Weapons
First screened and reviewed in August 2025
Director: Zach Cregger. Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Cary Christopher, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, Whitmer Thomas, Callie Schuttera, June Diane Raphael, Clayton Farris, Sara Paxton, Justin Long, Mohammed Fahmy, Robert Hendren, Scarlett Sher. Screenplay: Zach Cregger.

 In Brief:  I guess I'm more of a Barbarian guy? Impressive directorial control, but script feels over- and under-worked. Fun, though.

VOR: ③  Not convinced Cregger is the next great hope of horror, or that this is a leading-edge contribution. Still, unique sensibility and admirable craft.


   
Photo © 2025 A24/Apple Original Films
First of all, I could have done without the ABRUPT, PITCH-BLACK POWER OUTAGE HALFWAY THROUGH THIS HORROR MOVIE. Just as Benedict Wong sat down for a whole lotta hot dogs, and there was an unexpected knock at the door.

I also could have done without THE SECOND PITCH-BLACK POWER OUTAGE!! Just as a GUN went off on screen, and too many characters started crossing too many lines in the sand ...err, in the salt.

I briefly wondered both times if I was going to die in a room full of nervous, confused strangers.

But anyway, back to Weapons: I think you're telling me that in a nonspecific American town where plenty of people have plenty of their own problems and things are decidedly far from perfect already, a uniquely clownish-looking, orange-tilting person rolls up into the spot, and then the much bigger problems start. Mostly involving too many people blindly doing this person's bidding without even knowing that they're doing it, or why. And we can hope all we want, strategically or fecklessly, that there's some way to boot this person back to wherever they came from and get stuff back to normal, but even the tiniest people among us can discern that if we do get our wish, or something close, things will still never be that "normal" again.

Yeah, that scans.

P.S. Until the credits rolled, I had no idea that was HER. And I love that it was her! I've been genuinely wondering where she's been. Grade: B–

(I originally wrote this capsule on Letterboxd, where you can comment.)

Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Other Awards:
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Film; Best Supporting Actress (Madigan)
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Supporting Actress (Madigan)
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