Weapons – Review

Weapons rises just above being something to watch until a better movie comes along, mainly due to its villain’s performance.

ByAmari Allah Hours Posted on Hours Updated on
symbols from the movie including a soap can, the tree Gladys uses for spells, and cut off is a child running and the bell Gladys uses.

Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.

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“Weapons” Film Details

  • Runtime: 2 Hour(s) and 8 Minutes
  • Released On: In Theaters
  • Public Release Date: August 7, 2025
  • Director(s): Zach Cregger
  • Writer(s): Zach Cregger
  • Primary Language: English
  • Genre(s): Drama, Horror, Mystery
  • Rating: Rated R
  • Distributor: Warner Bros.

Movie Summary

A little more than a month ago, all but one student from Ms. Justine Gandy’s class disappeared. No one knows why, but Justine ended up taking the blame and was called a witch. As for the one student who didn’t disappear, Alex, he got transferred out of his class, but Justine kept an eye on him.

Why? Well, only he could understand her trauma, and with her being put on leave, and her loving her role as a teacher, to just abandon Alex seemed wrong. However, in not leaving that boy alone, she may get herself killed or worse.

Cast and Characters

Justine Gandy (Julia Garner)

  • Character Summary: Justine is a teacher who has had some controversies in her past. A little drinking problem, looking for love in the wrong places, and entering that gray area that teachers can when they are invested in their students. But, despite how most in the community see her now, she is a good person.

Alex (Cary Christopher)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Alex was and remains a quiet kid. He is an only child, more attached to his dad than mom, was being bullied, but a month ago, life changed when his aunt Gladys showed up and his bully, and the entire class who sat idly by, disappeared.

Archer (Josh Brolin)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Archer is Matthew’s dad, Matthew being Alex’s bully, who owns a construction company, and since his boy went missing, he has been a mess.

Gladys (Amy Madigan)

  • Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
  • Character Summary: Gladys is introduced as Alex’s great aunt, who is an old and sickly woman, maybe with a month or two to live. However, being around Alex’s parents, alongside a few other things, seems to revive Gladys.

What To Expect In “Weapons” (Rated R) – Content Overview

  • Dialog:
    • Cursing: Occasional
  • Violence:
    • Gun Violence: A Gun Goes Off Once Or Twice
    • Violence Against Children: Yes (Context: There Are Times Alex’s Well-Being Is Threatened and the other kids have scenes of violence as well)
    • Domestic Violence: Yes
    • Gore/ Blood/ Body Horror: Bleeding, Depiction of Open Wounds, Notable Disfigurement
    • Notable Violence: Torture, Self-Harm, Intense Fight Scenes
  • Miscellaneous:
    • Drinking: Yes
    • Drug Use: Recreational/ Hard Drugs/ Needle Use
    • Vomiting: Yes
    • Jump Scares: Sporadic
    • Could This Make You Cry: No

Links

Review and Commentary

Highlight(s)

Creepy over Scary [83/100]

While there is the occasional jump scare, what Weapons more so aims for is to creep you out, show you brutal scenes, and entertain. It wants to tap into Justine’s guilt, even if she is assumed innocent, the feelings parents like Archer have due to their kids disappearing, all in the middle of the night. There is this sense, as the movie uses chapters for its narrative, that you need to know everyone’s perspective, and that someone could be hiding something.

It creates moments where you know when things get quiet, you need to look down. It presents the kids as creepy figures, and then there is this random figure, randomly seen in nightmares and throughout town, that furthers the need to shake off this movie once it is over – especially if you live alone in a home with a lot of dark hallways and corners where things, or people, could hide.  

Aunt Gladys [84/100]

What makes Weapons worth seeing is Alex’s great aunt Gladys. She is the type of character worthy of best of lists at the end of the year, and when Alex’s chapter comes around, she snatches any ability or opportunity Cary Christopher could have had to shine. Which isn’t to say he doesn’t act in a good supporting role for Aunt Gladys, but when I tell you Amy Madigan will have you laughing in one scene and a bit freaked out in another?

I wouldn’t go so far as to say this is a breakout role for someone who has been working longer than I’ve been alive, but I do expect this to be what she becomes most known for. In addition, I hope Zach Cregger casts her similarly to how Ryan Murphy does Frances Conroy or Jessica Lange for notable parts.

On The Fence

Mixed Investment In Who May Live Or Die [74/100]

Weapons is not the type of horror that makes you care who lives or dies. Yes, if you like one of the actors, be it Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, or the others, you may want to see more of them because you’re a fan, but as for their characters? They serve the story, the mystery, but the chapter format makes it so that there is a disconnect. You’re pushed to see them as part of something larger, rather than the alternative of them being the large thing and the movie built for or around them.

This makes it so, while they have their charm, their special something which made them famous, I’d submit that doesn’t get tapped into and leaves you indifferent if their particular character lives or dies. I would even go as far to say, and this is with being fans of a good portion of them outside the Disney properties they were in, what they deliver in Weapons feels as basic as a comedian with a shtick. Good enough, especially if a fan, but if not, you may not get the hype.

Overall

Our Rating (80/100): Positive (Worth Seeing)

While I wouldn’t say you need to rush out to see Weapons, it’s more than just something to hold you over until a better horror movie comes along. The creep factor and Amy Madigan’s performance as Gladys more than make up for the well-known actors whose characters don’t draw you in beyond whatever level of fandom you already have for them.

What To Check Out Next

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Amari is the founder and head writer of Wherever-I-Look.com and has been reviewing media since 2010. He approaches each production with hope, rooting for every story to succeed, and believes criticism should come from unmet potential, while praise is reserved for work that meets or exceeds expectations.