Weapons is the newest horror movie by Zach Cregger, the filmmaker who disturbed audiences along with his 2022 solo screenwriting and directorial debut Barbarian. Like his earlier horror standout, Weapons utterly subverts expectations by its unconventional construction and refusal to stick to style clichés. It has been met with overwhelmingly constructive important reception, with some calling it the perfect horror film of 2025. Followers and critics alike are praising Cregger for taking daring dangers with a visceral and daring strategy.
Advised from six completely different views, the film revolves across the mysterious disappearance of 17 youngsters who have been in the identical third-grade class. One night time at 2:17 a.m., they every ran out of their homes and disappeared into the darkish. Their instructor, Ms. Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), turns into a pariah, with most of the townsfolk believing she is aware of greater than she’s letting on. Her story intertwines with that of different characters—Alex (Cary Christopher), the one little one from her classroom that did not disappear, Archer (Josh Brolin), an indignant father who needs to search out his son, her cop ex Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), faculty principal Marcus (Benedict Wong), and James (Austin Abrams), an unhoused addict and burglar.
Embracing horror in a method so few do, the movie has sparked discourse on-line, with audiences arguing its deeper that means, or lack thereof. Then, there are these claiming it is not even horror, missing the understanding that the style’s purpose is not as easy as simply scaring you. It is about making the viewer really feel unhappy, disgusted, uncomfortable, giddy, and introspective. Weapons does all of these items and extra, and it has many layers value uncovering.
In case you loved Weapons, the ten horror motion pictures on this checklist are simply pretty much as good. Not solely have been they critically acclaimed, however they’re additionally thematically wealthy and thought-provoking. In case you’re in search of a mix of suspense, emotional exploration, and layered storytelling, these scary movies will do the trick.
10
‘The Orphanage’ (2007)
Spanish filmmaker J.A. Boyana (Society of the Snow) made his directorial debut with the gothic horror The Orphanage, which was produced by Guillermo del Toro. It follows Laura (Belén Ruedo) as she returns to the orphanage the place she grew up. Her plans to reopen it as a facility for youngsters with disabilities are tragically placed on maintain when her son, Simón (Roger Princep), disappears. As she’s consumed with inconsolable grief and continues the seek for him, she makes contact with the ghosts of kids whose souls have been certain to the orphanage by an unspeakable crime.
An Inspiration for Cregger
Though it was a global success, The Orphanage is not as well-known within the U.S. The movie has a haunting, timeless attract and is emotionally devastating, exploring unresolved childhood trauma. Cregger cited it as an affect on his newest horror hit: “It’s simply that one sequence the place the children are coming nearer and nearer. It actually weaponizes these children. It turns them into this actually terrifying factor. I really like that sequence the place they’re doing that peek-a-boo and the children are approaching. There are a few moments on this film the place I’m making an attempt to faucet into that very same factor.”
9
‘Lake Mungo’ (2008)
Written and directed by Joel Anderson, the Australian movie Lake Mungo is a captivating entry within the discovered footage subgenre and one of the underrated horror movies of the Twenty first century. Advised from a mockumentary perspective, it tells the tragic story of 16-year-old Alice Palmer (Talia Zuker), who drowned at a dam throughout a household journey to Ararat. Her grieving household recounts the time earlier than her loss of life and opens up concerning the unusual, supernatural occurrences they’ve skilled since.
A Deeply Unsettling, Poignant Ghost Story
Lake Mungo is a heartbreaking, somber exploration of grief, reminiscence, and trauma. The movie’s slow-burn depth, compelling thriller, eerie ambiance, and emotional depth might be appreciated by followers of Weapons. Like Cregger, Anderson takes dangers along with his storytelling. In his evaluate on Letterboxd, Mike Flanagan wrote, “This is without doubt one of the greatest and most stunning ghost tales I’ve ever seen, and a real inspiration on each stage. I can completely really feel the affect of this film on quite a lot of my very own work.”
8
‘It Follows’ (2014)
It Follows stars Maika Monroe as Jay Top, a younger lady on the cusp of maturity who inherits a lethal curse after a sexual encounter. The entity that haunts her acts like a stalker that may take the form of anybody, strolling towards her at a gradual tempo. As a way to do away with it, she has to have intercourse with somebody and cross it on to them. If she would not, it will finally hunt her down and kill her, then discover its method again to the one who handed it on to her. Like Weapons, the film is gradual however relentless, with lingering pictures that construct rigidity. Honest warning in case you’ve but to observe, spoilers forward.
A Terrifying Movie Wealthy With Which means
Many interpret “It” as being a metaphor for an STD, however the Entity is a lot greater than that; it is emblematic of the trauma Jay confronted because of non-informed consent with Hugh (Jake Weary). The film alludes to sexual assault when Hugh chloroforms her, ties her to a chair, and forces the Entity onto her. Moreover, the Entity’s relentless pursuit may be seen as concern of mortality and the inescapable nature of loss of life, that are different matters explored in the dead of night coming-of-age horror movie.
7
‘Sinister’ (2012)
Ethan Hawke stars as Ellison Oswalt, a struggling true-crime author who, determined for his subsequent huge hit, strikes his household to a small Pennsylvania city into a house the place the earlier homeowners, the Stevensons, have been gruesomely murdered. The late household’s youngest, 10-year-old Stephanie, disappeared with no hint. Upon settling in, the creator discovers a field of horrifying snuff movies of households being murdered, and realizes he has put his spouse, son, and daughter in grave hazard.
A Horrifying Nightmare
Sinister is a vastly underrated horror film that’s unimaginably terrifying. It is scientifically confirmed that it is the “scariest film ever” by a examine performed by the Science and Scare Venture. The grisly Tremendous 8 found-footage movies look frighteningly actual and, coupled with the story’s evil villain, make Sinister a film exhausting to observe with the lights turned off. There is a fixed, underlying sense that one thing disturbing goes to occur. When it lastly does, it lingers with the viewer. In case you’re in search of one other creepy film about misplaced youngsters to observe after Weapons, that is it.
6
‘Us’ (2019)
Jordan Peele’s horror follow-up to Get Out stars Lupita Nyong’o as a lady whose household trip in Santa Cruz takes a darkish flip after they’re confronted by mysterious assailants who seem like their doppelgängers. After escaping the preliminary assault, they wrestle to search out security, and understand that everybody round them is being hunted by look-a-likes. Us is a visceral, blood-soaked combat for survival that delves into one thing far more profound.
A Strongly Political Horror Movie
The psychological slasher is a thought-provoking meditation on systemic oppression in America, displaced concern of “outsiders,” and social inequality and marginalization. It boasts a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Monica Castillo gave the movie a 4 out of 4 stars on RogerEbert.com and wrote: “Us is one other thrilling exploration of the previous and oppression this nation remains to be too afraid to deliver up. Peele needs us to speak, and he is given audiences the fabric to suppose, to really feel our method by a few of the darker sides of the human situation and the American expertise.”
5
‘The Black Telephone’ (2021)
The Black Telephone brings to the display Joe Hill’s brief story of the identical identify, looking at childhood, trauma, and braveness. Set in a quiet suburb of North Denver, Colorado, in 1978, it tells the story of 13-year-old Finney Blake (Mason Thames), who turns into the newest sufferer of The Grabber, a serial little one abductor and assassin. Held captive in his soundproof basement, Finney begins receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the sadistic killer’s deceased victims, who assist him escape the identical destiny.
A Twisted, Atmospheric Watch
Ethan Hawke is unforgettable in his disturbingly unhinged efficiency because the psychopathic villain, making the viewer’s pores and skin crawl. Thames is phenomenal in his first main position, which garnered important acclaim, and displayed his important promise as an actor. The Black Telephone 2 is ready to launch later this yr, and if it is something like the unique, it is sure to be a hair-raising expertise.
4
‘Barbarian’ (2022)
Barbarian begins off as a seemingly easy horror film. A girl (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb (referred to as Residence Away within the film) late at night time, solely to find that it is already occupied by a stranger (Invoice Skarsgård). With no choices in an unfamiliar metropolis and an enormous job interview the following morning, she reluctantly accepts the person’s supply to remain the night time and get it sorted out with the corporate the next day. If you have not seen the movie, that is all you have to know — and keep away from watching the trailer.
A Actually Unique Horror Movie
Zach Cregger takes every little thing you suppose you realize about horror motion pictures and utterly subverts your expectations, turning varied horror tropes on their heads and misdirecting the viewers. The film’s second act manages to shock in a method few horror movies do. Like Weapons, the story is not simply disturbing, however deeply affecting.
3
‘Discuss to Me’ (2022)
Danny and Michael Philippou’s characteristic directorial debut presents a novel spin on possession. The film follows 17-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde), who’s nonetheless battling the loss of life of her mom from an overdose two years prior. At a celebration she attends along with her associates, she’s launched to a recreation involving holding an embalmed hand to briefly channel the useless. For Mia, it is extra profound than only a rush. Believing it is her mom she’s chatting with, she turns into obsessive about the hand, regardless of the dangers it poses to herself and people she cares for.
A Main Achievement in Elevated Horror
Discuss to Me is a harrowing and heartbreaking exploration of grief, despair, and habit. Like Weapons, the story makes use of parts of drama to boost the horror. The movie boasts a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes with a critics consensus that reads: “With a gripping story and spectacular sensible results, Discuss to Me spins a terrifically creepy Twenty first-century horror yarn constructed on basic foundations.
2
‘Longlegs’ (2024)
Longlegs is written and directed by one other risk-taking, progressive filmmaker, Oz Perkins. The film stars Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent who reveals potential psychic and clairvoyant talents. She’s assigned with fixing a long-running case involving a collection of household murder-suicides the place, in every, somebody who has dubbed himself “Longlegs” leaves a ciphered letter on the scene of the crime, in some way manipulating the occasions from outdoors the house. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins unlocking repressed recollections from her previous.
An Atmospheric, Haunting Film
Horror maestro Guillermo del Toro has extremely really useful Longlegs, praising Perkins’ “composition and his uncanny sense of evil and impending doom.” The movie has a fascinating, distinctive fashion that nearly performs out like an eerie, nightmarish dream. It is a kind of motion pictures that seeps beneath your pores and skin and lingers lengthy after the credit roll. Nicolas Cage’s villain has a lot in widespread with the creepy Aunt Gladys of Weapons. Collectively, they’d be unstoppable.
1
‘Convey Her Again’ (2025)
Convey Her Again facilities on two siblings, Andy (Billy Barrat) and Piper (Sora Wong), who’re pressured into the foster system after the loss of life of their father. Only some months away from having the ability to change into his sister’s authorized guardian, Andy is reluctantly taken in together with Piper by the eccentric Laura (Sally Hawkins), who lately misplaced her personal daughter. There, they meet Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), an uncommon, mute boy beneath her care. As they settle in, Andy suspects there’s one thing sinister occurring within the dwelling and that Laura is not the good woman she portrays to be.
A Relentless, Excruciating Story of Loss
The film is the sophomore movie by duo Danny and Michael Philippou. Much like Weapons, Convey Her Again merges the occult with the visceral. Beneath its occult themes is a heartwrenching examination of the destruction that grief causes when somebody’s unable to course of such a profound loss. Many critics have hailed it as the proper follow-up to Discuss to Me. In case you loved the creepy child and witchcraft features of Weapons, there’s a lot to like about this movie.
Weapons
- Launch Date
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August 8, 2025
- Runtime
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128 minutes
- Producers
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Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, J.D. Lifshitz