Movie Review: Zach Cregger’s "Weapons" Proves Great Original Storytelling is Alive and Well
"Weapons" is the best film of 2025, so far.
By Angela Davis
CORRESPONDENT
With the amount of sequels and remakes coming out of Hollywood in the past 20 years, it’s pretty easy to come to the conclusion that original storytelling is no longer a thing. This year alone saw a bunch of buzz around pre-established franchises like Jurassic Park, Superman, How to Train Your Dragon, and more.
However, originality has been excelling this year in the horror genre with incredible stories like Sinners and Together. Now, Zach Cregger’s latest film Weapons is officially in theaters, and it’s the best of these original titles yet.
In the small town of Maybrook, an uncanny event happens. All but one of Mrs. Gandy’s 3rd grade students wake up one night at 2:17 AM, get out of bed, open the door, and run off into the night, never to be seen again. A month later, the town is still reeling from the tragedy, and a mystery begins to unfold as various town members try to figure out what happened that night.
From the opening scene, in which the audience powerlessly watches as the children run into the night while George Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness” plays in the background, Cregger shows immense talent for establishing a creepy atmosphere. Weapons is an unsettling film that keeps the viewer on edge with every reveal.
Cregger manages to keep this uneasy tone going throughout the film’s two hour runtime, thanks to a clever use of non-linear storytelling that weaves the perspectives of the people of Maybrook together. It’s all divided like chapters in a book, as each character unveils new information to the audience. This allows the mystery surrounding the children’s disappearance to unfold in an engaging way.
What’s even better is that Weapons is surprisingly funny as well, with Cregger playing up some ridiculous moments for laughs, and releasing some of the tension that builds up due to the overall serious tone of the film.
Being a horror movie, there are times when the film ventures into the dark side, and it certainly earns its R-rating. However, do not let this deter you from checking this film out. It can get a bit violent at times, but none of the blood is unnecessary. It’s a film that puts its mystery first and only uses violence to accentuate a tense scene.
Weapons is easily the best film of 2025 so far, and puts Cregger on the map as a director to watch. Horror has been having an incredible year, and this latest film is proof that originality is still out there for audiences that chances and know where to look for it.
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