8 Best Mystery Horror Movies to Watch if You Loved 'Weapons'
Small towns with dark secrets, parents willing to do anything to save their kids, and unexpected plot twists – these horror flicks have it all for Weapons fans.
Weapons is Zach Cregger's new horror hit with a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie tells the story of a small town where, one night, 17 children run out of their homes and disappear without a trace.
If you've already seen Weapons in theaters and want more suspenseful horror films built around a dark mystery, check out these eight projects.
1. 'Barbarian', 2022
IMDb Score: 7.0/10
This list would be incomplete without another hit from Zach Cregger, Barbarian. The plot unfolds in Detroit when a young journalist rents a house on Airbnb. However, it turns out that the house was overbooked.
A strange guy named Keith moves in with the woman, and he immediately arouses her suspicions. The situation worsens when the two roommates discover a mysterious basement.
2. 'The Others', 2001
IMDb Score: 7.6/10
1947. Grace lives with her children in a secluded mansion. World War II has ended, yet her husband has not returned from the front.
Her daughter and son suffer from a strange disease – they cannot stand direct sunlight. When three new servants arrive, they are told an important rule: all rooms must always be in darkness, and one door cannot be opened until the previous one is locked.
If you were impressed by the plot twists and dark atmosphere of Weapons, then you'll love The Others. It has both, and its twist ending is one of the most masterful in the genre's history.
3. 'Pontypool', 2008
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Pontypool is a quiet town with a small radio station. In the morning, a DJ named Grant, who was banned from major radio stations for his provocations, goes on the air.
He expects to spend the day calmly, but a bloody murder spree begins in the town. It turns out that people are turning into monsters due to a "linguistic" virus that has infected certain words.
Anyone who says one of these words out loud begins the process of turning into a bloodthirsty killer. The small-town setting, vague threat, and claustrophobic atmosphere make Pontypool a must-see for those who watched Weapons.
4. 'Longlegs', 2024
IMDb Score: 6.6/10
FBI Special Agent Lee Harker uses his keen intuition to track down a mysterious serial killer nicknamed Longlegs.
For decades, this elusive criminal has committed evil through the hands of others. Each victim is a girl born on the 14th of any month. At the scene of each murder, the FBI finds encrypted messages that help them link the crimes.
Remember Aunt Gladys? Longlegs is her male version.
5. 'Triangle', 2009
IMDb Score: 6.9/10
Greg invites his friend Jess, a single mother, and her friends to spend the day with him on his yacht. A strong storm hits, and the survivors cling to the destroyed yacht and wait for help.
A huge ocean liner comes to their rescue. However, the ship is empty. It soon becomes clear that the friends are not alone on the ship – someone is tirelessly watching them.
The narrative of Triangle is rather intricate, full of unexpected twists and turns, and the main character's motivation is to return to her child. This movie will be a great pick to watch after Weapons.
6. 'Donnie Darko', 2001
IMDb Score: 8.0/10
Donnie Darko sleepwalks. One night, a man dressed as a rabbit leads him away from his home and tells that the world will end in less than a month. Later that night, an airplane engine falls on the Darko family home.
Donnie is lucky because, had he been sleeping in his room, he would have been dead. But what should he do about the rabbit's ominous prediction? Those around him assure Donnie that his visions are not real, but he is convinced that the rabbit is real.
Donnie Darko needs little introduction, but its dark atmosphere and surreal storytelling make it a great choice for fans of Weapons.
7. 'The Babadook', 2014
IMDb Score: 6.8/10
The plot centers on Amelia, a depressed single mother trying to raise her seven-year-old son, Sam, who has a vivid imagination. At one point, Sam becomes obsessed with a book of scary fairy tales.
He then claims that a fictional monster named the Babadook is living in their house. Initially skeptical, Amelia begins to believe that the Babadook wants to harm her and her son.
The Babadook was one of the harbingers of a new wave of horror films focusing on the psychological development of characters, which undoubtedly influenced Weapons.
8. 'Silent Hill', 2006
IMDb Score: 6.5/10
Rose cannot accept that her daughter, Sharon, is slowly dying from a fatal disease. Despite her husband's protests, Rose takes Sharon to see a healer.
On the way, however, they find themselves in the deserted town of Silent Hill. Suddenly, Sharon disappears, and Rose is haunted throughout the town by what she thinks is her daughter's silhouette.
Silent Hill is another classic story about a parent willing to go to hell and back to find and protect her child.
