'Weapons' is a twisted bedtime story with a dash of humor

It’s challenging to review Warner Bros’ “Weapons” given the limited plot details revealed in its marketing. But one thing can be said: director-writer Zach Cregger’s sophomore effort is a crazy, twisted bedtime story with a plot twist many won’t see coming.

- By JANUAR JUNIOR AGUJA

From the synopsis, we know it focuses on a town shaken by the disappearance of 17 children from the same class, all of whom left their homes towards an unspecified location at exactly 2:17 a.m.

However, the film’s child narrator says the real story begins a month after the disappearances. It unfolds through the characters’ points of view, in order: the teacher of the vanished students, Justin Grandy (played by Julia Garner); parent Archer (Josh Brolin); police officer Paul (Alden Ehrenreich); drug addict James (Austin Abrams); school principal Marcus (Benedict Wong); and finally Alex (Cary Christopher) — the only student from Miss Grandy’s class who didn’t disappear.

Miss Grandy becomes the target of the town’s contempt, accused of having something to do with the disappearances. Her flaws are used against her, a compelling character arc of an individual who may not have committed the crime she’s accused of. This becomes a critique of the mob mentality that fixates on personal shortcomings as evidence of guilt.