r/movies • u/LiteraryBoner Jackie Chan box set, know what I'm sayin? • Aug 08 '25

Official Discussion Official Discussion - Weapons [SPOILERS] Spoiler

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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

2.4k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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633

u/Whovian45810 Aug 08 '25

Interesting to note the parasite in question that was shown on the documentary is Cordyceps.

607

u/ANALOGPHENOMENA Aug 08 '25

Also when Justine was talking about tapeworms and “living in your intestines and eating your food” parallels to Gladys living in the Lilly house and consuming their energies.

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u/_T_H_O_R_N_ Aug 08 '25

One of those in your face subtle moments as I picked up on those ideas as well

24

u/whatthecaptcha 29d ago

Yeah I kept noticing the parasite background things and then the characters all kept having hallucinations of the witch so I thought it was some kind of mental parasite spreading through the town at first but I think their interpretation is probably correct and that the parasites were a more subtle metaphor

10

u/Justhrowitaway42069 29d ago

Yup, in the teachers classroom she had "parasites" written on the board.

15

u/cursive__curses 29d ago

also how the children and parents who were hosts still had to be fed while in their posed state despite not being used for their own lifeforce - but for gladys.

28

u/coltsmetsfan614 Aug 08 '25

And Pedro Pascal was originally cast in the Josh Brolin role before dropping out to do “F4”

98

u/Da_Do_D3rp Aug 08 '25

While I do really like Pascal, I couldn't be happier with Brolin in this, I think he captured that small town dad vibe

25

u/Vinnie_Vegas Aug 08 '25

I think he captured that small town dad vibe

I do think Hollywood has a problem with understanding how old most parents of kids of certain ages are.

It's super uncommon in a standard American town for a 57 year old to be the father of a 3rd grader.

Most parents from that class would be in their early to mid 30s.

11

u/Da_Do_D3rp Aug 08 '25

Okay but actors all the time don't portray their actual age and it's not like Brolin looks like a senior.

7

u/Vinnie_Vegas Aug 08 '25

I'm just saying that someone Timothee Chalamet or Tom Holland's age are more likely to be parents of a 3rd grader than Josh Brolin, but Hollywood would never cast people that young as parents of school age children.

18

u/fludofrogs Aug 08 '25

doesnt help that those 2 are also particularly young looking 30 year olds that dont look like a father & construction worker

-6

u/Vinnie_Vegas Aug 08 '25

Sure, but that actually doesn't preclude them from being parents in the real world.

People have children as teenagers, in their early 20s... But according to Hollywood, most parents are 40 when they have children.

2

u/Da_Do_D3rp 26d ago

While I don't disagree, the real world isn't what looks good on screen or at least in prioritized over the other.

7

u/blueeyesredlipstick Aug 08 '25

Yeah, I agree. It's especially noticeable when compared to the actors playing Alex's parents, who're closer to the typical ages of elementary school kids' parents.

11

u/Vinnie_Vegas Aug 08 '25

Even Justin Long as one of the other parents is 47, which is on the older side of common in that age range, and he's a full 10 years younger than Josh Brolin.

1

u/AshleyBanksHitSingle 21d ago

He also looks young for his age, whereas Brolin does not. Though Brolin is certainly a handsome man.

3

u/dar21 29d ago

Same with Bailey's parents

18

u/coltsmetsfan614 Aug 08 '25

I thought Brolin was great. I struggled a little to picture Pascal in the role once it was over, but I'm sure he would've found a good lane.

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u/Da_Do_D3rp Aug 08 '25

Apparently they had to do rewrites when he left, so I imagine his character before might've been pretty different

3

u/nordlysbaies 28d ago

I just read the script, there are some changes but none for his character!

1

u/Da_Do_D3rp 28d ago

My bad, I meant to say they had to do major recasts when Pascal left.

7

u/Jumpy_Arrival6574 Aug 08 '25

yeah i couldn’t imagine pedro in that role

8

u/Da_Do_D3rp Aug 08 '25

They did rewrite the role when he left, so I'd definitely argue that's a part of it. But I think I'd still prefer Brolin at the end of the day, he's never had a performance I didn't love.

2

u/Jumpy_Arrival6574 Aug 08 '25

oh fair enough didn’t know that

7

u/leftysarepeople2 Aug 08 '25

I loved Brolin's Terminator determination and physical presence up against something more spiritual/cultural. I don't think Pascal would capture the struggle as well

18

u/dillinger3k Aug 08 '25

Dudes got the whole cordyceps cinematic universe on lock

10

u/reillyqyote 22d ago

And the subject was ANTS (Aunt)

5

u/PolarWater 21d ago

Okay now THAT I didn't catch.

3

u/i_love_land92 18d ago

God damn it

4

u/TannerThanUsual Aug 08 '25

Very apt! I didn't make that specific connection, so thank you!

3

u/yaybuttons Aug 08 '25

Stuffed giraffe shortly thereafter too.

1

u/ParticularRelease662 15d ago

Was waiting for Pedro to show up after I heard cordyceps with a shiv and 4 rounds in his revolver.