Weapons (2025) Dir: Zach Cregger

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This Zach Cregger directed horror was one of my most anticipated films of the year, especially after seeing the trailers. I really enjoyed the director's previous film 'Barbarian', and the early critical reception for this newest release seemed to be overwhelmingly positive. Additionally, it had been a while since I'd seen a film on opening night, which only helped to increase my anticipation.

The film featured some very decent camerawork, particularly in regards to the tracking shots, which were as interesting as they were effective. I also think the slow zooms were worth noting, especially those during night-time scenes. There was also some excellent sound design, most notably in instances leading up to big reveals or jumpscares - it allowed the scenes to really ramp up the suspense and make the audience feel even more anxious than they already would've been.

The story was full of mystery and an ever-increasing sense of horror, which unravelled in a deliberately slow-burn, meticulous way. The narrative was told through chapters, of sorts, following certain characters at certain points, and I must admit, I liked these perspective changes a lot. It kept the audience on edge, it kept the story feeling like a puzzle, and it made the final flourish, as everything finally came together, even more satisfying.

It was certainly a disturbing and bizarre film, and whilst not the most explicitlyscary film I've seen, it was definitely creepy. It very much reminded me of 'The Black Phone', in terms of its feel, which is no bad thing. I also wasn't expecting this film to be as funny as it was, although Cregger's track record with 'Barbarian' should have spoken for itself, in fairness. That surreal mix of shock, fear, and laughter, made for a potent and very entertaining mix for the viewer.

I think Julia Garner suffered a bit because her character was simply so unlikeable, however, her acting was still pretty strong, in my opinion. I thought she nailed the little bits comedy in particular, which helped make her character a lot more watchable than she could've been otherwise. My favourite performance, however, came from Josh Brolin, whose portrayal of a grieving yet determined father was both compelling and endearing. His acting and screen presence elevated his respective scenes a lot.

Amy Madigan was extremely creepy and strange in her supporting role. The juxtaposition between the serious and the surreal sides of her character were very well executed. Her performance reminded me of Nicolas Cage's in 'Longlegs', at a couple of points. There were some entertaining performances from supporting cast members too, chiefly the likes of Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Cary Christopher, and Austin Abrams.

Overall, I thought this was a really accomplished horror, which succeeded in mixing Cregger's now-distinctive combination of scary, funny, and meaningful, to create a very effective and watchable piece of film. The pacing was the only significant issue, but, that aside, this film came together beautifully. I was a big fan of the perspective shifts and the way in which information was unveiled to the audience. For me, this was one of the best films of the year so far.