Wed Aug 06 04:00:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Zach Cregger’s sophomore thriller, “Weapons,” is a more ambitious but uneven follow-up to “Barbarian.” The film explores the aftermath of 17 elementary school children disappearing from a small Illinois town at 2:17 a.m. The story unfolds through interwoven perspectives, focusing on the distraught parents (led by Josh Brolin), a suspicious and increasingly unhinged teacher (Julia Garner), a local criminal (Austin Abrams), and the only child who didn’t vanish. While the film excels at showcasing the dark underbelly of suburban life and features strong performances, its reliance on supernatural elements in the final act feels like a letdown. The movie is rated R for strong bloody violence and drug use.

**News Article:**

**”Weapons” Aims High, But Misfires, in Zach Cregger’s Sophomore Effort**

**Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.**

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Zach Cregger, the director behind the surprise hit “Barbarian,” returns with “Weapons,” a more ambitious but ultimately flawed thriller. The film, hitting theaters this Friday, centers on the mysterious disappearance of 17 elementary school children from the seemingly idyllic town of Maybrook, Illinois.

The narrative unfolds in chapters, weaving together the perspectives of key characters grappling with the tragedy. Josh Brolin portrays a grief-stricken father searching for answers, while Julia Garner delivers a compelling performance as the children’s teacher, who becomes the subject of suspicion and unravels under pressure. Austin Abrams provides welcome comic relief as a local criminal who gets entangled in the investigation.

Cregger excels at exposing the darkness lurking beneath the surface of suburban life, highlighting the desperation and corruption that fester beneath the facade of normalcy. However, the film’s final act introduces supernatural elements that feel out of place and undermine the grounded suspense built in the earlier sections.

“Weapons” features gruesome violence and unsettling imagery, earning it an R rating. While Garner and Brolin deliver strong performances, the film struggles to maintain its momentum and ultimately falls short of the promise shown in Cregger’s debut. Despite its flaws, “Weapons” will leave you with a sense of unease and a lingering dread whenever the clock strikes 2:17 a.m. The movie is rated two and a half stars out of four.

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