Horror fans left 'traumatized' by 'creepy' movie about vanishing children likened to The Shining
Horror fans declared they were 'traumatized' after watching the creepy new trailer for upcoming film Weapons this week,
The Zach Cregger-directed film starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner tells the tale of a small community rocked by the mysterious disappearance of 17 children at exactly 2:17 AM.
A synopsis reads: 'When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.'
The terrifying trailer is narrated by one of the missing Maybrook children and begins with the speech: 'This is a true story which happened in my town. This one Wednesday is like a normal day for me, but today was different.'
As children are seen arriving at school, the camera pans to an empty class.
The speech continues: 'Every other class had all their kids but Mrs Gandy's class was totally empty. And do you know why?
The Zach Cregger-directed film starring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner (pictured) tells the tale of a small community rocked by the mysterious disappearance of 17 children at exactly 2:17 AM
Horror Film of the Decade incoming🔥
— Zach (@realzwood) April 29, 2025
'Because the night before, at 2.17am, every kid woke up, got out of bed, walked down the stairs and into the dark and they never came back.'
Justine Gandy played by Julia Garner is seen looking horrified as Archer Graff, the father of one of the missing children (played by Josh Brolin) shouts: 'I don't understand it at all. Why her class, why only hers?'
As parents scream: 'Where are our children?' a tearful Gandy is banned from the school as the principal says: 'We have a lot of emotional parents here. I think it's best if you keep a distance from this place.'
In an apparent dream sequence, Gandy walks into a dark classroom with her students sat with their heads down - while one creepily raises their head sporting clown make-up.
Children are then seen running out of the school through smashed windows as Graff calls: 'Kathy, where are you?'
Gory scenes showing a woman stabbing herself in the face with a fork and a man being waterboarded with oil play before the narration concludes: 'This is where the story really starts.'
The trailer - helmed by Barbarian director Cregger - left fans delighted and terrified in equal measure.
Fans wrote: 'Giving Children of the corn vibes with a dark slasher tone. I'm sold.
As children are seen arriving at school, the camera pans to an empty class. The speech continues: 'Every other class had all their kids but Mrs Gandy's class was totally empty. And do you know why?
Gory scenes showing a woman stabbing herself in the face with a fork and a man being waterboarded with oil play before the narration concludes: 'This is where the story really starts.'
'nothing good ever happens when kids disappear overnight.
.It's ok, I didn't want to sleep tonight anyway
.This is the Peak!!! Zach Cregger is going to scare and traumatize us very hard.
'This is creepy af!'
'Horror Film of the Decade incoming.'
Others pointed out a possible homage to Stephen King novel The Shining, with the children going missing at 2.17am, mirroring the hotel's most haunted space, Room 217.
Another fan compared the film's premise to the heartbreaking 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in which 20-year-old Adam Lanza, shot and killed 26 people. The victims were 20 children between six and seven years old, and 6 adult staff members.
The film also stars Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.
It is set for release on August 8.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Iconic star of The Goonies steps out on rare outing ahead of 40th anniversary of the film
The Goonies fans got a surprise this week when one of the film's most beloved stars stepped out in Beverly Hills—just in time for the 40th anniversary of the iconic adventure. Now 50 and working as an entertainment lawyer, former actor Jeff Cohen rose to fame playing the clumsy but lovable Chunk in the 1985 cult classic produced by Steven Spielberg and co-starring Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin, and Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan. Sporting a sharp suit jacket, stylish jeans, and a maroon fedora, the 80s icon looked worlds away from the disheveled, ice cream-obsessed teen who once stole scenes hunting pirate treasure. His fit figure was also a far cry from his younger self—best remembered for the unforgettable Truffle Shuffle, a belly-jiggling dance that became a pop culture staple. After The Goonies, he appeared on Family Ties and had a stint on Amazing Stories before stepping away from acting. In 2015, Jeff revealed how losing his puppy fat was the end of his acting career. The lawyer was forced to quit Hollywood for good when he could no longer put himself forward for the 'fat kid roles.' 'There were basically about four fat kids in town, so every time there was a fat kid role you saw the same people at the audition,' he said. 'It was survival of the fattest. But when I hit puberty, it was a career ender for me. I was transforming from Chunk to hunk and I couldn't get roles any more.' Jeff continued: 'It was terrible. My first love was acting but puberty had other ideas. It was a forced retirement. I didn't give up acting. Acting gave me up.' Nowadays, Jeff is a partner at the law firm he co-founded in 2002, Cohen Gardner LLP. Now 50 and working as an entertainment lawyer, the former actor rose to fame playing the clumsy but lovable Chunk in the 1985 cult classic produced by Steven Spielberg and co-starring Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin , and Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan Asked whether he ever worried that his child star past would make potential clients take him less seriously, he said: 'My clients get a kick out of the fact their lawyer is Chunk. They dig it. With my job, I'm dealing with legitimately famous people, so it's just silly and fun. I'm usually only the fifth most famous person in the room at any one time.' Describing himself as 'goofy, chubby and something of a clown,' the LA native had small parts in US television shows like Webster, The Facts of Life, and Family Ties before landing the role of Chunk in The Goonies when he was just 10. 'It was great,' Cohen - born McMahon - said. 'For me, the best part about it was Richard Donner the director. He was big on letting the kids be kids and I think that's one of the reasons the movie stands up today.' The UC Berkeley grad continued: 'People still watch the movie themselves or watch it with their own kids. Even though it's very eighties in the fashions it's still kids being kids. Richard Donner wanted us to improvise, talk over each other, push and shove and kind of do our thing. 'I think that's one of the reasons people like it. It doesn't seem like kids acting. It's just kids being themselves, which Richard really encouraged. He wanted us to be comfortable.' The late filmmaker encouraged his young cast to improvise. 'He would throw little surprises at us during shooting because he wanted to get our real reactions,' Jeff recalled. 'In the scene where Sloth picks me up while I'm strapped to a chair, I was told he wasn't going to pick me up because John Matuszak's back hurt. But of course John was so strong it was nothing to him, so he just picked me up and kissed me. My shock and horror was real. I wasn't that good an actor – that was actual terror on my face.' In February, the Goonies gang proved that their bond remains as unbreakable as ever, gathering at the TLC Chinese Theater to celebrate Ke Huy Quan—who brought the hilarious Data to life in Richard Donner's iconic adventure. Brolin (Brand), Feldman (Mouth), Cohen (Chunk), Kerri Green (Andy), and screenwriter Chris Columbus hit the red carpet in high spirits, soaking up the chance to share laughs and snap nostalgic pics with Quan. The camaraderie was undeniable, with each cast member wrapping Quan in warm hugs, and Cohen—now his entertainment lawyer—delivering an especially proud bear hug. Though Sean Astin (Mikey) couldn't be there in person, he's already reunited with Quan on-screen, appearing in his latest film Love Hurts—proof that the Goonies spirit is as strong as ever in Hollywood. The ceremony itself honored Quan for his incredible career, which began at just 12 years old in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and most recently culminated in his Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. As the reunion sparked even more Goonies nostalgia, fans couldn't help but wonder: Could there ever be another adventure for the gang? Every few months, whispers of a sequel surface, only to be quickly shut down by the original cast—most recently, in September. A report claimed that The Goonies 2 would be filmed next summer with many of the original cast returning, but actors such as Feldman and Martha Plimpton shut down the report. 'People, there is no 'Goonies 2' script, there is no one "attached,"' Plimpton wrote on Instagram. '[Steven] Spielberg is not directing, it's not real.' she added. Feldman said at the time that he had 'no information' whatsoever that a sequel was in development. The last time the Goonies sequel buzz truly gained traction was back in 2014, when Variety reported that director Donner was attempting to reunite the original cast for The Goonies 2. At the time, Astin was incredibly optimistic, declaring, 'The Goonies 2 will happen,' and adding, 'I'm 1,000% certain there will be a sequel. I will bet my children on it.' Sadly, Donner passed away in 2021 at the age of 91, and with him went any hope of that reunion becoming a reality. As for Cohen, in 2015, he revealed how losing his puppy fat was the end of his acting career. The former child star - who is now a successful entertainment lawyer - was forced to quit Hollywood for good when he could no longer put himself forward for the 'fat kid roles.' 'There were basically about four fat kids in town, so every time there was a fat kid role you saw the same people at the audition,' the 40-year-old attorney said. 'It was survival of the fattest. But when I hit puberty, it was a career ender for me. I was transforming from Chunk to hunk and I couldn't get roles any more.' Jeff continued: 'It was terrible. My first love was acting but puberty had other ideas. It was a forced retirement. I didn't give up acting. Acting gave me up.' Astin would go on to star in Rudy in 1993 and played the great hobbit Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy in 2001 to 2003. The actor also starred in the second season of Stranger Things and made a brief appearance in the third episode in the first season. Josh' most recent success is in the Academy Award-winning adaptation of Dune (2021) and in Dune: Part Two (2024), starring as Gurney Halleck Before his role as Mouth, Corey already inched his way into Hollywood as a child star and appeared in Stand by Me (1986) and The Lost Boys (1987) The Goonies catapulted Brolin into Hollywood and after his stint in the classic film he went on to star in No Country for Old Men in 2007. He was nominated for an Oscar for Milk in 2008, starred in Inherent Vice in 2015 and Hail, Caesar! in 2016. A few years later, Josh turned his attention to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starred as the warlord Thanos in the Avengers film series. Josh' most recent success is in the Academy Award-winning adaptation of Dune (2021) and in Dune: Part Two (2024), starring as Gurney Halleck. Before his role as Mouth, Corey already inched his way into Hollywood as a child star and appeared in Stand by Me (1986) and The Lost Boys (1987). Reflecting on his time on The Goonies, Corey said at the 2013 reunion: 'It was like we had the coolest set on the lot. 'Harrison Ford came and walked the caves with us. We felt like we were in Indiana Jones.' Corey released a documentary in 2020 about the sexual abuse he endured as a child actor in the 1980s. The 53-year-old has proven to be quite the Hollywood darling following his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once She has since gone on to appear in an array of films and movies including Raising Hope and Parenthood Martha was 15 when she appeared in the 1985 classic The Goonies. She has since gone on to appear in an array of films and movies including Raising Hope and Parenthood. Plimpton grew up engulfed in showbiz. Her grandfather was John Carradine and both her parents (Keith Carradine and Shelley Plimpton) are actors. She is also on the board of directors of A is For, a charity which seeks to advance 'women's reproductive rights and end the stigma on abortion care'. Kerri, 57, was 17-years-old when she played cheerleader Andy and now runs a production company. In the 1980s, Kerri appeared in Summer Rental (1985), Lucas (1986), and Three for the Road (1987). She also appeared on TV shows including In the Heat of the Night, ER, Mad About You, and Law & Order: SVU. Before she started running her own production company, the last film she was in was 2012's Complacent. The beloved Goonies centers on a group of kids who stumble upon a long-lost treasure map and embark on a daring quest to find the fortune of the notorious pirate One-Eyed Willy—only to be chased by a family of criminals intent on stealing the treasure for themselves. Produced by Spielberg, the film became an instant classic and remains a staple of 80s cinema. The Goonies may never die, but it seems that, for now, the treasure hunt will remain a part of the past.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Netflix fans rave over film dubbed 'a masterclass in storytelling 'based on harrowing real events as they're left 'in tears and on the edge of their seats'
Netflix fans have raved over a film dubbed 'a masterclass in storytelling' based on harrowing real events as they're left 'in tears and on the edge of their seats'. Only the Brave, which is based on Sean Flynn's GQ article No Exit, hit our screens back in 2017. The official synopsis reads: 'All men are created equal… then, a few become firefighters. 'Only the Brave, based on the True Story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, is the heroic story of one unit of local firefighters that through hope, determination, sacrifice, and the drive to protect families, communities, and our country become one of the most elite firefighting teams in the country. 'As most of us run from danger, they run toward it – they watch over our lives, our homes, everything we hold dear, as they forge a unique brotherhood that comes into focus with one fateful fire.' It stars Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, James Badge Dale, Taylor Kitsch and Jennifer Connelly. Only the Brave, which runs for 133 minutes, is directed by Joseph Kosinski and the screenplay is by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer. It is based on the story of the 19 crew members that lost their lives on the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona on June 30 2013. The only crew member that survived was Brendan McDonough. Although the American biographical drama was released seven years ago, people are only just watching it on the streaming service, and sharing their rave reviews now. The film has received an impressive 87% on the Tomatometer of review site Rotten Tomatoes, as well as 91% on the Popcornmeter. One TikToker named @eccyreviews said in a video: 'Whatever you're planning on watching next, you need to make sure it's definitely this film. 'I just got done watching it on Netflix. 'It's a heart-breaking true story which genuinely left me in tears.' The official synopsis reads: 'Based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, a group of elite firefighters who risk everything to protect a town from a historic wildfire' Many others have taken to Rotten Tomatoes to share their thoughts. One said: 'A film that actually make me feel emotions after a long while.' 'Wow. I don't want to give a single thing away, so wont comment on the plot. This is a must see. The acting, the pacing, the storyline, the character arcs, the production, the music tie-ins, the directing. Everything!! One of my fave's now.' 'A true event made to wallop emotions yet a great movie.' 'True tear-jerker. The movie does a great job of showing what the granite mountain hotshots were like, and what they had to go through. Rest in peace to them. Very well put together, 10/10.' 'Very touching movie with interesting and also sad fates of people, that risked their lives for the others.' 'One of the better movies I have watched.' Meanwhile Netflix fans have shared their excitement after the streamer announced a major change which will 'transform' every hit series. Many viewers watch their TV shows and programmes with subtitles, but now there is been an update to the service which sees subtitles show just the words spoken, and nothing else. The new adaptation was rolled out on the fifth and final season of You, released last Thursday, and Netflix plans to add it to all its original shows from now on. Early testers reported a smoother reading experience, Netflix said, saying it was less 'obtrusive' - and fans have now also taken to social media to express their delight at the new feature. One user said on X: 'Finally, a win for subtitle lovers! No more getting distracted by every door creak and ominous music cue. 'Netflix is stepping up its caption game with a cleaner, more streamlined experience. Less chaos, more clarity.
Metro
01-05-2025
- Metro
'Creepiest horror trailer in years' leaves fans struggling to sleep
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The trailer for Weapons, a new horror from Barbarian writer-director Zack Cregger, has been released – and fans have been left unable to sleep after watching the intense preview. Starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, the trailer for Weapons introduces the audience to a simple premise that focuses on a teacher, Miss Gandy (Garner), walking into her classroom one morning to find all 17 students have disappeared in the night. A child's creepy narration explains that the plot thickens as the teacher quickly becomes a person of interest in her class's disappearance, and CCTV shows that all of the children ran from their homes at 2.17am. The intense trailer then shows graphic, increasingly horrifying imagery, including a creepy child sitting up from a desk in a darkened classroom, a view of a man being smacked into by a car, hands covering a man's face furiously holding him down, and black oil being poured onto someone's face. The movie then ends with the door of a house opening by itself as a child says quietly: 'This is where the story really starts.' Fans were left shell-shocked after the creepy nature of the film, with many taking to social media to say they were left unable to sleep. 'I don't like scary movies and I watched that WEAPONS trailer late last night and I swear to god it was so scary I couldn't even sleep,' said tiatamiaa on X. 'WEAPONS might be the scariest film of the year. What the f**k is that trailer??? lol,' said JakeRileyHunte. 'Man Weapons just *looks* crazy f****n' good,' said eventualforever. 'I watched the trailer for Weapons last night and thought it was so so scary,' said violetfaced. 'These kids are not alright. #Weapons looks messed up [positive].' added Lulamaybelle. 'I had full body chills the last 30 seconds of that trailer, incredible stuff,' said sillierdeadite. The film has had some fantastically frightening marketing attached, with Warner Bros releasing a two-hour-long video that showed children running with their arms out into the woods. The video appeared to be taken from CCTV footage and was left untitled and unexplained on the YouTube channel of the entertainment company. The creepy footage actually sparked some concern from viewers who stumbled across the video, unaware of what they were seeing, and baffled about what the footage was showing. Fans have also spotted some hidden Easter eggs in the footage, highlighting that an image of a baseball team can be seen around a minute and a half into the video – but only for a split second – which may be a key clue about the events in the film, or could be a red herring. Zach Cregger was the mind behind Barbarian, a horror which was met with huge critical acclaim, which he also wrote and directed. More Trending He was also a producer on the recent popular horror film Companion starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher, which was also met with huge accolades. Given his strong track record, fans are dead-set that Weapons is set to be another blinding success, which will traumatise viewers for years to come – but in a good way, of course. Weapons is set to be released in cinemas on August 8. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Freaky Friday sequel star had 'concerns' over Asian stereotypes in 2003 original MORE: Amazon Prime Video's 'twisted' thriller sequel lands surprising Rotten Tomatoes score MORE: Gerard Butler's 'trashiest' action thrillers somehow smash into Amazon Prime charts
