This is going to be the shortest, most vague review ever.
The horror genre just becomes progressively more and more back. We are entering uncharted back territory. Fresh off his exceptionally well received horror debut “Barbarian”, writer and director Zach Cregger is back with an all original story in “Weapons.” A new mystery, horror film that stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and other great names and faces. Off the bat, this is a SPOILER FREE review as Weapons is a movie that is best experienced with as little knowledge as possible. So, I’m going to try and gush over this movie vaguely.
And “gush” has to be the word because Weapons is one hell of a wild ride. Seeing this in a packed theater on a Tuesday night was one of the funnest movie theater experiences I’ve had in a while. There were laughs, winces, screams, claps. Further pressing the point that horror is so back. This is what horror is about and this could be a classic.
Structurally, Zach Cregger does something incredibly clever with how we progress through this twisted story. Weapons’ intriguing story and mystery unfolds in epic scale with some well polished world building. You can actively feel this small, suburban town riddled with paranoia and anxiety through the perspective of many different characters and points of view. It is clear and present that Cregger is having a blast with how he pieces all the intricate story details together. Experimental for the horror genre and it works refreshingly.
Julia Garner and Josh Brolin lead the cast and everyone here is fantastic at what they contribute to the narrative. In comparison to Barbarian, we have exceptional ethos and fleshed out characters with different intercepting perspectives and circumstances. I know it’s hard to understand what I’m getting at, but the way the movie’s narrative flow is presented is pleasantly unexpected and Cregger is flexing the entire time. This much craft being put into an original horror story is downright exciting and I was giddy the whole time.
Along with the clever writing and story, we are met with more nastiness and meanness from Cregger. Like Barbarian, Weapons is not afraid to challenge the audience with some sicko stuff and in your face depravity that harkens back to 80s shock and awe style terror. The amount of times the entire audience winced and “ooo”ed in unison surpassed the double digit mark.
Horror took an interesting turn several years ago as filmmakers began to give it a sheen that can be respected among the elite films today. And that’s fantastic because I enjoyed the high art, high concept stuff that came from that plethora of films. Cregger is just showing off here with high concept storytelling and midnight showing style horror by seamlessly combining the two.
Horror is about thrills, intensity, dread, mystery, and the unknown. Weapons wraps all of that up in a well conceived, narratively driven hodge podge that displays some real terror and gruesomeness. Not to mention its tonal capabilities of becoming a black comedy without it ever clashing with the overall dread that the film gives off.
I know I didn’t go into much detail, but this needs to be experienced blindly. Weapons is the most fun I’ve had with a horror movie in years. It’s rare to have so much craftsmanship and intrigue behind a big budget studio horror film and that excites me. See this in a packed theater right away. I loved it. This is another midnight classic from Zach Cregger.
4.5/5.
For more movie related content, head over to Apollo HOU or WatchWithApollo.
Watch Movies.
