96 Reviews, 95% on RT — Is 'Weapons' the Real Horror Event of the Year?
Cregger’s horror gamble might just be paying off.
Enjoying horror has never been about jump scares or grotesque faces popping out of nowhere — at least not for me. I’ve always been drawn to horror that’s clever, atmospheric, and knows how to build tension through story. That’s why Weapons immediately stood out.
Zach Cregger’s follow-up to Barbarian is already stirring serious buzz, just days before release. With 96 reviews in, it’s sitting at 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 82 on Metacritic. Not bad for an R-rated original film without a franchise or big-name leads.
The plot is haunting in its simplicity: Julia Garner plays a teacher whose entire class disappears at 2:17 a.m. — not the school, just her students. One by one, they get out of bed, walk outside, and vanish. Josh Brolin plays a furious father demanding answers. Why her class? Why that time?
And just to be clear — Weapons is a complete work of fiction. No 'based on a true story' angle here, no urban legend roots. The horror is entirely imagined, which, in some ways, makes it even more unsettling.
Cregger clearly isn’t playing it safe. After Barbarian, expectations were high, and this one’s aiming even higher. He’s spoken about Magnolia as an influence — which tells you this isn’t just horror, but something more ambitious. Multi-threaded, emotional, strange.
Critics are responding.
"Outstanding, sensational…a compelling, mesmeric horror tale full of suspense that also abides by its genre obligation to let the gore flow when needed," writes Jim Schembri.
"Another example of the genre delighting in big, bold swings, proving both emotionally nuanced and deliciously nasty in how it executes its ultimate vision," adds Peter Gray.
In 2023, Weapons sparked a bidding war — New Line paid $38 million, gave Cregger full control and $10 million. And while Weapons is poised for a $35–40 million opening, Cregger’s already lining up his next move — a Resident Evil reboot for Sony.
But it’s this film, with its eerie premise and confident tone, that might confirm his status as horror’s newest auteur.
