Weapons Review:
Zach Cregger’s Weapons has finally hit HBO Max—and wow, this one’s not your average horror movie. It’s smart, unnerving, and full of that slow-burn dread that hangs around long after the credits roll. Cregger, who already messed with our heads in Barbarian, takes classic horror beats and twists them into something bold and deeply unsettling.
The Setup
Picture this: seventeen teenagers vanish from a small Pennsylvania town—every one of them gone at exactly 2:17 a.m. Sounds straightforward, right? Not even close. What starts as a standard missing-persons case quickly morphs into a layered, nerve-wracking mystery that keeps you doubting everything. The story jumps between perspectives, each one peeling back another layer of fear, guilt, and small-town rot. By the halfway mark, you’ll be gripping the couch, trying to piece together what’s real.
The Cast
Julia Garner absolutely owns the screen as Justine, a teacher suddenly caught in the storm. She’s fragile but fiery, and you can’t help but root for her. Josh Brolin, playing a father desperate for answers, gives the film its gut-punch of emotion—raw, grounded, and painfully human. Alden Ehrenreich is spot-on as the local cop piecing it all together, while Amy Madigan steals her scenes as Gladys, the town’s unnervingly pleasant neighbor who clearly knows more than she’s letting on. The performances click because these characters feel real—flawed, scared, and doing their best in a situation no one can truly grasp.
Why It Works
Cregger directs with sharp precision. He keeps the story fragmented but purposeful, sprinkling just enough clues to make you lean forward. The cinematography is gorgeous in that grim way—lots of shadows, stillness, and those uncomfortable silences that make you realize you haven’t breathed in thirty seconds. The few jump scares hit hard, but the real terror comes from the tension he builds between moments. It’s horror by restraint, and it works.
The Takeaway
Weapons isn’t about blood or body counts—it’s about what eats away at people. Fear, guilt, secrets—the stuff that festers behind closed doors in small towns. It’s eerie, emotional, and unshakably effective. If you’re tired of horror that just goes for cheap screams, Weapons is your antidote: clever, haunting, and genuinely gripping. Stream it now on HBO Max—but maybe keep a light on, just in case.
Rating: 3/5
