Horror has long been heralded as a genre fueled by creative storytelling. Unfortunately, this can also be damaging, as an intriguing narrative can only take you so far. For a film to be successful, an enticing mystery is not enough to carry a story. Written and directed by Zach Cregger, Weapons is a misuse of potential that flounders one of the best horror premises in years. While there are some jaw-dropping moments of excellence, the total package arrives damaged due to an unnecessary narrative structure and a disappointing finale.
A community is left fractured when all but one child from the same classroom mysteriously disappears on the same night at the same time. The film stars Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich and Cary Christopher.
The concept behind Weapons is where the film is at its peak. The core of the story is a thought-provoking puzzle that works best when it’s shrouded in questions. The movie effectively utilises this approach in its opening chapters, as we are introduced to a narrative structure that shifts from character to character. But it is in this engaging approach that the film seems to fall apart.
The first two chapters are great as we focus our attention on the individuals who form the base of the story. It is here that Julia Garner and Josh Brolin deliver captivating performances. It is also here where the movie is at its scariest and features the best scenes (a certain dream sequence is particularly spellbinding). The film fails when we move away from Garner and Brolin, as the forthcoming changes in perspective are of a much poorer quality.
The second half of Weapons spends far too much time developing characters with little consequence, taking us on a side journey that drowns in ill-fitting comedy. The more scenes we spend away from Garner and Brolin, the more frustrating the story becomes. It is here that a viewer is forced to question whether the intriguing narrative structure was only smoke and mirrors.
The above elements do lead to a third act that has some great moments (as does the whole film), but the payoff of the opening mystery is, unfortunately, fairly ordinary. This ending, and the villain that drives it, are another example of the film’s biggest flaw: A misuse of character focus and the underdevelopment that follows. A tighter script would have allowed for Garner and Brolin to be the centre of the picture, ensuring that the ending’s reveal is more believable and frightening.
Due to its squandered structure, Weapons is a movie that is not quite as clever as it thinks it is. A horror film with more laughs than scares, this release may be worth watching for certain sequences, but such effort comes with a disclaimer that you might be left more frustrated than satisfied.