Since its release last weekend, Zach Cregger’s Weapons has been the talk of Hollywood and Film Twitter. Its breakout success has prompted excitement from cinephiles, and many have praised the original concept, the tense scares, and the surprising comedy. You might be curious about it, but afraid to check it out on your own. Here’s my advice to you, a horror newbie to the genre cautious.
If you’re like me, you’re interested in horror… to a certain extent. Maybe there’s a movie with a really compelling premise that appeals to you, or that one actor you love has decided to do something utterly terrifying. Conceptually, sure, horror seems fun, but the actual process of sitting in a dark theater and letting yourself be scared? Extremely daunting.
That’s why I have a tendency to ask my co-workers and friends how scary something actually is before I watch it. I’ve become more open to horror over the years, and in the case of movies like Get Out and Sinners, the desire to be a part of the conversation and understand the hype has forced me to get past my fears.
For reference, the scariest movies I’ve ever seen are Us, The Silence of the Lambs, and Hereditary. In all of these instances, I watched with a buddy.
And so, I’m embarking on a new stage of my horror experimentation to help others who might be like me; those prone to jumping easily and deeply wary of gore, but very interested in scary things. This will be a spoiler-free guide to the newest, biggest horror movies, offering some insight into whether it’s truly terrifying for those who might be interested in checking it out.
To begin, I ventured out through a sudden thunderstorm in New York City on Wednesday night to see the well-reviewed Weapons. I refused to see it alone, so I went with a friend. Early reactions touted it as one of the scariest movies of the year, a phrase that instantly puts me on edge. And so, here’s the question: how scary is it really?
Breaking Down The Scares & Gore Of Weapons
Weapons digs into a dark mystery that shocks one suburban town: one night at 2:17am, seventeen elementary school students got out of bed, left their houses, and disappeared into the night. They all belonged to the same classroom, though one boy was left behind. As the parents demand answers, the missing kids’ teacher, Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), is left to figure things out on her own.
Pretty interesting premise, huh? There’s a large chunk of Weapons that plays like a straightforward mystery, particularly when it focuses on Justine and Archer (Josh Brolin), the most outspoken of the grieving parents. In those moments, though Cregger generally keeps the tension up, it’s far easier to breathe.
Weapons also tells its story in chapters, with each one centering on a different character and offering a newer perspective on events. This too gives you the chance to relax a bit; you can go from a disturbing moment to a completely innocuous one. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t like the anticipation of knowing something is coming, you probably won’t enjoy that structure.
Now, though it isn’t a relentless scare-fest, this is still a horror movie, and there are jump scares. I tend to react more than is normal to simple jumps—I jumped the other day when my roommate came home—and I did jump several times watching this movie, though not quite as much as I expected. In many instances, you can sense when a scare is imminent.
Interestingly, though, Cregger will often give you immediate catharsis by sticking a punchline right after a scare. Weapons is quite funny, even borderline absurd, and that makes it a very memorable viewing experience. If you need lighthearted moments alongside your thrills, this might fit the bill.
The gore is another matter. Though it is far from the bloodiest movie ever, there are a number of strikingly graphic moments. Some of them, like the scares, are telegraphed ahead of time so you know when to look away, but others happen so suddenly that they’ll take you off guard. The gore-averse will probably prefer to stay away.
Beyond that, Weapons features several disturbing images that some viewers will find upsetting. I’m a little embarrᴀssed to admit that, last night, I struggled to fall asleep because some of the images were bouncing around in my head; one even took me by surprise so much, I gasped and woke right back up.
The Final Verdict On Weapons
It’s fair to believe the hype that says Weapons is one of the most unsettling movies of the year, filled with enough twists, thrills, and freaky visuals to put off true horror newbies. If the scariest movie you’ve ever seen is Scream, this would be a huge step up for you and should be approached cautiously.
However, there’s also enough levity and plot here to distract you from the scares, so for others looking to advance their horror game (who can handle some gore), this is the perfect watch. I recommend seeing it in a packed theater as I did; getting to react with everyone around you both increases the fun and makes it a little less overwhelming.
Weapons is ultimately a rewarding viewing experience that goes beyond straightforward horror. I say it’s worth checking out, but also, don’t blame me if the villain sticks in your head well after the credits roll. If it helps, she’s haunting me too.
