Zach Cregger’s upcoming horror movie “Weapons” is a genre-bending film that follows a small town into chaos when all children but one from the same classroom mysteriously vanish. The Warner Bros. release, set to hit theaters on Friday, blends humor and horror in a delicate balance that requires stripping away intentional humor.
Paranoia runs deep in the film as parents are represented by Josh Brolin’s character Archer, whose son was among the missing, while Julia Garner plays the determined teacher who tries to solve the mystery. The town’s heartbreak puts a mirror up to society, with 17 kids vanishing at 2:17 a.m. leaving community members wondering how they would react.
The film setting – Maybrook, Illinois – is integral to the plot and blends humor and horror seamlessly, creating its own genre. Cregger intentionally aimed for realistic reactions from parents and bystanders, acknowledging that we often tune out chaos when it happens in front of us.
Each character drives the plot forward with flaws and secrets, including Gandy, Archer, Paul Morgan, and Julia Garner’s character. “Every character is perceived in a certain way, then every character breaks,” Brolin said. The film subtly mocks suburban life, where goriness and horror occur under the sights of nosy neighbors and corrupt police departments.
The cast praises Cregger’s approach to blending genres, with Ehrenreich saying it was the “weird resonance” that drew him in. Garner noted that the film has comedic elements and horror elements but is its own genre.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/weapons-zach-cregger-julia-garner-interview-ec3d19f0b6f27d3f8bedd2cbebed91d5