Weapons

Filled with great imagery, tension, and black humor. Zac Cregger’s trademark, within his albeit short directorial career, seems to be the dramatic shift in tension and perspective. While Barbarian does this just a couple of times, Weapons shifts time and perspective repeatedly and keeps things fresh and interesting every 20 or so minutes. The AR-15 cast over the house like a bat signal is a horrifying sight and I know the director says the film isn’t commenting on school shootings, but it fits that theme pretty well and I think that it portrays the emotions following one pretty powerfully. An entire class of children disappeared suddenly. The confusion and distrust sewn within the community as a consequence. The anger and dissolution of trust within local institutions like the schools and the police. The only unrealistic thing about it is the kids at the end get the final word. That bloody scene is an intense moment of catharsis for anyone who is tired of seeing kids disappear.