Release & Reception
Directed, written, and produced by Zach Cregger (Barbarian), Weapons debuted in the U.S. on August 8, 2025 (following a Philippines release on August 6), earlier than initially planned.
Critics and audiences are buzzing. The film currently boasts a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating based on about 50 reviews. Critics from outlets like AP News, Vulture, Washington Post, and People describe it as a haunting, clever, and emotionally charged spectacle. While praise is near-universal, some note the shift to supernatural elements in the final act dampens the initial narrative momentum.
What Makes It Terrifyingly Brilliant
Narrative & Structure
Told in interlocking chapters from multiple perspectives—including a teacher (Julia Garner), a troubled father (Josh Brolin), a conflicted cop (Alden Ehrenreich), and the sole surviving student (Cary Christopher)—the film explores themes of paranoia, loss, and mass disappearance in a style reminiscent of Magnolia.
Supernatural Twist & Emotional Climax
The mystery centers on a supernatural abduction engineered by Alex’s great-aunt Gladys, who uses a dark ritual to control children and adults alike. The chilling finale sees Alex wielding her magic against her, freeing the children in a gripping, ultra-violent showdown that deeply unsettles—while leaving lasting trauma in its wake.
Tone & Direction
Cregger combines dread with dark humor, naturalistic scares, and surreal imagery. The tone manages to be both intensely terrifying and disturbingly comedic, maintaining an eerie ambivalence through to the final frame.
Top Reviews in the Mix
- AP News highlights strong performances and unsettling mystery but notes the supernatural turn weakens the ending.
- Vulture praises its disorienting but playful structure and open-ended storytelling.
- Washington Post hails Cregger as a modern horror maestro, especially for his craftsmanship in visuals and tension.
- People and Time.com break down the ending’s rational and supernatural threads— from witchcraft to deeply personal themes of grief and possession.
Cast Highlights
The ensemble cast includes Julia Garner as the embattled teacher Justine Gandy, Josh Brolin as Archer, Alden Ehrenreich as Paul, Amy Madigan as the malevolent Gladys, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, and young Cary Christopher as Alex GQ today features Alden Ehrenreich reflecting on the role’s pivotal impact in his career and his artistic journey.
Final Verdict
Weapons emerges as one of 2025’s most daring genre experiments: a bold, genre-bending hybrid of mystery, psychological horror, and supernatural shock. It’s evocative, challenging, and structurally inventive—so much so that critics suggest it could be Cregger’s defining horror work to date.
For horror aficionados and cinephiles alike, Weapons is a must-watch — if you dare.
