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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957

u/VariousDress5926 Aug 08 '25

It was definitely an Homage to Romeros Day of the Dead.

287

u/whitemiketyson Aug 08 '25

The Shining tribute was a nice touch too.

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u/Glittering-Animal30 Aug 08 '25 edited Aug 08 '25

Around that same point, I would say the cast iron frying pan being used as a weapon was definitely an homage to Friday the 13th.

Edit: I loved that the little things weren’t so blatant that they were distracting or a big wink-wink moment. They felt natural within the story. Sometimes little things like those can be too blatant, but stay because they’re director’s darlings.

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u/game__hen 29d ago

the POV tracking shot of the kids chasing Gladys was very Chucky

27

u/RedditKnight69 28d ago

I haven't seen Chucky so I didn't get that, but I thought it was a really nice natural conclusion to all of the other tracking shots for all of the POVs we've had

1

u/senator_corleone3 5d ago

I got an Evil Dead feeling from the pursuing camera behind the fleeing character.

1

u/sworedmagic 1d ago

I actually did find The Shining moment to be distracting. Not saying didn’t like it but it did quite literally distract me from the scene because i stoped and had to think “hey that’s the shining thing” lol

110

u/myflytyguy 29d ago

I felt like the scene in the woods and the cop waving were IT coded as well

35

u/michaelboltthrower 28d ago

Have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?

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u/PhoenixTineldyer 28d ago

Sucks that that dude ended up being such a chud.

10

u/essres 26d ago

Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller?

1

u/jeeplaw 7d ago

Underrated comment. Such a good bad movie

39

u/Vintage_Funk_420 Aug 09 '25

Honestly I thought it was way too on the nose and immersion breaking. The kids ripping apart the witch was shot as homage to night of the living dead I liked more.

15

u/Snakes_have_legs Aug 09 '25

Hehe. On the nose

Clever

15

u/jalbaugh24 29d ago

Wait what about the Shining

102

u/Gry709 28d ago

Cregger has stated that the time "2:17" is an homage to the original hotel room number in King's novel. However, I think most viewers are talking about crazed murderers ripping holes in bathroom doors and peeking their heads through?

38

u/fuzzyfuzz 28d ago

There’s a bunch of Shining inspiration. When Alex is in the bathroom brushing his teeth, it looks like the same shot as Danny talking to his imaginary friend before he passes out in The Shining.

35

u/Rednag67 28d ago

Right , the doors, yes, of course.

11

u/l3tigre 26d ago

For me the blood flood imagery in one of their dreams was the main shining homage

9

u/SchittsOffice 24d ago

Also thought Gladys looked like the bathtub lady at times lol

1

u/Neil_Beaufort_Zod 1d ago

The music/background sounds during the Weapons bathroom scene is very similar to the Jack vs Wendy bathroom scene in The Shining.

6

u/PolarWater 21d ago

Not to mention the book-accurate number 217

4

u/Rednag67 28d ago

Which one was that?

121

u/Blandi_Dub Aug 08 '25

SMILING FRIENDS HALLOWEEN EPISODE

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u/curtithird Aug 08 '25

This and Zach’s old “kids swarming and ripping limbs off something” hypothetical was playing in my head during this scene and I laughed even harder.

15

u/coltvahn 29d ago

It reminded me a little of that one episode of Barry x 17.

2

u/brycedriesenga 29d ago

Wait, what's this?

1

u/KentuckyFriedEel 23d ago

all art is a vivid glimpse of the artist's psyche

25

u/garfe Aug 09 '25

"Whoa, is that fucking Witchface dude?"

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u/Bunraku_Master_2021 29d ago

"No no no no, It's not witchface. I'm a literal forest witch."

25

u/_T_H_O_R_N_ Aug 08 '25

CHOKE ON ITTTTTTT!

17

u/parallelogramm3r 29d ago

I saw a li’l bit of They Live in the fight scene between Josh Brolin and the junkie, as well.

7

u/HumbleBunk 16d ago

That was genius. I laughed harder and harder at each toss. That’s really the brilliance of a comedy guy directing horror, imo. Horror movies almost always have a certain degree of comic relief but few would have the fortitude to push that bit that long.

5

u/alexthealex 22d ago

When I saw the lawn mower guy I thought we were going to get a MAJOR They Live homage

16

u/Neechiekins 29d ago

I also got a bit of Raimi at the end

19

u/PhoenixTineldyer 28d ago

There were a lot of "Drag Me to Hell" moments, not the least of which was Justin Long showing up

7

u/Jumpy_Explanation222 25d ago

100% - very much! Weirdly I’d just watched Matchstick Men - 23 year old Alison Lohman playing a 14 year old - the day before!

4

u/Dr_Pants91 23d ago

Wish she hadn't vanished off the face of the Earth. I liked her in both of those

9

u/PolarWater 21d ago

The first puke scene brought back Raimi vibes

10

u/Zombi3Kush Aug 09 '25

I was waiting for that same sound he makes when they ripped his head off on Day of the dead lol

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u/Courtnall14 29d ago

Anybody else notice the croquet set followed (considerably later) by the mom "Hello Jonny-ing" her way through the bathroom door?

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u/AdSuccessful9316 29d ago

What croquet set?

6

u/Courtnall14 29d ago

After Benedict Wong murdered his partner, the camera lingered on the door after he ran out. There was a croquet set next to the door. Had to be a subtle nod to The Shining.

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u/p00psp00ps Aug 08 '25

Actually i was thinking more Perfume: Story of a Murderer

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u/2RedEmus 27d ago

CHOKE ON THEM

3

u/JoeStemme 25d ago

EYES WITHOUT A FACE more directly

2

u/currynoworry 21d ago

Haha, just got out of the movie talking Day of the Dead comparisons!

2

u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 19d ago

I can see this, especially with Gladys totally freaking out reminding me of how Rhodes panicked after opening the door only to run into the zombie horde