{"id":83897,"date":"2025-07-22T18:48:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83897\/"},"modified":"2025-07-22T18:48:11","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T18:48:11","slug":"the-first-reactions-for-zach-creggers-weapons-say-its-a-terrifyingly-strong-follow-up-to-barbarian-with-magnolia-vibes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/83897\/","title":{"rendered":"The first reactions for Zach Cregger’s Weapons say it’s a terrifyingly strong follow-up to Barbarian with Magnolia vibes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s been three years since up-and-coming horror filmmaker Zach Cregger <\/a>unleashed Barbarian on unsuspecting audiences. The mysterious film, starring Bill Skarsg\u00e5rd, Georgina Campbell, and Justin Long, generated early buzz thanks to its unpredictability, unconventional premise, and enthusiasm from die-hard horror buffs. On August 8<\/strong>, Cregger returns to theaters with Weapons, another frightfest with clever viral marketing, a cherry cast, and positive word of mouth fueling its release. The first reactions to Weapons<\/a> are making the rounds online, with critics and moviegoers saying it\u2019s another feather in Cregger\u2019s cap, proving he\u2019s a filmmaker to watch with a promising career ahead.<\/p>\n

The first reactions to Weapons call Cregger\u2019s film a horror masterpiece, saying it\u2019s a brilliant commentary on the attitudes and institutions during the fallout of a communal tragedy. Sadly, efforts to quell violence in rural areas yield little to no results in the face of calamity, especially in the United States. Several reviewers say Cregger\u2019s Weapons reminds them of Paul Thomas Anderson\u2019s Magnolia, the epic mosaic starring Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and more.<\/p>\n

Check out some of first reactions to Weapons below:<\/p>\n

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#Weapons<\/a> is yet another win for Zach Cregger. The cast is superb. Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Josh Brolin, all shine, but one performance will blow fans away. The mystery surrounding this thriller unfolds with style and genuine moments of terror.<\/p>\n

\u2014 JoBlo.com (@joblocom) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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#WeaponsMovie<\/a> is beyond messed up & I loved every second of it. <\/p>\n

It’s Magnolia the horror movie, as multiple characters circle a big, creepy mystery. Bit of a slow burn, but it pays off in huge, awesome, gory, disturbing ways. <\/p>\n

Less shocking than Barbarian, but much better. pic.twitter.com\/lvnhOF4oNO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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WEAPONS is an absolute blast: a creepy, funny ensemble piece that takes a MAGNOLIA\/PULP FICTION\/SHORT CUTS storytelling approach to unleash a memorable suburban nightmare. The grand finale had me cackling with twisted glee. #WeaponsMovie<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/n4LzSjxpMl<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Chris Evangelista (@cevangelista413) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Weapons is fantastic. Bigger in scope than Barbarian but a much tighter focus. Cregger makes great use of his ensemble cast and their interconnected stories, and the third act goes off the rails.<\/p>\n

Full review will be dropping on @CGMagonline<\/a> in a few weeks. #weaponsmovie<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/wOhHubBfXY<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Shak Lambert (@ShakExcellence) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Zach Cregger has crafted a horror masterpiece and the best film of the year with #Weapons<\/a>! It’s Prisoners by way of Magnolia with some of the Coen’s absurdist humor. An absolutely BRILLIANT commentary on the attitudes and institutions during the fallout of a communal tragedy. The\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/TtPksjvGFS<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Griffin Schiller (@griffschiller) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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WEAPONS was one of my favorite films of 2025 for most of its runtime, until the final act brought it down a few notches, and I\u2019m sure I won\u2019t be alone in that feeling. Still, Zach Cregger once again proves he has a gift for crafting a haunting atmosphere, using jump scares\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/4qgbtsR9bz<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Neglia (@NextBestPicture) July 22, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most details about\u00a0Weapons are shrouded in mystery. It has been said that it\u2019s \u201can interrelated, multistory horror epic\u201d that\u2019s tonally in the vein of\u00a0Magnolia, and\u00a0the story revolves around the disappearance of elementary school kids in a small town. Here\u2019s the official synopsis:\u00a0When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance. The cast of Zach Cregger\u2019s Weapons includes \u00a0Julia Garner<\/a> (Ozark), Josh Brolin\u00a0(No Country for Old Men),\u00a0Alden Ehrenreich (Solo), Benedict Wong\u00a0(Doctor Strange),\u00a0Amy Madigan\u00a0(Antlers),\u00a0Austin Abrams\u00a0(Euphoria), June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie), and\u00a0Cary Christopher\u00a0(Days of Our Lives).<\/p>\n

Cregger, who wrote the script without an outline and let the story evolve as he went, previously told Entertainment Weekly that the mystery of the missing children \u201cis going to propel you through at least half of the movie, but that is\u00a0not the movie. The movie will fork and change and reinvent and go in new places. It doesn\u2019t abandon that question, believe me, but that\u2019s not the whole movie at all. By the midpoint, we\u2019ve moved on to way crazier sh*t than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are you excited to see Weapons when it opens in theaters on August 8<\/strong>? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

\n Source:
\n Twitter\n <\/p>\n