Zach Cregger’s latest horror follow-up, Weapons, is a true story framed film that explores the shockwaves of an elementary school class disappearance. While the movie delivers on atmosphere and visuals, its narrative is marred by an abrupt swerve into witchy hag horror and a lack of compelling mythology.
The film follows grieving father Archer (Josh Brolin) as he searches for answers to the disappearance of his students. With a strong cast and intriguing chapter structure, Weapons makes use of atmospheric cinematography and a gut-churning score that builds an unsettling soundscape. However, aside from a simmering performance from Brolin, there’s too little substance to support the film’s associations with gun violence and parental fears.
Despite its flaws, Weapons fortifies Cregger’s impression as a gifted horror director working with complete control. The film delivers unpredictable narrative energy, but its weirdness falls short of scariness. The movie is never dull or cripplingly silly, but its tone is inconsistent, veering between dread and macabre humor.
A strong cast, including Julia Garner and Alden Ehrenreich, bring depth to the characters, while Cregger’s confident direction allows for a mix of horrific violence and suspense. The film’s climactic events are dynamic and visually stunning, but a lack of depth in its mythology holds it back from reaching its full potential.
Overall, Weapons is an expertly crafted chiller that fails to deliver on its promise due to a lack of substance and depth.
Source: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/weapons-review-julia-garner-josh-brolin-zach-cregger-horror-1236337427