Remakes, sequels, and franchise entries are always a great time at the movies, expanding the known, kinda comfortable universes. But as a guy that catches a fair share of films, it’s always one of the best things in the world to get totally surprised by a film, caught up in its story and the telling of it. Weapons is one of those rare films that feels strangely familiar but is incredibly original all at the same time. A thrilling, thoroughly engrossing tale with a great ensemble cast, Weapons is one of the best and most original films of the year. Destined to be a cult classic. 

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“A lot of people die in a lot of really weird ways” an unseen child narrator tells us in the opening moments of Weapons. One night, at 2:17 am in the morning in Maybrook, a sleepy little town, seventeen school kids walked out of their homes and ran off into the night never to be seen again. Justine, a teacher, whose class (except one) it was that disappeared, is initially blamed for the children’s disappearance. The film begins with her perspective moving through a variety of characters from Archer, a parent of one of the missing children, to other people throughout this town. 

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Ordinarily using a non-linear plot device like this can kinda feel a bit gimmicky if it doesn’t serve the overall arc of the tale, but here it really enhances a real sense of mystery, fear, and unsettledness. 

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Weapons has enough familiarity in the content and themes of the film so, without giving any spoilers away, the audience doesn’t need to have big sessions of exposition. This allows the story to unfold at a cracking, engaging pace. 

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I’ve gotta be honest, I was expecting a few jump scares (which I hate!) but director Zach Cregger manages to take what we’re expecting from a horror/thriller and tip them on their head in the best possible way. 

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The ensemble cast here is superb from Julia Garner who perfectly captures a sense of broken bewilderment, to Josh Brolin’s grieving father (who has the best line in the film), and the incredible Cary Christopher in his debut role; this cast is perfect.  

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A thrilling, thoroughly engrossing tale with a great ensemble cast, Weapons is one of the best and most original films of the year. Destined to be a cult classic.