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.
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