. It just feels a tad over ambitious. Almost like the story didn’t need to be told on this grand of scale because there’s no payoff for doing so ultimately.

What Weapons is though is a well made horror film. Cregger has proven his directorial skills by making this world feel lived in and providing a constant sense of dread throughout. He slices through tension with humor that feels natural and unforced. The themes he explores in Weapons are empathetic and things everyone can relate too. Weapons in many ways feels like the ultimate small town horror film. A community trashed by a tragedy flinging them into a constant sense of paranoia. It’s realistic but Cragger manages to give the entire film a dreamlike or fairytale quality. The film is ultimately a rollercoaster ride with one of the most buckwild final 15 minutes I’ve seen in a horror film. It’s hard to get upset with some of the weaker aspects of this film when you’re having so much fun (and trust me you will).

Weapons may be a tad over ambitious but it’s a big swing that I’m glad was taken. Following up Barbarian was always going to be a monumental task but Cregger has proved he can balance tone, scares, and technical skills behind the camera. With Weapons, he’s cemented himself as one of the most exciting directors working today.

Grade: B+

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Josh Brolin), Best Original Screenplay

Where to Watch: In Theaters