‘Weapons’ is Double-Edged in Humor and Horror

Zach Cregger’s new film “Weapons” follows hot on the heels of his 2022 directorial debut — horror mystery movie “Barbarian” — as Cregger once again arms his work with the monsters of paranoia, suburban terror and a decaying older woman.

Debuting with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, “Weapons” has been highly anticipated since it hit the Hollywood market in January 2023. Following an intense bidding war that ended in a $38 million deal, rumors spiraled about horror director Jordan Peele divorcing his management team for failing to secure production rights.

Written, directed and produced by Cregger, the film has worn the crown for the No. 1 box office spot since its release Aug. 8.

At 2:17 a.m. in Anytown, U.S.A., 17 of the 18 children in Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner) third-grade classroom vanish. House security footage catches the kids running toward an unknown destination like heat-seeking missiles, with stiff arms extended from their bodies at slight angles. 

They leave behind them a grief-striken community, demanding answers to the unexplainable tragedy. Distraught, many of the classroom’s parents turn their finger-pointing toward Justine, even spray-painting “WITCH” on her car. 

The only child left in Justine’s classroom is Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher) — a meek kid who denies knowledge of the disappearances and returns to normality quietly, transferring to a different teacher. 

In high-stakes scenes rife with blood, horror and the unknown, Christopher (“Mank,” “An Almost Christmas Story”) excels at delicately playing the balance between determination and sheer terror — all painted on the doe-eyed face of a 9-year-old.

Garner’s Justine also holds her own. Strong-willed and stubborn, Garner (“The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Inventing Anna”) creates a flawed heroine who’s unflinching in the face of uncertainty and fear, instead running headfirst into danger with weapons ranging from a gun to a vegetable peeler. 

Jumping between nonlinear narratives, the film dives into six separate accounts of the story. The multiple chapters converge and mesh to build the suspense of the mystery, simultaneously establishing the horror of the supernatural alongside that of human fallibility. 

Infidelity, addiction and abuse of power shape realistic unease around the characters. But with each new narrative introduced, the timeline restarts, lagging the storyline and causing the film to suffer frequent dips into mundanity before once again building the tension and horror from floor zero. 

A dream sequence involving the presence of a giant assault weapon reading “2:17” has had some audience members speculating the film’s underlying message relates to school shootings. However, in an interview with Variety, Cregger said the scene wasn’t intended to have a political undertone though he doesn’t discourage fans from spinning their own interpretations.

Coming from a comedic background — having starred in sitcoms like “Guys with Kids” and “Wrecked” — Cregger loosens tensions with laugh-out-loud humor. Wielding practically every sub-genre in the arsenal, the film relies on comedy ranging across physical, surreal and one-line jokes. 

The laughs aren’t ill-placed, however, as they easily accompany gore, jumpscares and unsettling suspense — even in the grand finale. 

Forging a blade sharp in both wit and fright, Cregger’s “Weapons” cuts an intimidating silhouette, finding success in a plot heavy with tragedy, mystery and carnage. 

“Weapons,” rated R, is in theatres now.