Weapons (2025)

What a mystery! I really thought that because this film was so recent that it was going to be full of gore and partnered with the title I was almost positive it would be peak serial killer vibes. However the actual deaths in this were very minimal and instead the film revolves around the mystery of missing children. I don't know what it is in my head that feels so strongly that as the years progress horror films focus more and more on making the most gut retching, devastating, life traumatising killing scenes known to man but this was a very pleasant surprise from what I was expecting. That isn't to say that this was a good old fashioned Disney film, in fact it was rather unsettling, I am just someone who loves a mystery/ thriller over a deep rooted masked killer so I was very happy to learn that was what this was.

I am going to talk a lot about the narrative and my thoughts on it yet I want to give credit to how great the movie style was. Firstly I loved how it showed us the different points of view of all the characters that would take place in the final fight. It felt very 'i bet you're wondering how we got here' but in a much spookier and more linear way. Having each of these views built up the characters in a more three dimensional way which made their outcome more prominent. Even with Paul's view even though I thought it was unnecessary at first due to it never having a grand reveal it still showed the depth of his character and what was going on behind the scenes. If we simply saw him through the view of James we would think him an unjustifiable asshole, which really isn't that far off. But by having the clips that mention his sobriety and then the annoyance from his boss it starts to piece together more. This is someone that just ruined his relationship, broke his sobriety and has a disappointed boss breathing down his neck for his actions. None of this excuses his actions but it gives more context so that we can make a more nuanced decision on his character. It also makes sure to draw out audience attention by ending on cliff hangers that are only answered once another character overlaps with their experience. Another factor I love is the use of the voice over. Not just any voice over but specifically using a child's voice over as if it is sharing a scary story at a sleep over was something I thought quite interesting. It also left the unanswered questions on who exactly it was telling this story and how they know everything.

The narrative mystery was truly a treat to watch. Did I hate the violence, yes. They headbutted so hard the head was completely caved inwards and then they tore apart the big bad so violently she became string cheese. I hated it. But thankfully that wasn't a constant in the film. Instead a key representation that we see throughout is the main villain. In a way it is something I wish they had prolonged more or shown more appearances of because it was the big reveal and yet only hinted towards twice. The first time was when Archer was dreaming of his son and asking him where he was and for a split second his face changed into that bright red lipsticked face with ginger hair. It was terrifying to see because as much as I was expecting something to happen I wasn't thinking the character would change and scare me like that! The boy suddenly screaming which is why he woke up or a loud noise that relates to the real world sure but the sudden spotlight and seeming clown face was so much more unnerving. The second time this face appears is when they are in the woods waving to James. This was the first time we saw them for a prolonged time so we were able to take in the details more but because they were in the distance it wasn't easy to make sense of every detail meaning they were in large still a mystery. After these two moments however we then see the character head on when she meets with Marcus.

I loved seeing Marcus because if you didn't know I watched Train to Busan recently and took an extra liking to the character played by the same actor. Therefore I was getting hopeful, I was thinking this would be a redo where he's finally getting his perfect life but what happens? He kills his partner and died. What! I was pissed. But either way he was sized up to have a meeting with Alex's parents and instead his aunt showed up who was this same red-liped ginger. At first when they were walking towards the office and the face was blurred by the glass I assumed it would be another hinting towards this mysterious character that when they turn the corner it's revealed they aren't actually that person and it was a misunderstanding such as a hat. Only they entered the door and it truly was THE big bad character which felt too soon. I was even thinking that it must be a red herring and they gave us this character that looks so similarly to confuse us but no it really was the main guy. Furthermore during Marcus's view we see her for the first time perform this magic/ ritualistic performance that puts people in a trace which as great as the reveal was I do wish it had happened later. Specifically during Alex's flash backs. I think everything should have been hinted at and drawn up assumptions that all culminated on Alex and that is the only time everything starts to be revealed and make sense. That way the first time we see the aunt become the figure that we have seen repeated at various times it has more of an impact and the same thing with witnessing the magic for the first time.

Speaking of the 'magic' I was very interested in everything this showcased. Firstly I was glad that it was in fact magic because the second I saw Marcus bloody and running trance like at Justine I thought 'oh no it's another zombie film'. I don't even have a problem with zombie films I just think there are only a certain number you can do because it gets too much and as much as I love all zombies as a supernatural creature I think they need to have a few years break. So when it was later confirmed there was a larger ritualistic magic taking place I was loving it. In terms of the magic I was both curious and confused which really is the best combination of feelings revolving a thriller mystery film. I enjoyed learning the element that personal possessions play a large part in, specifying who is affected by the spell as well as that water changes it. Firstly the fact that it is not always a piece of DNA that has to be included in the spell was interesting and I suppose made it easier in terms of plot for Alex to take from his class. But if that is the way they are going with this spell part of me wishes at the end they tried to control one of the main characters and it didn't work because the item they used was from an already dead relative or something. That does however then draw on a wider lore knowledge of trying the spell on the dead which they may wish to make a second about in which case it has a different outcome. The use of also having water be what stops them completing their actions is interesting because of the connotations water has linked to it. Water has been a widely used device for cleansing, we use water to clean ourselves but it is also used to cleanse ourselves spiritually to get rid of any negative connotations, just look at holy water.

Therefore having water as this device to cleanse the character of the action they were doing was cool to see. Not just that, but water is a known source for keeping plants alive which is what I think is more interesting when we got the one image of Gladys seeming to meditate in front of this small tree. It was only after seeing this that I even made the connection that the sticks she was breaking to make these characters move were sticks at all! It also allows for this even wider scope of mystery surrounding this all powerful tree, in which the branches when used right can control a person entirely and violently. It wasn't just that they were getting possessed or mind controlled but completely removed from their bodies. Even the end of the film says the people stayed the same after Gladys died and only now after years are beginning to talk again. Which shows it is this larger issue than just not being in control it is like they are removing their soul to begin with which makes it harder for them to ever go back to how it was before. So it raises questions on where the tree came from, how it came to be and why Gladys specifically has it. One thing I will say is that when she came on screen announcing herself as Alex's aunt I thought she was faking and that there was no familial correlation. However Gladys was talked about way before moving to town saying that she was Alex's mom's sister. So there seam to be a real connection that she is biologically family (unless it is revealed that they were mine controlled to think that which only complicates things more) in which case she must have been 'normal' at some point. Which means there was a turning point for this character which everything revolves around. There was a situation that happened which led Gladys to find this tree and further subsequent actions that resulted in her using this ability. When we see 'normal' Gladys as she is when she first moves in she is bald and weak whereas once she took control of the parents she had more energy and could play the part with the orange wig and makeup. So the question is what happened to make her sick in the first place? Was she sick before finding the plant or was she sick after? And how is she able to 'take their power' when the victims are all still alive? The answers to all of them can change the nature of the film entirely.

What's more how did she ever learn how to set traps around them. Usually salt is used as a protector agent which means that when in danger from the supernatural a ring of salt can protect you from any spirits trying to connect itself to you. In a way the same can be argued for keeping a spirit inside a certain parameter but I have never before seen it activate a creature. In the film salt is used as a trip wire where the second someone passes over it those controlled will charge as a defense mechanism. It is an idea I have never seen before though myself do not understand the logic behind it. At least with salt there is the idea it is small crystals from the earth than can be charged with intention to protect you and in the same way really the salt could be used with intention to keep others away but I don't understand how that would specifically trigger those on guard. The only slight connection I can make is that salt dries out plants but again that does nothing to link it to the controlled. I also think it is interesting the difference between a bell ring and a twig break. The bell is used to chime sweetly as if to call attention which makes sense when you realise that is what puts them under the trance. Then the branch has to break for the action to be implemented which is also interesting because it is a violent act. You may think a twig is a twig nothing violent about that but the intent is what matters, it is the intention to break something the same way they want the controlled to carry out violence and destruction by 'breaking' others. That only again causes more questions because why this specific bell and what is the significance of the markings? As well as the fact that to set a task on somebody specifically they must use DNA.

As I said before to be controlled it is simply an object of theirs but to force an attack on someone they need their DNA. As shown by the two hair samples from Marcus's boyfriend and from Justine. I think this is to show the stages of magic taking place and that each level is a different difficulty and because killing someone is such a deeply personal affliction it has to be a deeply personal object and nothing is more deeply tied to a person than their DNA. Everything about this mystery I love and think is so interesting! I want to know all the answers and reasons to the ideas raised and yet I fear if they are to ever create a second it will be difficult to produce a film to give a high enough answer. It isn't impossible by any means I simply say that the over arching answer is such a large looming question that it is difficult to find the balance between what is too confusing to conceptualise and what is too basic. As a result I think the best answer would be to keep the film a stand alone or subsequently to produce a second strictly using the same magic with slightly different elements and small new lore segment to build upon this one larger world of knowledge. That way small knowledge is still being discovered about the rituals being cast and yet there are no upsets because the mystery will always remain a mystery.