Weapons

I’ll say right away that I’m shocked this is already Zach Cregger’s second great film — the first being The Companion. I didn’t expect this from him, not after Barbarian!

Everything about this film works: the visuals and music, the performances and cast, and the consistently tense and unsettling atmosphere.

The most memorable moment for me is the breakdown of Benedict Wong’s character. The makeup and acting were so good that I felt genuinely uncomfortable — actual goosebumps! A special shout-out to Amy Madigan as well — her performance was something else. But honestly, everyone in this film was flawless.

The story itself, including the ending, is excellent and really well put together. The central idea that runs like a red thread throughout the film is about parasites and all kinds of addiction — alcohol, drugs, food, sex, and so on. I found it completely believable and fascinating, and it applies just as well to real life. A kind of energy vampirism fits in here too, which I personally believe in based on long experience with people like that.

The film also touches on the problem of school shootings in the US and how nothing ever gets done about it. The way law enforcement ignores warning signs and refuses to act until it’s too late, so people are left to handle things themselves. The way kids end up becoming their parents’ parents. The film is just FULL of references and layers — which makes it even more interesting and worth thinking about.