Brent Marchant

0/10

If a horror flick hopes to succeed, it must fulfill one basic requirement – it has to be scary. Regrettably, however, that’s where the latest offering from writer-director Zach Cregger drops the ball, a downfall brought on by a host of an array of other shortcomings. The film chronicles the mysterious overnight disappearance of all but one student from the third grade class of newly hired teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner). While there’s no direct evidence implicating her in this troubling event, she quickly becomes a target for scrutiny and ridicule, particularly since none of the other elementary school’s classes reported any missing pupils. Officials are at a loss, and the only one of Ms. Gandy’s students who did not vanish, Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher), is unable to shed any light on why he was spared the same fate as his classmates. As the investigation continues, Justine’s background – most notably her penchant for alcohol abuse and her tendency to become too involved in the lives of her students – comes under closer examination by the police, the school principal (Benedict Wong) and the father of one of the disappeared children (Josh Brolin). The story is told in a nonlinear fashion with chapters based on the experiences of the film’s primary characters, with each segment gradually (one might more realistically say tediously) revealing different pieces of an enigmatic puzzle as seen from their respective perspectives. Admittedly, this is an interesting and commendable approach for telling the tale, one not typically employed in horror films. However, that narrative is also part of the problem, given that it’s slowly paced and sparsely frightful. It’s also seriously lacking a much-needed revelatory back story, leaving viewers wondering why events are unfolding as they do (and, consequently, leaving them unsure why they should care, either). As the picture plays out, it also loses focus, uncertain whether it wants to be a sinister thriller or a sidesplitting campy romp (I’ll vote for the latter option here, as that seems to be when the picture works best, especially with the arrival of Alex’s mysterious Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan), who bears an uncanny and inexplicable resemblance to Bozo the Clown). All things considered, though, these elements don’t hang together well, and, as the film drones on and on, it’s easy to lose interest, especially since the rationale behind them is largely unclear. What’s more, several passing plot devices of a questionably stereotypical nature have been incorporated here as well, leaving one to ponder the reason for their inclusion. “Weapons,” unfortunately, is yet another example of a supposedly scary movie gone wrong, one that fails at its basic task and doesn’t deliver the goods on so many other fronts. Maybe the time has come for Hollywood to give this genre a rest for a while so that it can work out its growing list of issues before production begins on a round of more underwhelming, overhyped releases like this one.

MovieGuys

0/10

"Weapons" combines aspects of mystery, horror and dark comedy. This film starts off with a decidedly M. Night Shyamalan mystery vibe, which gradually gives way to disturbingly psychological, as well as visceral horor. In its closing scenes, there are even elements, of dark comedy. All of this said its the reveal that defines this film. I had worked out what was going on before this point arrived. Anyone with a degree of knowledge of the occult, will understand what the car scene, with the sleeping teacher represents. Nonetheless having my suspicions confirmed, was still uncomfortably disturbing. Acting in this film is generally more than competent and the script is creepily creative. In summary, a compelling mystery, horror, with a dash of dark comedy. A must watch for horror fans.

Manuel São Bento

0/10

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/weapons-movie-review-an-ambitious-film-that-defies-horror-expectations/ "Weapons confirms Zach Cregger as a filmmaker with a distinct vision, capable of combining impressive technical command with uncommon narrative ambition. Josh Brolin and Julia Garner's performances are fundamental pillars supporting the film's intensity, while the tense and bloody scenes contribute to a truly visceral experience. Despite the abrupt and somewhat disappointing ending that weakens some of the accumulated impact, the way themes like collective trauma and suburban decay are explored reveals an authorial confidence deserving recognition. With all its imperfections, the movie provokes, engages, and leaves striking images and sensations, reinforcing Cregger as one of the most intriguing voices in contemporary horror cinema." Rating: B+

Dasha K

0/10

I really loved this movie. It was full of surprises and yeah it was scary! Loved the acting so much, talented people put a lot of work into this and it paid off. I'm not super into horror but I highly recommend, even if you are a bit of a scaredy cat like myself!

RappScallion73

0/10

Felt this one was a bit over-hyped. It's not bad as such but at some point you'll realize that behind the big mystery and the non-linear storytelling there is a pretty shallow story with not much stuff to scare you.