Weapons Review
A Lonesome Town, With A Hidden Monster Within
It’s no secret that Horror Movies tend to be viewed negatively, even by horror fans. Often, they’re cheap to make, derivative, and when you’ve seen one jump scare, you’ve seen them all and know the tricks that filmmakers utilize to make you jump. It’s the stories, too, that often make horror movies feel ‘samey’ and repetitive, which is why they are frequently relegated to the bargain bin after their theatrical run.
After all, we’ve seen it all before. Crazed killers lurking in the shadows. Monsters that go bump in the night. Demons who feed on human misery. Sinister cults and neighbors you can’t truly trust. There’s really nothing that can scare people anymore, at least film-wise, and especially if you’re a regular consumer of horror media.
So, what makes Zack Cregger’s “Weapons” so unique, fun, and actually a worthwhile watch?
Mostly, it’s how it presents the story that Cregger wanted to tell. While it doesn’t tread new ground or create something original or contemporary, it does so in a way that actually pushes the viewer forward, making them want to know more. “Weapons” is a movie that excels at showing rather than telling. It features long, uncut camera shots, flawed characters trying to unravel a mystery, and builds suspense as we get closer and closer to the truth of what’s wrong. None of the characters are perfect, but they don’t need to be, because they’re not really the stars of the movie but rather the mystery of what happened in that small, sleepy town in Pennsylvania.
Here’s a quick synopsis to give you an idea, while still being as spoiler-free as possible. In Maybrook, Pennsylvania, seventeen children from an elementary classroom disappear except for one student. The children all got up out of their beds at the same time and ran off into the middle of the night, nowhere to be seen. No one knows where they went, and only a few door cameras captured the footage of the children running off.
Their teacher, Justine Gandy, is blamed and becomes a pariah in town. Many parents, including Archer Graff, believe that she’s responsible for the children’s disappearances. While her boss, Marcus Miller, is sympathetic, he also wants her to keep her distance from Alex Lilly, the only child from her class who hasn’t vanished.
What follows is a mystery about what happened to those children told from several different points of view. First from Justine, then to Archer, then to Paul (a policeman that Justine has a fling with), to a homeless junkie named James, to Marcus, and then to Alex’s perspective. We also meet the character “Aunt Gladys” halfway through the film, along with her role in all of this, and why her appearances seem so ominous.
While the movie is, at its core, a mystery, it still presents plenty of horrors along the way. Especially as the characters dream of what could have possibly happened to the children, foreshadowing future events in the film. Plus, the horror comes from the imagination of what could have happened to those kids. Why would, and what propelled them, to go running off into the night, and where are they? Are they even alive?
Additionally, Zack Cregger knows when it’s appropriate to add levity to the story, which helps hone the horror elements when they occur. There are a few humorous scenes that punctuate the film every now and then. One particular scene that had me chuckling, but then gasping the next
So, who exactly is this movie for? If you’re a fan of fast-paced, action horror where there’s a scare every few minutes, monsters that jump out of the shadows to grab their victims, or extreme gore and blood, then you might want to skip this film. It’s a slow-burning mystery that rewards eagle-eyed viewers. While there are instances of blood and violence (and even a brutally violent scene near the end!), you might end up being bored if you’re not seeing constant action. In fact, there are several segments of the film where the characters sit for up to 10 seconds, staring ahead, and the silence drones on.
But if you like your horror films where you enjoy long cuts with a rolling camera across the scenes, silent moments where the characters look at each other and infer dialogue instead of actually saying it, and where you have to think about the story actively, all while being prepared for what comes up next, then this film is for you. It’s dark in the sense that there are scenes that you wish the characters had a light source on hand, but there are equal amounts of scenes that take place during the day. Content-wise, there isn’t anything that should turn off the casual viewer, either, despite the story’s focus on missing children.
Don’t worry. I won’t spoil it, but nothing terrible happens to the children if that’s a concern for you. In fact (minor spoiler), there’s a cathartic moment near the end with the children that will make you smirk. Or at least it did for me.
Aside from the story, cinematography, and film structure, one of the film’s biggest strengths is its casting. Often, when horror films have a star-studded cast, it’s a sign that the celebrity in question is on a downward spiral, willing to take whatever job they can, especially if they’re not known for horror and are using their fame to attract an audience.
It helps that this is more of a dramatic mystery than a full-on horror film, and it brought in dramatic actors. Josh Brolin has consistently demonstrated his ability as a dramatic actor, excelling in bringing his trademark brusqueness to the character of Archer Graff. Julia Garner has a wide-eyed gentleness to her, no matter the role she plays (for which she excelled in Ozark), and Benedict Wong and Alden Ehrenreich did amazing in their roles as Marcus and Paul, respectively. The best actress in the film, at least in my opinion, was certainly Amy Madigan, who played the role of Gladys very well. You don’t think the character can be evil or mean until she is, and she certainly played a character that you’ll love to hate.
Overall, this was an excellent film, well worth the 2-hour runtime. While I thought the ending came too quickly, I enjoyed watching it in the dark, sitting among pillows, leaning forward with wide eyes and shoveling popcorn and soda into my mouth. The moments of silence built up the dread and tension well, and when it was over, I had to turn on the lights, slink into my beanbag chair, grab a mug of coffee, and relax a little bit.
I’m telling you. If you like slow-burning mysteries that will frighten you, lingering horrors that’ll leave you up at night, and bittersweet endings as well, then you’ll enjoy this film. Slow and dreadful was the right path for this.
