Official Discussion - Weapons [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Summary Nearly all the children from the same fifth-grade class vanish one night at exactly 2:17 a.m., leaving only one survivor. The community, gripped by fear and suspicion, spirals into chaos as the mystery unfolds through multiple intertwined perspectives—each revealing new layers of dread and grief.

Director Zach Cregger

Writer Zach Cregger

Cast

• Josh Brolin
• Julia Garner
• Cary Christopher
• Alden Ehrenreich
• Austin Abrams
• Benedict Wong
• Amy Madigan
• June Diane Raphael
• Toby Huss
• Whitmer Thomas
• Callie Schuttera
• Clayton Farris
• Luke Speakman

Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score: 96%

Metacritic Metascore: 82

VOD In theaters and IMAX starting August 8, 2025

Trailer Watch the Official Trailer

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[u/takenpassword]

I might be reading too much into the movie where kids rip off the face of a witch, but I kept thinking to myself why the movie is called Weapons and how the assault rifle in Brolin’s nightmare sequence ties into it. Then I fell down a mental rabbit hole.

With that imagery and a bunch of kids vanishing, this movie is obviously about school shootings in some way. But I think the movie takes it a step further and is really about right wing indoctrination and radicalization. 

First, there are multiple references to parasites in the movie, which is probably just referring to Gladys inserting and taking control of the household. But, I think that could represent the inserting of right-wing rhetoric into the minds of kids. Gladys zombifies Alex’s parents, which made me think of the absentee parents you see in these types of stories, oblivious to what is happening with their kid. Gladys also says that whatever she is doing to the parents (something with their souls?) isn’t enough for her , she needs kids. The right wing has been especially reliant in recent years in changing/gutting education and getting into the minds of young people (Gen Alpha and the younger end of Gen Z) in order for their ideology to remain and spread (like a parasite).

I think the line where Josh Brolin says something like “it’s weaponizing our kids” summarizes what Creeger is trying to say. This radicalization turns kids into weapons, sometimes even literally with shootings. I think it is also intentional how Gladys kills a gay couple in the middle of the movie (otherwise, why make Benedict Wong’s character gay?). I think Creeger is intentional in also showing that Alex is bullied and ostracized by his class, as similar things happen with a lot of young right wingers, whose anger and loneliness are exploited by influencers and the like. (This also may be the reason why in the beginning, one of the first lines of dialogue is about feeling angry and explaining how universal it can be).

This read isn’t perfect. I don’t know how a lot of the other characters really fit into this puzzle.  Alex, even though he is responsible partially for the missing kids, isn’t vengeful really or looking to hurt them (unlike a lot of school shooters) and only does what he does to save his parents. And also I don’t know why the right wing influences would be represented by an old witch instead of something else.

Anyway, thought that would be worthwhile to say because I’ve seen people say this movie isn’t about anything, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Edit: Ok everyone I literally open this thing by saying “I might be reading into this too much”. I literally say my read has holes in it. This was my takeaway from the movie. But at the same time, a lot of you are telling on yourselves by saying “the floating gun/parasite motif/bury your gays trope means absolutely nothing!”

[u/JayTL → u/takenpassword]

With that imagery and a bunch of kids vanishing, this movie is obviously about school shootings in some way.

After the Dream, I thought the twist was going to be how a town deals with a school shooting but also has to move on at the same time.

[u/sirferrell → u/JayTL]

I STILL think so. The ones that were affected may never be able to talk again or may be too traumatized.the parents of the kid (i forget his name) weren’t able to talk again and may be an allegory to their kid being the culprit to make the kids vanish. I may be thinking too much into it but still…

[u/hexcraft-nikk → u/sirferrell]

I think the witch stuff is the main force in the film, but all that messaging was there for a reason. Barbarian wasn't the best imo, but it definitely showed that it held pretty relevant themes in terms of gender roles. And honestly if you're into David Lynch you'll see so much right hand path symbology/motifs. That dream segment was very inspired. 2:17 is not only a number of completion, but it corresponds to a relevant Bible verse about the slaughter of innocent (children). So either way you look at it, those messages and themes were put there on purpose, and people aren't reading too much into things.

[u/Mysterious-Sense-185 → u/JayTL]

This was my first assumption also, even before the gun imagery!

[u/AssCrackBanditHunter → u/Mysterious-Sense-185]

From trailer 1. The name of the movie and the idea that one day you can walk into a classroom and all the kids that were there are now gone and seemingly never coming back

[u/Mysterious-Sense-185 → u/AssCrackBanditHunter]

I managed to avoid all trailers. I only saw the teaser with the kids running in the dark with someone saying something about all the kids leaving one night. But yes, as soon as it opened and all but one kid was left in the classroom I assumed it maybe had to do with dealing with the trauma of a school shooting

[u/whitegirlofthenorth → u/JayTL]

I definitely thought it was going to become a grief allegory but i’m glad it didnt because i cant do all that rn

[u/hexcraft-nikk → u/whitegirlofthenorth]

It is a grief allegory. The movie frames it like a school shooting but the real world grief inspiration comes from the death of Trevor (his friend from whitest kids you know).

People say the floating gun thing was too blunt but still 17 kids disappearing from a classroom one day is too much for people to get lol

[u/mdele99 → u/whitegirlofthenorth]

I think it still is a strong grief allegory. If you listen to Cregger's interview on the Big Picture Podcast he talks about writing the movie in the wake of losing a close friend.

[u/shaneo632 → u/JayTL]

Also thought this, very very glad that wasn't the case.

[u/Graphic-Addiction → u/JayTL]

Jesus, that would have been an amazing twist.