Writer/Director Zach Cregger has followed his great Barbarian with an impressive film, Weapons, a horror/mystery that delivers the goods in an original story featuring strong performances.
In a small town, 17 students in a 5th grade class left their homes at 2:17 AM and disappeared into the night. After an extensive investigation over weeks produces no results, frustrated and angry parents including Archer (Josh Brolin) vent their emotions at the teacher, Justine (Julia Garner). Against the wishes of the principal, Justine, desperate for answers, attempts to contact the one remaining student in her class, Alex. As Archer searches for answers on his own, both his and Justine’s paths cross. Could they be on the verge of finding the truth about the missing children?
The narrative is told in succession through each primary character’s point-of-view (like Rashomon), and these threads come together to form a more complete picture of the story. Cregger does a nice job of setting up a terrifying premise and inserting nightmarish visions and clues in a film that is essentially an engrossing mystery/thriller that slowly peels back revealing layers. There is a creepy, ominous feeling that permeates the entire film, and although not everything fits together neatly, for those who are willing to follow the twisted plot, the reward is a mind-blowing climax that brings the story to a startling, astonishing end where it becomes full on horror. To say more would spoil the surprises, but when you realize what is happening, it will make sense.
Garner,
Brolin, and the supporting cast (especially Amy Madigan) are quite good. In a film that
elevates Cregger to the pantheon of current, horror masters like Ari Aster
and Jordan Peele, one can only wonder and anticipate the next project from his
fertile mind.
****1/2
of ***** stars
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