“Weapons” is a Well-Oiled Machine
Lou Hittle | October 7, 2025
When third-grade teacher Justine Gandy enters her classroom one ordinary morning, she is shocked to find it empty. At 2:17 a.m. the previous night, Ms. Gandy’s students crept from their beds, left their homes, and took off running into the night.
Nearly a month later, they have yet to be found.
This is where writer/director Zach Cregger’s (“Barbarian”) story begins in earnest. His enormously entertaining film, titled simply “Weapons,” is concerned with the aftermath of the children's disappearance: how guilt and fear can consume those left behind, how tensions bubble and simmer. As the fictional town of Maybrook descends into panic, we look at the situation from six nonlinear perspectives. These include Ms. Gandy (Julia Garner), the persecuted elementary school teacher; Archer (Josh Brolin), the grieving father; Marcus (Benedict Wong), the school’s principal; Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), a corrupt police officer; and James (Austin Abrams), an addict and less-than-successful thief.
The disparate plot threads finally align in the last chapter, which focuses on Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher), the one student in Ms. Gandy’s class who didn’t run away that fateful night. Christopher, who turned fourteen in May, laces his performance with an astonishing stillness and interiority reminiscent of Henry Thomas in “E.T.” He is the heart of the film; “Weapons” simply would not work without a believable performance. Fortunately for us, he is excellent.
Cregger spends much of his runtime toeing the line between whodunnit and horror as he patiently leads his audience through the perspectives of each character, allowing us to piece together the fractured timeline of events. But this is far from a Hercule Poirot venture; the film also offers plenty of spine-chilling tension, several beautifully-crafted jumpscares and one of the most unnerving on-screen deaths I’ve seen in a while. The finale is brutal, inevitable and deeply satisfying.
Humor also factors massively into this film. Cregger’s background is in comedy; he was a founding member of sketch comedy group The Whitest Kids U’Know, and appeared mostly in front of the camera until his solo directorial debut, 2022’s terrifying and unpredictable “Barbarian.” His understanding of tension and release is impeccable, and his script’s wicked sense of humor aids its scariness. Both times I saw this film, the audience audibly laughed and gasped, often within the same scene.
This blend of genres is aided and heightened by an impressive performance from Amy Madigan as Alex’s Aunt Gladys. Sporting a red bobbed wig and huge glasses, her appearance is eccentric to say the least. How does she fit into the story? I’ll let you watch the film to find out.
Though “Weapons” sprawls just slightly and intentionally leaves some loose ends untied, I have no real frustration with it. It’s one of this summer’s best cinematic offerings. As the warm weather gives way to autumn chill, I recommend seeking out your nearest showing of “Weapons” – whether you want to laugh or scream, you won’t be disappointed.