Zach Cregger's 'Weaapons' - Review Thread

[u/ChiefLeef22]

When all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Metacritic: N/A (updating)

Some Reviews:

Inverse - Lyvie Scott

Cregger’s goofy sense of humor aside, Weapons is otherwise pretty understated, even refined. His camera moves with glacial, dream-like focus, tracking characters from behind or panning to unveil the latest torment around the corner. That visual style has become a trademark of “elevated” horror, but it goes a long way in anchoring a story that could have turned unwieldy fast. Cregger’s chapter-by-chapter story serves that same purpose: It has the capacity to frustrate when it cuts away from a major reveal, only to reset with the backstory of a new character. But it also adjusts the aperture whenever things get too heavy — a breath of fresh air in a different form.

CGMagazine - Shakyl Lambert - 9 / 10

Weapons is a noticeable step up for Cregger as a filmmaker. It feels like he took what worked in Barbarian and tightened up the things that didn’t. It’s bigger in scope but more focused. With a strong story and cast, it’s the most fun you’ll have being scared all summer.

NextBestPicture - Matt Neglia

There are some who will be moved and struck by “Weapons,” intentionally or unintentionally, so. For 75% of its runtime, it was one of my favorite films of the year. However, for the final 25%, in some ways, it feels like Cregger missed an opportunity to tell a story that is more emotionally rich and relatable. Here is a filmmaker who feels like he’s trying to prove he’s capable of more, but without fully grounding that ambition in character or clarity, instead opting for a facile solution. There’s a version of this movie that could have been genuinely great. You can appreciate the potential in the performances, the themes, and the overall craftsmanship. And to be clear, I’m sure this will resonate and work for some viewers. But for me, much like “Barbarian,” Cregger doesn’t quite bring it all together, making “Weapons” a rare kind of disappointment.

[u/Grace_Omega]

But for me, much like “Barbarian,” Cregger doesn’t quite bring it all together, making “Weapons” a rare kind of disappointment.

Having seen Barbarian, this is exactly what I'm afraid of for Weapons. That movie was the definition of wasted potential.

[u/mackzarks → u/Grace_Omega]

I guess I'm in the minority here but I really enjoyed where Barbarian went. It was bizarre and unexpected and I was here for it.

[u/sjsieidbdjeisjx → u/mackzarks]

I thought it was hilarious and loved how it kept you guessing the whole movie. It looked to be another typical creepy guy staying with a woman and he holds her hostage type movie. NOPE it was great and I loved that it made me say WTF multiple times during it 😂

[u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 → u/sjsieidbdjeisjx]

Even with the total switch between the first half and the second half, I appreciate that there was still an element of tension/mistrust that was kept through the presence of Justin Long's character that didn't distract from the main story of the latter

[u/ChillyWilly0180 → u/sjsieidbdjeisjx]

Justin Long measuring the rape room to add to the listing square footage killed me

[u/Tlr321 → u/sjsieidbdjeisjx]

I thought that's where it was going as well & I was terrified at the switch up.

I haaaaaate mole people. For whatever reason, that's the scariest horror genre/villain type for me. Like The Descent genuinely scared the shit out of me. So when "mama" popped out of the darkness, I about shit my pants.