REVIEW: "Weapons"

Genre: Drama; Horror; Thriller

Director: Zach Cregger

Writer: Zach Cregger

Starring: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong and Amy Madigan

A movie that reaches cinematic heights during its two first acts to then "loose" itself maybe too much for its conclusion with a tonal shift that didn't work for me, but Weapons works mostly because of an amazing ensemble cast and a sense of mystery and intrigue that are instiled early on just as the movie begins. A superior film than Cregger's previous effort Barbarian, but it just needed a maestro finale for me after what was a great cinematic symphony for me.

The movie saves no time presenting the central conflict: the disappearance of 17 children, all from the same teacher's class, and there's a whole community not only looking for them but also looking for someone to blame for it. Still, it is a nonlinear narrative, which might be tricky when not executed deftly, but Cregger writes and directs it in a way everything intersects, paths cross and there's a logical sequence which allows audiences to wonder but also able to find its narrative direction, making for a non-frustrating experience. It also explores themes of grief, doubt, frustration and terror with enough depht to elevate it above most horror films. These elements, combined with great editing and great cinematography work sure could make it a masterpiece, but then the tonal shift and an uninspired conclusion didn't do any favors to me. Unlike Longlegs and Prisoners, two other films that rely on some of the same elements Weapons uses, this one's ending didn't felt authentic to the cinematic core presented before and for that I kind felt "betrayed".

Still there are plenty of elements to appreciate in this film with the acting being the most bright one. With great (as expected) turns from the always reliable and intense Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, Weapons is an engaging ride through a community mystery, but the real shinning moments come from its supporting players. In a year children seem to be the grace of horror films (Jonah Wren Phillips in Bring Her Back and Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later), the young Cary Christopher also has some shinning moments as he is the saving element of the last act where he displays moments of high internal intensity that feel very singular of him. It was also nice to see Alden Enrenreich on-screen as he provides a solid and electric turn as the messy cop Paul. Still, the gold performance comes from Amy Madigan as the iconic Aunt Gladys - from her very first (showy) appearance on screen as an eccentric and charismatic weird woman to her very final scene in a menacing and wicked form, it feels like I have witness an all-timer performance in the horror genre. Brava!

Larkin Seiple's cinematography work and Cregger's direction sure bring to life some of the most visually memorable moments in cinema today (the image of children running their way into darkness) and the production design work is also worthy of praise. In terms of world/atmosphere building, Weapons understands it also plays like a character in the movie, with a significant weight for the story Cregger is trying to tell.

So, Weapons is good, but considering the marketing and the hype I believe I went to theatre with my expectations way too high. It's far from bad, it's just disappointing and it suffers from a final tone shift that didn't fit the whole movie's atmosphere at all. Amy Madigan's turn is reason alone to witness her brilliance on a big screen, but there are plenty of interesting and solid aspects of Weapons that are worth the ticket's admission. It's great for the most part!

RATING: 7/10

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Supporting Actress (Amy Madigan)