Weapons – a review

Not knowing when to laugh or scream.

Weapons (2025) is the newest film by Zach Cregger, following his breakout horror hit Barbarian (2022). With a stellar ensemble cast including Julia Garner (Inventing Anna), Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), and Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), it’s one of the year’s must-see horror films.

The premise is chilling: at 2.17am on a Tuesday, 17 children from Ms Gandy’s (Garner) class walk out of their homes and vanish. With police investigations stalled, the residents of Maybrook are left to confront the horror themselves.

Cregger directs with confidence, delivering a unique vision that places him among a new wave of horror auteurs such as Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, and Coralie Fargeat. His nonlinear narrative, split into chapters following different characters, constantly wrongfoots the audience. Red herrings and partial clues pile up before it all comes together in a tense, unsettling third act.

Visually, the film is striking. Cregger’s camera work – quick 180-degree pans, unsettling lighting choices, and haunting compositions – ratchets up the tension without leaning on cheap jump scares. His use of shadow and negative space makes open doorways feel menacing, and his carefully constructed set pieces leave audiences gasping rather than jolted.

If there’s a weakness, it lies in the colour palette. A bland grey wash dominates much of the film, occasionally punctuated by striking contrasts that feel too rare. At just over two hours, the runtime is also slightly indulgent. The final act, shifting perspective to a vital character, revisits information the audience has largely already deduced, and the abrupt ending offers little resolution for the characters we’ve invested in.

The performances, however, are outstanding. Garner brings depth to Ms Gandy, a teacher burdened by guilt, shifting from cold and withdrawn in the opening act to urgent and empathetic by the end. Brolin is particularly strong as a grieving father, injecting unexpected humour into bleak circumstances and reminding viewers why he remains one of the most versatile actors working today. Wong adds grounded weight to a story that often veers into surreal territory.

Sound design is another highlight. The synth-heavy score by the Holladay Brothers pulses like an electronic heartbeat, an undercurrent of dread in quieter moments that erupts into paranoia-inducing crescendos when the action peaks. It’s atmospheric, immersive, and perfectly paired to Cregger’s direction.

Weapons is part of a growing tradition of horror films that blend social commentary with genre thrills. Like Get Out or Hereditary, it uses the horror framework not only to terrify but to disorient and challenge. At its best, the film keeps you teetering between confusion and revelation, forcing you to constantly reassess what you think you know.

While not flawless, Cregger has firmly established himself as one of horror’s most inventive new voices. The pacing, editing, and inventive visual style make Weapons an engaging watch from start to finish, even if the ending feels unsatisfying. Its flaws are outweighed by the sheer originality of the story and the strength of its execution.

Ultimately, Weapons succeeds in being more than just a horror film – it’s an unnerving, ambitious piece of cinema that demands to be experienced in a darkened theatre. For fans of the genre, it’s another reminder that the movies are well and truly back.

4/5 stars

Weapons is currently screening at Cinema Nova in Carlton.