“Weapons” Review: A Visual Spectacle As Rewarding As It Is Unsettling To Watch

Let’s be real – some adults are unnerved by children. But kids are rarely intimidating – unless they’re ravenous monsters that will stop at nothing to tear you limb from limb.

But in all seriousness, this is the premise of Zach Cregger’s “Weapons”, a mystery horror film that follows the story of a sleepy town that is rocked by the sudden disappearance of 17 children, all of whom come from one classroom. The most spine-chilling fact in all of this is that they are not abducted – they simply run off into the dark at 2:17AM. The film stars Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan in a performance so unnerving yet refreshing you might see yourself go for a run.

Unlike conventional films where we follow a single point of view, “Weapons” takes a different approach in telling its story. To an extent, it feels like a whodunit yarn with no clear lead as to what or why events are happening; anyone can be a suspect just as much as they are the victims. Which is why this story takes its time unravelling the mystery, putting us in the shoes of various protagonists, showing what they were doing before and after the town-wide tragedy.

Normally, this would be the segment dedicated to giving special recognition to any outstanding performance in the film, but we don’t have enough to give, as all of the actors play their roles beautifully and with hardly any fault. From Garner’s destructive coping mechanisms to Brolin’s understandable fury, and even Christopher’s stoic performance – the film finds a way to bring them together for a truly unforgettable climax.

From how the story is laid out down to the major clue, it’s all about intersections. Witnessing how all these various perspectives merge into one to form a cohesive narrative is a refreshing cinematic experience because the movie rewards you for paying attention. Each segment is littered with objects of interest that are heavily highlighted for you – all you have to do is pay attention. It’s like watching a blank canvas come to life with every stroke of the brush.

And much like a master painter, this beautiful yet complicated movie only comes together because of Cregger’s phenomenal direction. Through his artistic vision, he is able to stitch together a cohesive narrative that radiates a certain hypnotic charm that keeps the viewer locked in the moment. People often lose interest when jumping between segments, as it pulls them out of the moment, but Cregger is able to keep things intense enough before pulling away from the scene, which will always leave you wanting more and wanting to know what comes next.

On that note, if you love properly managed and paced cinematography, then “Weapons” is an absolute treat. Whether the character is walking down to the store to buy groceries or responding to a knock on the door, following the camerawork is an absolute delight, as it allows you to focus on key details or feel the elevated tension of the scene. Sometimes, it also gives way to comedic moments that might not have worked otherwise.

The cinematography is snappy, fluid, and takes you on an incredible, joyous ride. The film rarely relies on jumpscares to get you; rather, it points the camera right at the threat as it approaches, giving you that sense of horror that “it is coming and you can do nothing about it” vibe.

“Weapons” still has a few issues – but they border on being nitpicks, and whether or not they are actual “shortcomings” depends on who you ask. It has a runtime of 129 minutes, and in the first few acts and hour, it is an absolutely gripping tale. But once we reach the third act, the sudden pacing issues and actual movie length hit you all at once. Luckily, this happens near the climax, so it’s not much of an issue. 

Another point is the ending — the movie just ends abruptly. We are not given a moment to bask in the afterglow of the movie; after following the characters for so long, it would have been nice to see where they all go afterwards. Instead, we’re just whisked away into the credits with a narration.

Despite that, “Weapons” is still a phenomenal movie to watch and an absolute treat. From the snappy cinematography to the gripping narrative, every moment is as enticing as it is nerve-wracking. The camerawork elevates the horror, which is as unnerving as it is almost inescapable. Pair this up with a phenomenal cast of characters and a unique take on storytelling, and you have a memorable horror experience you won’t forget.

“Weapons” is running towards a cinema near you on 7th August.