I am baffled by the hype for this goofy horror film

Metro

3 days ago

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Zach Cregger's film Weapons is getting rave reviews, and while it's a fun watch, you might leave feeling a little short-changed.
What happens to a town when one day 17 children go missing in the middle of the night, fleeing their homes to never return again?
This is the premise of Cregger's movie Weapons, starring Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, and Alden Ehrenreich as townspeople in Maybrook, where this tragedy has taken place.
Following the release of his 2022 debut film Barbarian, expectations for this film have been high as Cregger has come in hot with a bigger budget and bigger ambitions in this two-hour and eight-minute long project.
The horror film has had impeccable marketing and was even part of a Hollywood bidding war as producers were desperate to get their hands on the movie – only amping up the anticipation for fans.
Even teasers for the movie were praised as 'the creepiest trailer in years'. And, as reviews for the film begin trickling in, it has been lauded as a must-watch of 2025, and boasts a 100% Rotten Tomatoes ranking.
But I for one am baffled.
The horror pied piper-esque movie aims to terrify and amuse, blending humour and dark horror in what is supposed to be a discomforting but entertaining watch.
And yes, although there are some solid, funny moments, often the humour undercuts the tension and the high stakes of a scene.
Rather than feeling frightened or relieved after a tense scene, instead I'm confused and a little bit deflated as the horror became laughable and the tension building up from the scene dissipated without reaching its full capability.
The key villain in this tale is at some points like a formidable presence and at others a clownish, goofy caricature. The inconsistency in their portrayal, along with the frequent jarring changes in tone, leads to narrative whiplash.
But, that's not to say that it isn't capable of producing fear.
Zach Cregger
Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher.
18, strong bloody violence, gore.
2hr 8mins
August 8, 2025
There is some excellent foreshadowing, good horror references, and a healthy inclusion of truly grotesque or fear-inducing moments that will have you really spooked.
Memorable scenes include using a potato peeler as a rather ruthless weapon, and a bloody head butt that is guaranteed to stay with you.
Told from five different perspectives, Weapons showcases the best and worst of human nature. Garner particularly shines as the missing schoolchildren's teacher, Justine Gandy, who slips into alcoholism as worried parents – including Archer Graff played by Brolin – point the finger at her for their children's disappearance.
The multithreaded storytelling is an effective tool in this movie, keeping the pace while gently unveiling major plot points and amping up the gore and supernatural elements of this story.
The performances across the board are strong, with the believable portrayals mopping up some of the more far-fetched elements of the story.
Based on an original concept, Weapons is most certainly going to appeal to those looking to enjoy some well-executed horror. The jump scares are pitch-perfect, and the film avoids some of the more clichéd elements of the genre.
For horror fans, the real question is: 'Is it better than Barbarian?' The short answer to that is no. More Trending
Barbarian left audiences chilled to their core with a fresh, elevated story, and while Weapons is by no means a poor follow-up, it's not quite hitting the mark. But fans of Cregger will enjoy some fun cameos from his previous film in a cheeky wink to his fanbase.
The movie is a fun watch, with strong characters and a gripping story that will keep you hooked for the rather long runtime, but if you go in expecting perfection that other reviews have promised thus far, expect to be disappointed.
An enjoyable, well-executed horror that loses its tone at points, but nonetheless makes for a gripping and original film that you won't regret watching on the big screen.
Weapons is in cinemas on August 8.
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