WEAPONS will check off most boxes for horror/thriller fans as it comes in hot at the end of the summer blockbusters. Enough humor to balance out the intense jump scares but not so much that it takes away from the edge of your seat chills. Several smart decisions by the writers keep the story moving and the mystery engaging. But be aware that this is not your normal missing children TV rated crime drama. If you scare easy or have a weak stomach; buckle up. There are some really scary pieces in this puzzle.
Synopsis: When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. | 2h 8m | Rated R for strong bloody violence and grisly images, language throughout, some sexual content and drug use.
Justine (Julia Garner) is a grade school teacher who is not having a good year. All but one of her kids walked out of the house into the night and never came back. Garner has a knack for picking flawed and broken characters. Or those who are just having a rough time getting through life unscathed. She has her demons but when it comes to teaching you sense she loves those kids. Maybe too much. Garner is wonderful in this one and even with her back against the wall and accusations flying, she never backs down. Her spunk and tenacity is vital in this story and Garner gets an A-plus.
The best horror films are those that shine a light more on the people involved and their reactions to evil than the actual evil in the dark. Obviously the parents want answers for what happened to their kids. The easiest target is the teacher, in this case Justine. Why would only her class disappear? She has to know something and they point their anger at her. The second target is always law enforcement. Frustration at the lack of results would be hard for a parent to deal with, again understandably. But who is at fault here? No answer is the worst feeling for those just wanting to see their kids again.
One parent who seems to have the toughest time and wants to take matters and retaliation into his own hands is Archer (Josh Brolin). He is convinced that something is going on and though Justine is his prime focus, he starts uncovering some other odd elements. Archer is the character most of us would want to be. He is not content to move on with his life and trust the system. He wants to hold his son again. And he can’t sit idly by.
Other characters including a local cop (Alden Ehrenreich) and a homeless junkie (Austin Abrams) play a role in this one as well. The only kid from Justine’s class not to disappear was Alex (Cary Christopher). Child actors can be a hit or miss but Cary steps up and nails all that is asked of him in this role. And it is convincing and lacks the kid cringe factor. Other creepier characters permeate the story but we will leave those for you to discover on your own. Just know they are there and waiting.
What horror film would be complete without strong graphic visuals? This one has them and uses them perfectly. Whether with well times jump scares or just creating characters that will live in your mind for days later, the use of makeup and style add another positive element. It is not campy wall to wall gore but expertly timed just often enough to make it visceral. In fact from the script, to the directing, to the use of effects; everything is well thought out and executed.
WEAPONS is not a one layer film with a boogey man in the dark. This one uses human emotion, anger, fear, mental anguish, alcohol, all to show us that evil come in all sorts of forms. Are these the weapons of our lives or is something more sinister out there.
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