Much like Barbarian, writer-director Zach Cregger masters the art of using enough breadcrumbs to entice us along the path to unraveling the mystery before hitting a climactic point and then switching up the story at the height of our “holy shit!” moment. 

It’s not a J. J. Abrams mystery box, it’s not an M. Night Shyamalan twist, it’s a brilliant structural tactic that keeps you glued to the screen and heavily invested in the events. 

Also like Barbarian, we get a great blend of horror and comedic moments—Cregger is, after all, one of the founding members of The Whitest Kids U’ Know. He’s so skilled with balancing tones, giving us something disturbing and horrific and then letting us relieve some tension with a laugh. 

Similar to Jordan Peele, whom he is frequently compared to as a comedian-turned-horror auteur, Cregger brings a unique voice to the horror space. Weapons confirms that Cregger is a must-watch filmmaker and one I’ll be cheering on throughout his career.

De:mi