The success of the horror genre over the last decades have been steady, not only at the box office and cost/profit margins, but also in its quality. Even though movie studios still doll out sequels and franchises to grab quick bucks, there have been many good original horror films in recent years that's been giving audiences something new, instead of following the same old fomular with predictable plotlines.
Weapons, the new movie from Zach Cregger (Barbarians), understands the art of conceal. The slow build up of a mysterious disappearance of a group of school children, causing anguish and flinging accusations among adults in a small Pennsilvanian town, blows up to frenzied revelations in chapters seen from different character's point of views of the same event. It's an effective way to get maximum surprises out of the many twists and turns of this horror comedy.
I do not like overly expositional horror movies. The narrative arc and character development in horror aren't really for me. That's why the sequels, franchises, remakes and re-imaginings and TV series based on horror bore me. Over-exposition kills the magic. There's no mystery left. Cregger understands that.
Short on expositions, except maybe for our protagonist Justine (Julia Garner), an alcoholic school teacher, whose entire class of 17 kids (except for one kid, Alex) had gone missing. Thankfully, her less-than-perfect record doesn't really figure in to the meat of the story, except for drawing ire of frustrated parent, Archer (Josh Brolin), whose son went missing along with other kids.
Logic would get in the way of enjoying Weapons' long-winded set up: Why don't they question Alex's parents? Why do authorities not visit his house? But when Cregger finally reveals the origin of mystery, all hell breaks loose and it's a pure joy. It's effectively scary and uproariously funny. I had hots for Amy Madigan for a long time and she is so great in this.
I really hope Cregger is smart enough not to do Weapons 2. Leave it to be a cult classic in the making.
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