Horror and comedy are two genres that often blend, creating a unique mix that appeals to a broad audience. Precise timing is essential in these films, whether it’s delivering a punchline that makes people laugh or timing a jump scare to increase fear. A horror comedy is enjoyable, but a horror film directed by a comedian can be a match made in heaven (or, in this case, hell).
The most well-known example today is Jordan Peele. First famous for Mad TV and Key & Peele, his breakout film, Get Out, won numerous awards and received high praise from the Academy.
Meanwhile, there’s a new player in town who is quickly gaining popularity. Comedian-turned-director Zach Cregger is busy building his reputation. Many recognize him as the writer-director of the hit film Barbarian (2022), but I remember him from the YouTube channel The Whitest Kids U’Know, where he made comedy sketches with his friends.
Much like Peele, Cregger needed to create a sophomore film that could stand beside his highly successful first movie. Interestingly, after a fierce bidding war among several production companies, including Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, Cregger’s Weapons (2025) was acquired by New Line Cinema, and its production began.
Weapons is about an incident one night in Pennsylvania when 17 kids went missing, all at the same time, at 2:17 am. When teacher Justine (Julia Garner) shows up to teach this class of young students the next day, she finds only one student, Alex (Cary Christopher). The principal puts Justine on leave because the parents are in an uproar, looking for someone to blame. The movie is then broken into chapters from each main character’s point of view.
The less you know about this movie, the better and more impactful it will be. I had barely seen a trailer and a few reviews before watching, and I’m glad I approached it this way.
The first and most remarkable element of Weapons is the script. Cregger is an exceptional storyteller who is guiding the horror genre into an exciting new direction. The way he smoothly weaves the chapters and arcs of these characters together demonstrates skill. He crafted the plot to maintain a gentle momentum throughout the entire runtime and unfold at a pace that keeps your attention without wavering. The structure is flawless.
Not only that, but each performance by the cast is exceptional. This is the best I’ve seen from Julia Garner, whom I previously thought of as “the blonde girl from Ozark.” She is so captivating and authentic when playing a teacher accused of a crime. It made me forget her tough Ozark character, Ruth, and accept this more mature version of Garner as a skilled actress.
Josh Brolin as Archer, a parent of one of the missing children, is emotionally compelling. He sleeps in his child’s bed and is grieving, but also actively searching for his son. His fatherly demeanor and determination make you care about him and also feel a little fear. Pedro Pascal had to turn down this role to film The Last of Us, and I’m glad that happened. Brolin was the one to play this character.
Cary Christopher as Alex, the only child in the class who did not go missing, delivers one of the year’s most compelling child performances. He’s sweet and innocent with a hint of suspicion. Is he hiding something? Such an excellent portrayal from such a young talent; it always amazes me to see young people act so well.
There’s one actress who is the true star of this movie, and that’s Amy Madigan. I don’t want to say too much about her because Cregger’s marketing team did us a favor by not featuring her at all in any trailers or posters. Movie studios, take note!
Justin Long, who starred in Barbarian, also makes a brief appearance at one point, which makes me wish Cregger would use more of his previous cast in his future projects.
Another element that made this movie great is the camera work. The camera takes you on a journey from running down roads to riding in a police car to floating through a house. It gives the film so much texture and fluidity. Cinematographer Larkin Seiple shot the movie in a way that moves with purpose to exactly where he wants your eye to look.
And let me tell you, I jumped several times in my seat from scares I thought I knew were coming. I even screamed once (Sorry to the guy sitting two seats down from me!). These aren’t cheap jump scares; they are sudden and incredibly creepy. With the music, or lack thereof, it sometimes makes it even more terrifying.
But the strength of this movie is how it balances extremely frightening scenes with comedy. While I chuckled at some moments throughout the film, I was so tense that I didn’t want to lower my guard. I didn’t laugh as much as I expected after reading a few short reviews, but the last 15 minutes made me burst into laughter. Most of the theater was laughing so hard that I felt comfortable not holding back! It made for a wonderful theater experience.
The camera work and haunting score created scenes that will stay with me forever. There is body horror and truly creepy sequences that I can’t stop thinking about. It felt like I was in a fever dream, at times. I was utterly immersed in this world, and the atmosphere crackled with terrifying energy. I listened to some of the soundtrack on the way home from the theater and got goosebumps as I remembered these scenes.
Moments like this fill me with excitement and curiosity, causing me to dive into various rabbit holes on Google.
Much like Peele’s movies, there are many Easter eggs and clues hidden throughout the film about what is happening. Plus, there are themes and messages you can interpret from the movie. Or not. You can enjoy it as a work of fiction. Or, if you’re like me, you might dive deep into researching what different elements mean or symbolize. I eat that kind of stuff up. It’s one of the reasons I love the band Tool so much.
Finally, it’s a real treat to see original horror movies being released. Last year was filled with sequels and prequels. This year, horror fans are enjoying a lineup of original films like Sinners, Bring Her Back and Companion, to name a few. More are on the way: Him, Keeper and Shelby Oaks are among my most anticipated. We can’t complain!
Until the last 15 minutes of the movie, I rated Weapons four and a half stars out of five. When the credits started rolling, I was utterly convinced it was a five-star film. Even though the runtime began to wear on me a bit — possibly because of the 30 minutes of trailers beforehand — the final act made it all worthwhile.
See this in theaters — it’s a fun theater experience. I can’t wait to watch it again. I don’t usually see movies twice in theaters, but I would make an exception for Weapons. After seeing this one, Cregger is quickly becoming one of my favorite, if not my absolute favorite, directors. He’s right up there with Jordan Peele.
Be sure to check out The Whitest Kids U’Know on YouTube, especially What Really Happened to Abe Lincoln. See why Cregger is one of the funniest directors you know.