Weapons (2025)

Score: 8 / 10
Category: Movie
Platform: HBO Max

One-line verdict

A gripping, story-driven horror mystery whose lingering atmosphere and irony elevate it beyond its predictable outcome.

What worked

• The opening is excellent. The verbal narration easing us into the story immediately pulled me in.
• I liked the decision to withhold faces early on. Going in blind, I didn’t realise some of my favourite actors were involved.
• The premise is strong: seventeen missing children, with the story unfolding through interconnected perspectives.
• Structurally, the film works well as a collection of stories rather than a single straight-line narrative.
• There’s unexpected humour here, including dark humour. I caught myself chuckling more than once.
• The violence is hardcore and gory. While largely unnecessary, it fits the tone and never feels out of place within this world.

What broke

• Once the black magic element becomes clear, the outcome feels largely inevitable.
• The mystery loses some of its edge once the supernatural explanation fully surfaces.
• In hindsight, the film gives away a major clue early on, especially with the painted word on Justine’s car.
• The ending stops a little too soon. I wanted to see how Justine, Archer, and the surviving children actually cope after learning the truth.

What others are saying

• Strong praise for the opening and narrative structure.
• Mixed responses to how quickly the supernatural explanation becomes apparent.
• Frequently compared to modern horror films that blend dread, irony, and moral unease.

The section below discusses plot details.

Why this earned an 8

Even though the outcome becomes apparent once the black magic is revealed, the film’s aftereffect is what pushed this higher for me.

The atmosphere lingers. The irony in the final stretch genuinely made me laugh, whether intentionally or not, and that uneasy mix of horror and dark humour stayed with me long after the credits rolled.

Like Sinners, this is a movie where the vibe matters as much as the mechanics. The story may tip its hand early, but the tone, structure, and lingering discomfort elevate it.

This lands as a solid 8 for me — not because it’s perfect, but because it sticks.