Barbarian writer and director Zach Cregger has crafted a captivating horror film titled Weapons, showcasing a talented ensemble cast. This remarkable lineup includes Julia Garner from Ozark, Josh Brolin known for No Country for Old Men, Alden Ehrenreich from Solo, and Benedict Wong of Doctor Strange. Additionally, stars such as Amy Madigan from Antlers, Austin Abrams of Euphoria, June Diane Raphael from Grace and Frankie, and Cary Christopher from Days of Our Lives will also appear. Fans can eagerly anticipate witnessing this incredible cast confront the sinister elements that Cregger has envisioned when Weapons hits theaters on August 8th. As this release date approaches, Warner Bros has been inventive with their promotional strategies. Recently, they shared over two hours of unsettling security camera footage that ties into the film’s chilling narrative, centering on the mysterious nighttime disappearance of suburban youths who left their homes and were never seen again. Furthermore, Cregger has provided new character insights and images to Entertainment Weekly, which can be viewed at the conclusion of this article.

Information about Weapons remains largely enigmatic, enhancing its intrigue. Described as “an interrelated, multistory horror epic,” the film draws thematic parallels to Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia and revolves around the unsettling phenomenon of elementary school children vanishing in a small town. Cregger, who approached the screenplay without a predetermined outline, allowed the narrative to unfold organically. In a discussion with Entertainment Weekly, he remarked that the enigma of the missing children “is going to propel you through at least half of the movie, but that is not the movie. The movie will fork and change and reinvent and go in new places. It doesn’t abandon that question, believe me, but that’s not the whole movie at all. By the midpoint, we’ve moved on to way crazier s— than that.”

Cregger revealed intriguing details about Garner’s character, Justine Gandy, who is a teacher at Maybrook Elementary. One fateful morning, she arrives at work only to discover that her entire class, except for one student, has mysteriously vanished. Security footage from nearby residences captures the eerie scene of the absent children escaping into the night, all running in a bizarre, synchronized manner with their arms outstretched. Brolin portrays Archer Graff, a father of one of the missing children, who becomes suspicious upon realizing that only kids from Justine’s class have disappeared. Ehrenreich takes on the role of a local police officer, sporting a mustache that complicates his relationship with Mrs. Gandy. Cregger acknowledges the influence of Magnolia on his film, noting that Ehrenreich’s mustache serves as an homage to John C. Reilly’s iconic facial hair in that film. He also draws other parallels: “It’s melancholy, yet it has comedic situations. The sky is regularly cloudy, yet the scenes are colorful. It’s a sprawling ensemble, but the characters are fully developed in their own worlds.” Cregger expressed his admiration for ambitious storytelling, stating, “I just like that kind of unapologetic, ‘This is an epic.’ I love that movie. I love that kind of bold scale. It gave me permission when I was writing this to shoot for the stars and make it an epic. I wanted a horror epic, and so I tried to do that.” He further emphasized that Weapons aims to surpass the creative boundaries established by Barbarian, making it bigger, weirder, and more narratively intricate.

Cregger collaborated with producers Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo, along with J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules from BoulderLight Pictures, to bring this ambitious project to fruition. Initially, Pedro Pascal from The Last of Us was set to star alongside Renate Reinsve from The Worst Person in the World. However, Pascal exited the project to pursue a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reboot of Fantastic Four, a film that Garner is also part of. Following Pascal’s departure, it appears that Reinsve also stepped away from the project.

New Line Cinema has fully committed to a partnership with Cregger and the producers of Barbarian at BoulderLight Pictures. They emerged victorious in a competitive bidding process to secure the rights for Weapons, offering Cregger a substantial sum in the eight-figure range to produce this film. Upon winning the rights, New Line’s president and CCO Richard Brener released an enthusiastic statement: “Zach proved with Barbarian that he can create a visceral theatrical experience for audiences and that he commands every tool in the filmmaker toolbelt. We couldn’t be happier that he, Roy [Lee] and Miri [Yoon], and J.D. [Lifshitz]and Rafi [Margules] chose New Line to be the home of his next film, and hope it is the first of many to come.”

With an R rating for strong bloody violence, gruesome imagery, pervasive language, some sexual content, and drug usage, Weapons is sure to deliver a gripping cinematic experience. Are you excited to see this film? Take a look at the images presented below, and feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment.