Latest news with #ZachCregger
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
One Of The Best Horror Movies Of The Decade Has Hit Netflix
Barbarian While horror movies are a dime a dozen, low budgets pursuing high returns, only a select few truly break out into the highest tier of the genre. This is one of those films. Netflix has just landed one of the best horror films of this decade, Barbarian, the 2022 movie directed by Zach Cregger and starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard and Justin Long. It's an unforgettable, horrifying movie that changes direction so violently, I've never experienced anything quite like it. It's practically like two different films stitched together, but it works great. Here's the synopsis, and I would not read any more than that lest it give too much away: 'Traveling to Detroit for a job interview, a young woman books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgment, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there's a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.' Barbarian All I can say past that is that it features stellar performances from Campbell, Long and he's-everywhere-being-creepy-now Skarsgard, who has now played the clown from It and Nosferatu. among other parts. And it's stellar, original work from writer/director Zach Cregger, with the film nabbing a 92% critic score. Barbarian is also worth watching as it can serve as an introduction to Cregger, given that he's on the verge of releasing what appears to be another stellar horror film, at least judging by its trailer. That would be Weapons, out August 8, so still a ways off. That stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Toby Huss and has one of the best horror trailers I've seen in recent memory: Past that, Cregger is about to go fully mainstream when he directs a new Resident Evil movie in 2026. No, we are moving past the lengthy (but very profitable!) Milla Jovovich era, and this seems like something that is going to be right up Cregger's alley. I thought I heard he was being pursued for a supernatural Marvel film at one point, but those are just rumors. I have little doubt Weapons will be good, given how well Barbarian went. Definitely check out Barbarian on Netflix now if you haven't, and read nothing else about it past what I'm saying here. You won't regret it. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Weapons' just took the lead as my most anticipated movie of summer 2025 — here's why
Look, I love a good sequel as much as the next person. I'll definitely be there for 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,' I'm curious (and a little nervous) about' 28 Years Later,' and of course I'm going to see 'Jurassic World Rebirth' because dinosaurs are still cool. But with summer 2025 absolutely stacked with sequels, spinoffs, and reboots, it's starting to feel like original stories are getting pushed to the sidelines. That's why 'Weapons' has quietly taken the top spot as my most anticipated movie of the summer. We don't know a ton about it yet, and honestly, that's part of the appeal. It's the latest from Zach Cregger, the writer/director of 'Barbarian' (a.k.a one of the wildest horror surprises in recent memory). And while there's been speculation that 'Weapons' might exist in the same universe, it's not a sequel but instead a self-contained story with new characters, a new mystery, and a completely different tone. That makes it feel fresh, even if there are some connective threads. It's being described as a 'multi-story horror epic in the vein of Magnolia… but scary.' That's all I needed to hear. Maybe it'll be brilliant, maybe it'll be a mess. But either way, I want more movies that take risks. And right now, 'Weapons' feels like one of the boldest bets of the summer. Here's why it's at the top of my list. Horror has always been my favorite genre, so it's no surprise that 'Weapons' immediately caught my eye. But it's not just the genre — it's how this movie presents itself. The first trailer didn't give too much away, which I honestly found refreshing. These days, it feels like most trailers lay out the entire plot beat-for-beat, but 'Weapons' knows how to keep things very mysterious. More than anything, 'Weapons' feels like a breath of fresh, eerie air in a summer packed with franchise fare. Original horror movies (especially ones with big casts and wide releases) don't get nearly as much attention as they deserve. And yet here's a movie with a killer premise and major talent behind it. The setup is simple but chilling: an entire classroom of children vanishes at the exact same time — except for one. But what really has my attention is how confidently this horror-thriller is carving out its own identity. Even with whispers that it may connect to 'Barbarian,' it's not riding coattails, but instead it's forging its own, strange, unsettling path. Warner Bros. Pictures is clearly going all in on 'Weapons,' and it shows. They've launched a cryptic website that unpacks pieces of the story like a digital breadcrumb trail, almost like an ARG, in the spirit of the 'Blair Witch Project' or 'Cloverfield' marketing. There's even a short faux news clip referencing the events of 'Barbarian,' which hints that the two movies might exist in the same universe. Nothing's confirmed, but the connections are fun to spot and they add a layer of intrigue without giving the game away. It's the kind of promo that trusts the audience to lean in and engage, not just sit back and be spoon-fed spoilers. And then there's the cast that adds to this movie's appeal. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong… this isn't your average horror ensemble. The fact that they signed on tells me this script isn't playing it safe. Cregger, when speaking with Entertainment Weekly, said: 'That mystery is going to propel you through at least half of the movie, but that is not the movie. The movie will fork and change and reinvent and go in new places. It doesn't abandon that question, believe me, but that's not the whole movie at all. By the midpoint, we've moved on to way crazier s*** than that.' Movies like 'Weapons' don't usually get the biggest budget or the loudest campaign, but they're often the ones people end up talking about months later. It's refreshing to see something that isn't just a continuation of something else, and I hope audiences make room for it between all the big-name reboots. Because if we want more original stories, we need to show up for them. So yeah, bring on the dinosaurs and the spies — but I'll be saving my real excitement for the weird little horror epic tucked away in August.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Weapons' Trailer: Josh Brolin Searches for Missing Students in ‘Barbarian' Director's Creepy New Horror
The first trailer for 'Weapons,' the new horror film from 'Barbarian' director Zach Cregger starring Josh Brolin, has been unveiled. Brolin stars alongside Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich in Cregger's sophomore feature. The cast also includes Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher and June Diane Raphael. It follows the disappearance of a group of school children in the middle of the night in a small Florida community. More from Variety Tom Cruise Told Glen Powell to 'Film Yourself' Sprinting for 'The Running Man': 'You Don't Look as Cool as You Think You Do' 'Weapons' Trailer Creeps Out CinemaCon as 'Barbarian' Director Zach Cregger Reveals Skin-Crawling Missing Kids Plot Josh Brolin Says Oscars Rejecting Denis Villeneuve Again for Best Director 'Makes No Sense': 'Dune 2' Is 'Even Better Than the First' and 'You Deserve It' Roy Lee and Miri Yun produce the film via Vertigo, alongside Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz via BoulderLight Pictures. New Line handles the film's theatrical release. Cregger's Airbnb horror film 'Barbarian' was a surprise success in 2022, earning the top spot at the box office in its opening weekend. The filmmaker originally started his career in the comedy group Whitest Kids U'Know and told Variety that the switch between genres wasn't quite as drastic as it may seem. 'I don't think horror and comedy are too dissimilar,' Cregger said in 2022. 'The anatomy of a scare is very similar to the anatomy of a laugh. It's all about timing and tone and zigging when the audience expects you to zag. I feel like my time in sketch comedy has equipped me to play in this pool.' Cregger's friend and 'Get Out' director Jordan Peele gave him some guidance. 'He gave me a crash course on how to handle the inevitable challenges, and that was so valuable.' 'Weapons' hits theaters Aug. 8. Watch the trailer below. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in May 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in May 2025
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Weapons: Makers release creepy 2-hour footage of children running away at night, leave horror fans surprised
The trailer of Weapons, the new horror film directed by Barbarian maker Zach Cregger, dropped earlier this week and caught attention of several fans. The producers of the film Warner Bros seemed to have taken an unlikely route in promoting the film, as it has now released an unlisted video of several children running away from their homes at night without any description. (Also read: Weapons trailer: Insane $38 million script of this movie caused a massive bidding war; Jordan Peele fired staff for it) The two-hour, unlisted video has a series of children running away from their homes late at night, which is seemed to look like a surveillance video where the viewer himself is watching from the point of view of the camera. The video raises questions- Who is watching the video? Who is looping in these moments together? This video was shared with the title, '2025_░_░_06: It must be noted that the video is in line with the premise of the film Weapons, which 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.' Reacting to the video, an eagle eye fan commented, 'The large face that acts as a reflection on the screen must be a clue.' A second fan said, 'This is insanely interesting, so excited.' Another said, 'Great to see viral marketing coming back.' A comment read, 'The marketing for this movie is insane. I love it.' 'Soooo damn eerie. This looks interesting to say the least!' said another fan. With more details about the plot being kept under wraps, horror fans and viewers will have to wait till August to find out the answers. Weapons also stars Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan.
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Weapons': Release date, cast, plot and all the latest updates about Zach Cregger's upcoming horror film
Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger and produced by New Line Cinema, is scheduled for release later this year. The film marks Cregger's follow-up to Barbarian and features a psychological horror narrative set in the fictional town of Maybrook. The plot centres around the simultaneous disappearance of 17 children from a single classroom at 2:17 a.m. The town is left to unravel the cause, as questions emerge about the nature of the event and those involved. Julia Garner plays Mrs. Gandy, the teacher of the missing children. Josh Brolin portrays Archer Graff, a parent who begins to investigate the case. The cast also includes Benedict Wong as the school principal, along with Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, and Cary Christopher. The film's narrative incorporates multiple storylines and tonal shifts, with a structure compared to Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia. A companion promotional website, contains supplemental material referencing Cregger's previous film Barbarian, suggesting a shared universe, though this remains unconfirmed. Weapons was the subject of a high-profile industry bidding war in 2023. Warner Bros. ultimately secured the project for approximately $38 million, surpassing a competing bid from Universal backed by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions. Reports later linked Peele's decision to part ways with two longtime managers to the outcome of the auction, though no formal reason was provided. The film's release was originally scheduled for January 2026. However, following favourable responses in early test screenings, Warner Bros. advanced the release date. Weapons is now set to release in cinemas and IMAX on 8 August 2025.
