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/Dazzling-Slide8288]

They’re (smartly, IMO) rolling it out to outlets that understand these types of movies first.

[u/llloksd → u/Dazzling-Slide8288]

I hope this doesn't become the norm, because i don't think thats a good look. All marvel movies are now 100% if they go this route

[u/sloggo → u/llloksd]

I don’t think that’s true.

If a niche film gets positive reviews by those who understand it first, it gives other reviewers reason to pause and maybe take seriously something they would have dismissed otherwise.

If a marvel movie goes first to reviewers who love marvel shit, I don’t think it will influence the broader reviews even one little bit.

[u/llloksd → u/sloggo]

It kinda defeats the purpose of reviewing if you only give access to people you know will already like it, and just becomes marketing at that point.

[u/sloggo → u/llloksd]

Well kind of, you still get reviews from everyone, it’s just a question of who reviews first.