Weapons shows how terrifying it is to be lost and helpless.

Courtesy of New Line Cinema, Subconscious, Vertigo Entertainment, and BoulderLight Pictures

We’ve all been waiting for Weapons since that eerie teaser dropped with the children playing airplanes in the middle of the night. I’m happy to say that it has lived up to the hype.

A single class of grade school students all leave their home at 2:17 am in the morning; some being captured on doorbell camera footage, and are never heard from again. Only one child and the teacher (Julia Garner) remain, and the town is at a deadlock for answers. Parents are painfully confused and hurt, especially one father(Josh Brolin) who can’t stop obsessing over what could’ve happened. The police seem semi-invested in figuring out the mystery. The suspense is heavy from the very beginning.

How Was the Movie?

This is one of my favorite films of 2025, and I absolutely love it. I plan to try and see this again at least one more time in theaters, and I’m preordering a hard copy to add to my collection.

I didn’t anticipate enjoying this movie much, while I know many other movie buffs had high hopes and confidence in the film’s excellence. I’m one of the few who was not a big fan of Barbarian by Zach Cregger. That movie left way too many questions for me and had too many “why would you do that?” moments for me. It started to get strong towards the middle, but lost me by the end. I’m a big fan of open interpretation stories, but Barbarian didn’t quite work for me.

Weapons, on the other hand, kept me glued to the screen for the entire 2hrs and 8 mins. A good mystery will do that for you. And yes, the mystery is clearly solved and explained by the end and it was not something that I saw coming. I will admit that I was side-eyeing Josh Brolin for a moment (we've seen him make large groups disappear before;I see you, Thanos). I think most people will be a bit surprised at the direction this film takes, and if you called it already I salute you.

One note: I’m not sure Weapons is the best title for this film. It stands strong regardless, but a more memorable title could’ve elevated it even further.

Best Parts About the Movie?

Style:

I absolutely love the style of this movie. It’s a great balance of mystery, creepiness, and comedy. The child’s voice narrating the story is the chef's kiss. I also like that we are able to see the views and perspectives of different characters and how all of their lives intersect (some expectantly and some not so much).

Characters:

There are no “perfect” characters in this film and I respect that. Sometimes I get tired of seeing the protagonist who can do no wrong.

Flawed characters are much more realistic, and I am big on realism in movies. The teacher is a lush, Officer Paul is an a-hole who thinks he’s a good guy, the angry father is a tad bit too aggressive, and the principal lacks empathy. There's also a local drug addict who seems to be a random idiot, but he ends up playing an important role in the story. Despite these flaws, you may still find yourself getting attached to some of these folks. I personally loved the crackhead.

Memorable Classic Moments:

One of the key pieces of making a film a classic is memorable moments, and this flick is full of them. From the kids running around like airplanes in the dead of the night to the absolutely unforgettable ending, this is sure to be a horror-mystery classic. There are even some little Easter eggs that pay homage to Stephen King. If you know, you know.

Is This Movie for You?

If you enjoy a good mystery that includes hilarious comedy then this is the movie for you. If you are already a fan of Zach Cregger’s movies then you won’t be disappointed.

Just know that this isn’t a very dark horror film, and some viewers may even find this more funny than scary. At the same time, try to focus on the characters’ individual experiences. It’s not just the kids who become lost and helpless, but some of the people trying to figure out the disappearance become lost in their own individual ways as well.

Weapons : The Horrors Of Being Lost Physically and Mentally