More mystery than horror?

Whatever genre Weapons falls into, it's a cinematic must-see

- TATAT BUNNAG

After weeks of building hype, especially with a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score before it even opened in cinemas, Weapons arrives with massive expectations.

And despite there being only four months left in 2025, many are already calling it the scariest movie of the year.

Adding to my excitement, Weapons stars my favourite Ozark actress Julia Garner, who joins director Zach Cregger - best known for his bold horror breakout Barbarian (2022). Cregger not only returns to the genre here but arguably surpasses his previous work. Weapons is a masterclass in tone - blending dark humour with eerie mystery - delivering a deliciously suspenseful and slyly funny thriller that refuses to let go.

The central premise is chilling. At 2.17am, every child in Mrs Gandy's class wakes up, leaves their home and vanishes into the night. All but one are never seen again. When nearly 20 students disappear from the same classroom at the exact same moment, the small town is plunged into chaos and paranoia.

Weapons opens with this haunting mystery, setting the tone like a campfire tale passed down in whispers. The visuals are unsettling: a shadowy montage shows children silently streaming into the streets, their arms stiffly extended like eerie little airplanes. The mythic quality of the scene makes the event feel less like a news story and more like a modern legend.