Culture
With its blend of horror and humor, ‘Weapons’ proves 2025 is a standout year for horror movies
By: Gordon Briggs
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It all begins with a mystery.
What triggered a group of local children to mysteriously wake up and quickly abscond into the night?
From that central question, Weapons will spin an often suspenseful and sometimes comedic horror tale that had me and the crowd I saw it with jumping and laughing in unison. There are numerous reasons why the film is effective, but I would like to focus on its structure, setting, and performances.
Rather than unfolding chronologically, the movie enhances its mystery vibe with a crossword puzzle-style structure, dividing the film into six chapters that focus on different characters’ viewpoints related to the missing children. During each of these six mini-movies, a character will turn their grief, their authority, or their body into some kind of weapon.
Having the story unfold in that usual puzzle structure allows the audience to play detective as we assemble and reassemble the events and put them in order ourselves, giving us a chance to solve the mystery before the characters do.
Plus, Weapons is a great “suburban horror” movie. Rather than just being a backdrop, Weapons subverts the portrayal of suburbia as a haven where families can raise their children in safety, revealing the sinister underbelly that can lurk beneath the manicured lawns and friendly facades. The decision to accentuate the perceived ordinariness of this community, while simultaneously delving into nightmares and what lies behind basement doors, only makes the film more disturbing. For example, (minor spoiler) so much of the film’s climax involves transforming a typical suburban home into a house of horrors.
Finally, Weapons is also a film packed with engaging performances. Josh Brolin is effective as a grieving dad who turns to his own nightmares to find his son. Plus, Julia Gardner continues to build an impressive filmography with her portrayal as a teacher accused of witchcraft after her entire class goes missing.
Of course, I must not overlook Amy Madigan’s outstanding performance. I dare not reveal who she plays or what her plan is. Still, like Hugh Grant in Heretic or, more recently, Sally Hawkins in Bring Her Back, a horror film has allowed a veteran actor to play a juicy character with something sinister hiding behind a smiling face.
Rating: ★ ★ ★1⁄2