Weapons Spoiler Movie Review

Zach Gregger delivers knock out 2^nd film with phenomenal ensemble cast.

When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanishes on the same night at the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. Zach Gregger follows up Barbarian with Steller ensemble horror film that tells a compelling story from multiple perspectives that can build a mystery that has a payoff that rewards you in spades as a viewer. The influences of certain films Gregger loves if you know are apparent but come off as influences not plagiarism that come together to create something new.

The direction from Zach Gregger is phenomenal the way he is able to balance tone going from scenes that white knuckled suspense to having moments that are hilarious like when Archer wakes up from a nightmare and says what the fuck without ruining the tone of the film which is so hard to do you look at MCU films that try do this they fail 95% of the time the humor in those films take me out of the film but Gregger is able to inject humor that feel organic to the story in the world of the film. I love the camera work that Gregger uses in the film like when Paul is chasing a drug addict with his car through alleys is thrilling in how the camera moves to make you feel like Paul or when the perspective shifts to the drug addicts point of view is not only exciting to watch but reveals important information about the story that moves it forward. The tension of the scary scenes is amazing like when Gladys who is revealed to be the villain behind the kids disappearances is threating Alex with harming his parents if he doesn’t do what he says is terrifying to see a child feels powerless not only in that moment but when he has to go to school like nothing is wrong but is carrying the weight of what he can’t talk about is so well done by Gregger along with how he directs the children chasing Gladis is thrilling and funny at the same time that is cathartic to watch as a viewer.

The cast in the film is phenomenal across the board starting with Josh Brolin who plays a dad of one of the kids who disappeared who is rightfully angry and wants answers he can go from that rage to this sadness and regret in a dream sequence where he wants to tell his son he loves him Brolin plays that brilliantly. Julia Garner in contrast as the teacher of the class of kids who disappears is sympathetic, flawed, and has you guessing to whether she had something to do with this she can be at one moment be sure she is this innocent person that is being scapegoated or when she does stop that is not moral like getting Paul who she had a thing with to drink again when he has been sober then as the film goes o you realized they had sex when he is dating someone else it can make you think she might be guilty which is a commentary on mob mentally that because someone is flawed they must be guilty of a crime that has happened Garner does a great job with all of that. Aldan Ehrenreich as the cop Paul is great who is clearly modeled after John C Reillys character in Magnolia is great when is he panicked when he sees the junkie who he thought had dealt with combined with anger that he showed back up. Amy Madigan for me steals the film I can’t believe this the same person from Field of dreams I did not recognize her at all until I looked up the cast list she is fantastic playing this woman who at first comes off eccentric then as the film progresses she becomes chilling in her desire to suck the life force out of these children like a vampire her callousness when threating Alex with harming his parents like it’s no big deal is horrifying.

Final thoughts on Weapons is I loved this film to pieces it’s one of my favorites of the year it is another example that if you give an artist the support they need they can create magic and gives me hope for the future that it shows studios to invest in mid budget films you can get great results I will give this film a 4 and half out of 5.