YNOT at the Movies

Following his breakout hit "Barbarian" (2022), writer-director Zach Cregger returns with "Weapons" (USA 2025 | 128 min.), a gripping and ingeniously crafted thriller that surpasses its predecessor in both ambition and execution. Suspenseful, eerie, unexpectedly hilarious, and wildly entertaining, "Weapons" firmly establishes Zach Cregger as one of the most compelling filmmakers in horror today.

The story begins with a chilling mystery: Justine (Julia Garner), an elementary school teacher, arrives at school to discover her entire class missing except for one boy, Alex (Cary Christopher). Archer (Josh Brolin), a distraught and furious father, sets out to find his child when the authorities fail to provide answers. Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a recently sobered police officer, finds himself pulled into the case. Marcus (Benedict Wong), the school principal, tries to keep order as the situation spirals.

The film is structured as a series of character-titled chapters, with each section told from that character's point of view. Rather than isolating its characters into standalone episodes, the film uses this shifting perspective to expand and intensify the central mystery. As each chapter unfolds, new questions emerge, and what once seemed clear becomes unsettling. The narrative keeps evolving without losing momentum, pulling the audience deeper into a story that becomes stranger, scarier, and more compelling the further it goes. The ensemble cast brings conviction and complexity to every scene, adding tension and weight to the unraveling story.

Much of the film's creepiness comes from what isn't shown. Cregger and cinematographer Larkin Seiple often allow the camera to sit still, letting the frame breathe while building unease. A window, a doorway, or an empty street becomes a source of dread simply by how long the shot holds. This deliberate camera work invites the audience to imagine what might be just out of sight, and that uncertainty becomes part of the fear.

Cregger also infuses the film with sharp, unexpected humor and bursts of gore, making it as entertaining as it is disturbing. The absurdity never dilutes the horror—it enhances it, catching the audience off guard and keeping the tone unpredictable. The film manages to be playful without ever losing its bite.

Rich in atmosphere and full of surprises, "Weapons" is a bold and exhilarating ride from beginning to end. With this film, Zach Cregger proves he's a filmmaker with vision and nerve, unafraid to take horror in wild new directions.

"Weapons" opens in theaters on Friday, August 8, 2025.