Weapons (2025)

Weapons manages to be both an evocative puzzle of a movie and a classic feeling horror film that draws on genre conventions in a way that pays loving tribute to its sources. While I was impressed with much of Creggar's debut film, Barbarian, I had my critiques of it too. With Weapons I feel he has elevated his ideas further being fully committed to a movie that is both a scary camp fire story, a gripping character study, and a comment on hard to process real world tragedy, all balanced with just the right dash of humour which doesn't distract from the seriousness but allows some room to breath. Weapons juggles all of this, keeping all the balls in the air, and delivers an experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. 

There is a lot to process here and I think it's the sort of film that I will revisit and get more out of with further viewings. But it also works as a stand alone story that doesn't leave you confounded. It is remarkable how the film gives you the satisfaction of a conclusion and an explanation while also leaving so many questions to ponder. The audience can leave as the credit roll, closing the book on the tale and accepting an understanding of what they just saw. Or they can reflect on much of what was suggested, ask questions about some mysteries, and perhaps even reflect on what impact there will be for the characters and the world this is set in, after we get up and leave the cinema. Part of what makes Weapons so satisfying is just how much it works in different ways. 

I appreciated that Weapons has some iconic images that I believe are going to secure themselves in American cinema cannon. This has the potential to join the ranks of classic horror films while also leaving itself open to interpretation and water-cooler discussion about its meanings and impacts. Madigan is certainly going to go down as one of the great cinematic horror characters, and may also pop into many viewers' nightmares. 

It may be hard to do as this film enters the zeitgeist, but Weapons is the sort of movie that is best to go into knowing as little as possible. The question may be what does it mean to you? How are you processing what you watched? What emotions and fears does it trigger? What does it make you reflect on? Even if you choose not to spend much time deconstructing it, Weapons has at its heart a creepy story that is ruthlessly engaging, that it is hard to take your eyes off of. 

Weapons

Starring: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, Amy Madigan 

Writer/Director: Zach Creggar