Weapons

In summer 2022, the box office was blooming with major blockbusters; decade-defining spectacles like Top Gun: Maverick, financial record-breaking family films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and superhero events like Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness dominated the zeitgeist. But horror? It was lacking. Sure, Scream made a dent in Q1, and The Black Phone made decent money, but that summer lacked THE film to really bring the horror community together.

That is, until one unexpected title changed everything.

Enter an under-the-radar 20th Century Studio horror flick, helmed by a director who hadn’t worked in a decade and was stepping into the horror genre for the very first time. On September 9th, 2022 theater goers were greeted with the biggest “WTF” film of the year and blessed with the cinematic gem that is Zach Cregger’s Barbarian.

Barbarian was equally as horrifying as it was hilarious, keeping you on your toes, constantly second-guessing every plot development as it unfolds right in front of you. One moment you're covering your eyes over what might be hiding behind a basement shelf, and the next you’re giggling at a throwback DVD montage. I adore Barbarian and have seen it at least five times, but somehow, Zach Cregger has actually topped himself with his newest film Weapons.

Now, if you’ve seen Barbarian, you know how hard it is to talk about the film without giving away plot details. Weapons very much operates in that same stratosphere. It thrives on keeping us in the dark. The eerie event that kicks things off? 17 kids from the same classroom run out their front doors at exactly 2:17 a.m... and are never seen again. But from that moment, Cregger takes the reins. Through his creative screenplay, innovative direction, and most importantly, his signature ability to toy with audience expectations, he delivers a mind-bending, two-hour ride that’s nothing short of legendary. I don’t say this lightly, Zach Cregger might just be my favorite voice in horror right now.

We’ve given the horror crown in recent years to names like Jordan Peele, Ari Aster, and Robert Eggers. But while they’ve absolutely earned their respect, Cregger deserves to be in that conversation, if not leading it. He’s crafting original, bold stories that feel unlike anything else in theaters right now.

Yes, Weapons has shocking twists reminiscent of Barbarian, but it is by no means a retread. From the subject matter to the visual language to the pacing, everything about this film feels fresh. Weapons is brand-new ground for Cregger and he uses it to showcase just how distinct his vision really has evolved to become. His direction here is next-level. While I enjoyed the visuals in Barbarian, they did not necessarily give us a strong sense of his visual identity. But from the opening frame of this film, you can immediately feel his control behind the lens. His use of blocking, camera movement, and purposeful framing is masterful. I especially loved how he uses tracking shots not just for horror or suspense, but to land some of the movie’s best comedic moments.

The horror film unfolds in a multi-narrative structure, similar to something like Pulp Fiction. We follow a handful of characters residing in the town of Maybrook who were affected by this tragedy and eventually cross paths at the same chaotic moment in time. Each of these stories feels like its own distinct world, with a unique creative tone. Some lean into the comedy, others are pure suspense, and a few blend both. It all ties together exceptionally, and every storyline feels purposeful.

But the film’s biggest strength has to be that it is always one step ahead of you. You may think you know where a scene is heading, but it proceeds to swerve in a direction you could not possibly have imagined. So my advice is as follows: SPRINT to your local theater. Go on opening night. See it before the internet spoils the twists and turns. While Barbarian gained its cult following slowly through word of mouth, Weapons is going to hit big right out of the gate. Critics (myself included) are already singing its praises. It’s currently sitting at a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it stays in the high 90s post-opening weekend. This is going to be the cultural moment of August. The kind of film that sends the internet into a frenzy. You want to be part of that rush. You want to laugh along with the inside jokes. You want to cringe in horror and despair at the truly brutal, disgusting moments this movie throws at you. 

Weapons is a true feat of cinematic horror. August alone is proving to be a wild surprise. We just laughed our asses off with The Naked Gun, and now we’re scared shitless with Weapons. In a month where the comedy and horror releases usually produce some of the year's weakest entries, we’ve instead gotten two of the year’s very best. But above all, Weapons proves that Zach Cregger is no one-hit wonder. He is a master of his craft, and he is here to stay.

10/10