“Horror Film ‘Weapons’ Provides Bittersweet Relief”

The horror film “Weapons” offers a sense of relief by answering its big questions, but at a cost. Writer and director Zach Cregger’s movie follows a mysterious event in which all but one student from the same third-grade class vanish into the night. As the story unfolds, Cregger tackles the fallacy of catharsis, highlighting that vanquishing evil doesn’t undo the terror it has already caused.

Inspired by the accidental death of his friend Trevor Moore, Cregger wrote “Weapons” to explore the senseless and supernatural events at its core. The film follows characters like Archer (Josh Brolin), Justine (Julia Garner), and Alex (Cary Christopher) as they try to understand what happened to their missing classmates. With a twist that reveals the enigmatic villain behind the tragedy, “Weapons” offers a mix of tension and closure – but ultimately reminds viewers that relief comes with a bitter aftertaste.

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Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/08/weapons-movie-2025-review-ending/683886