A Critical Look at Weapons (2025)
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A behind-the-scenes look at the film unfolding around the complex and unsettling story that is Weapons (2025).
Warning: Spoilers Ahead
My fellow students, if you have not yet visited the quaint Geneseo Theatres to see the horror film Weapons (2025), I highly recommend getting your tickets soon before it leaves the big screen.
Zach Cregger, who also directed the hit film Barbarian (2022), transports audiences into a quiet suburban town where, without warning, seventeen elementary school children vanish from their beds at exactly 2:17 a.m., never to be seen again. One striking detail that defines the movie is its structure: divided into chapters, it follows the perspectives of four central characters on the day the children disappeared. Among them, Julia Garner delivers a haunting performance as the children’s teacher, desperately searching for answers. This approach strengthens the unease, since we never fully know who is guilty, who is innocent, or what might happen next. With Cregger’s Pulp Fiction (1994)–inspired storytelling, both the characters and the audience are pushed to reconsider everything they think they have seen.
Julia Garner’s portrayal of Justine, shifting seamlessly between guilt, fear, and evasion, lingers long after the credits roll. Amy Madigan also shines in her unsettling role as Aunt Gladys, the film’s enigmatic villain whose chilling presence anchors the story’s darkest moments. Yet the movie does more than frighten; it addresses deep anxieties about adulthood, fractured communities, and the persistent fear of missing children. Then, in a daring final twist, the children themselves return as avengers of their captivity. The seemingly kind Aunt Gladys is reveal to wield dark magic, manipulating the children with sinister intent, but in a dark irony, her power ultimately backfires when her young victims turn their wrath against her.
Since its release, Weapons (2025) has generated significant buzz on social media, especially among fans of psychological horror. At the same time, I understand why some viewers feel divided. The supernatural turn in the last act feels abrupt and even out of place in comparison to the grounded mystery of the earlier chapters. On Reddit, several fans have argued that the film suffers from what they call “mystery box syndrome,” meaning it offers too little payoff for a very prolonged buildup. Despite this criticism, the overall reception has been overwhelmingly positive. Weapons (2025) currently holds an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 94–95%, with critics and audiences alike praising its ambition, strong performances, and haunting execution. Personally, what impressed me most was the film’s emotional balance—it had me laughing in one moment and squirming with discomfort the next.
Ultimately, Weapons (2025) delivers far more than the average horror flick. It is at once a twisting mystery, a dark comedy, and a social commentary. Cregger avoids cheap scares and predictable tropes, instead constructing a layered narrative that demands reflection. His story urges us to confront fears hidden beneath the surface of everyday life—fears of failure, fractured communities, and losing control.
The horror here lies not only in what appears on screen, but also in what the story reflects onto us as a society: its characters, deeply flawed and morally compromised, invite us to question our own choices as much as theirs. While this movie may not resonate with every viewer, those who savor horror with intelligence, heart, and an uncanny edge will find Weapons (2025) to be one of the most unforgettable releases of the year. It is the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll, leaving you to question what monsters really look like.