FILM REVIEW: WEAPONS (18) ESP RATING: 4.5/5

This is without doubt one of the best movies of the year so far.

Weapons fires off a truly inventive horror – as the director of 2022’s well-regarded Barbarian takes it to the next level.

Helmer Zach Cregger – undoubtedly one of Hollywood’s up and coming directors in the genre – takes a simple premise, and with an original storyline, builds something that is breathtakingly ingenious.

In this bizarre mystery, when all, but one child (Cary Christopher’s Alex), mysteriously vanish from teacher Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner, recently seen as the Silver Surfer in The Fantastic Four: First Steps) third-grade class, an entire community is turned upside down as they question who or what is behind the disappearance – primarily led by the father of one of the missing children, Archer Graff (Josh Brolin).

All that is left behind is brief video footage of children running out of their houses at exactly 2.17am in the morning in a hands-out ‘airplane’ gliding motion running into the darkness.

Through ‘Pulp Fiction-esque’ non-linear story-telling, we see the script unfold through the eyes of Justine, Archer, troubled police officer Paul Morgan (Alden ‘Han Solo’ Ehrenreich), homeless drug addict James (Austin Abrams) and Benedict Wong (Dr Strange) school principal Marcus Miller.

What ensues is a gleefully compelling edge-of-your-seat horror-thriller that methodically evolves into an intriguing catalogue of events that piece together into one of the most creative mainstream movies in quite some time.

Even the use of terrifying ‘jump scares’ and gratuitous violence are kept at a minimum – only used when absolutely necessary – but when it’s called upon, it’s used as an important plot device.

And not a lot more will be revealed here, as to do that will be giving away potential spoilers for a movie that is best going in ‘cold’ and awaiting the sensory – sometimes disturbing – overload.

This is top notch stuff, and shows – just like with Ryan Coogler’s Sinners earlier this year – there are great young directors out there willing to produce original content – avoiding the Hollywood franchise recycling machine.

And this gives the industry a true ‘shot in the arm’ to show it can still be done. Sensationally so . . .

ESP Rating: 4.5/5

Gavin Miller

Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough & Odeon Luxe Peterborough, Out Now

Cast: Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher & Amy Madigan

Running Time: 2 Hrs 8 Mins

Director: Zach Cregger

Film Review Venue: Showcase Cinema De Lux Peterborough

For all the latest film information & showtimes at Peterborough’s Showcase Cinema De Lux & Odeon Luxe cinemas go to www.showcasecinemas.co.uk and www.odeon.co.uk