Even though I’m a scaredy cat, I am enjoying these horror and scary films lately. Weapons is one of them. This film has many layers, with so much storytelling woven together beautifully. I can’t stress this enough: when I left the theater, I immediately said, “This is storytelling.” It is a story that’s crazy, insane, and diabolical, but it is done so well.
Directed by Zach Cregger, the film stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, and Austin Abrams. The cast is packed with some really amazing actors, but I have to give it up to the young actor that played Alex, Gary Christopher. We are going to see a lot more of him, I guarantee it. He is that good in this film.
Weapons is about a classroom where all but one child goes missing. I don’t want to give it away, so that’s all I’m going to tell you, but there are all these different stories from different perspectives being told, which is how it’s set up. The first thing that was so magnificent about this film, which I usually do not like, is the opening scene. It features a little girl telling a narrative, a story to you, that then sets you up for what’s to come. Sometimes I’m like, “Well, why don’t you just tell the story more theatrically?” But this hit differently. This element of the film immediately drew me in.
Let’s talk about the cinematography, which is just outstanding. There are moments in this film where the framing is just magnificent. The lighting is to die for. And then there are these violent action sequences that are just done well. I left there thinking, “I can’t believe that this film is this good.” I’m not joking when I say this is a must-see film. This is a story I haven’t seen told or written in this way before.
It’s a mix of witchy, paranormal, and horror elements, but it also has meaning. It has a lot of themes, and the one that I actually really enjoyed and took away from this is the unreliability of a narrative. The multi-perspective, non-linear structure of the storytelling is very clever. It allows you to see the characters as they struggle to understand the events unfolding. It almost feels like a whodunit, where you’re going along for the ride with them, trying to figure out the stuff that’s happening. It’s a technique that is just so amazing for building up tension. I mean, the entire film was stressing me out, but in a good way.
Look, this is a solid film from start to finish. I’m giving it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I want to see more films like this in my life. If anyone wants to recommend a film that’s similar to this that you think I would love, please let me know. Again, I’m opening myself up to these sorts of films that I have always shied away from, and I’m so happy I’m enjoying this freaking ride.
Go watch it now.
