Weapons? Steven says 4.5/5

I had very high expectations going into the Warner Bros. exclusive screening of Weapons, but director Zach Cregger somehow still managed to blow me away. Following his fantastic 2022 debut, Barbarian, Cregger returns with a film that is less "boo! jump scare!" and more "holy sh*t," delivering a multi-layered thriller-drama wrapped in horror aesthetics that kept me alert for two hours and eight minutes.

Let’s talk about the marketing for a second, because it was genius. Taking after the Longlegs campaign, that started with eerie videos of 9-1-1 calls and disturbing imagery, New Line Cinema released grainy security camera footage of kids running into the night. This was one of the mysterious teasers that I’ve seen before a trailer even came out. It pushed Weapons to the top of my most-anticipated list and gave me the creeps in the best way possible.

Through overlapping timelines and a revolving cast of townspeople who attempt—and fail—to make sense of it all, the film follows the unexplained disappearance of 17 children. The pacing starts slow with some early scenes getting a little bogged down with heavy dialogue, but it’s all in service of building this suffocating sense of unease.

The third act is batshit in the best way possible. It’s chaotic, terrifying, unrelenting, and features one of the most unhinged climaxes I’ve seen in years. Cregger swings big, and even if the final moments feel a little abrupt, the journey to get there is more than worth it.

Performance-wise, Julia Garner and Josh Brolin are excellent, but the real standout is Cary Christopher as Alex. That kid delivers a performance way beyond his years, one of those “is he okay after filming this?” moments that sticks with you long after the credits roll.

I’m purposely keeping this vague because Weapons is one of those films you need to experience as blind as possible, ideally in a packed theater where the gasps, whispers, and stunned silences become part of the experience. It’s disturbing, unpredictable, and right now, it’s not only my favorite horror movie of the year… it’s my favorite movie of the year.

Weapons hits theaters on August 8. Don’t watch the trailer. Just go.

Curious about what else Steven is into? Get real-time updates at shelf.im/stevenmorea