A Sharper Insight: Zach Cregger’s new film “Weapons” made me question how I interpret film

The leather seats shook from the speakers during the opening scene of “Weapons”, while the rock song “Beware of Darkness” by George Harrison rang throughout the theater. I had a gut feeling that I’d enjoy the movie.

And that’s how the feeling stayed.

I enjoyed it, but it didn’t make me feel much more. Just a sense of brief amusement.

“Weapons,” is a horror film directed by Zach Cregger and revolves around the mystery of 17 children from the same classroom who all ran away from their homes at 2:17 a.m.

The movie is broken up into six segments, showing the stories of different characters in the town of Maybrook, Pennsylvania and how the disappearance of the children affected the characters.

I wanted to hate this movie. It's far easier to hate than to love, and it's much easier to write a negative review. I spent the first 30 minutes of the movie picking apart every piece of dialogue, every shot and every detail.

Although I did find things to dislike about the movie, like how they handled the mystery—which felt apathetic at times—and the moments of poor writing, I finally allowed myself to enjoy the film. And once the end credits began to roll, I was beaming.

During the first segment of the movie, my mom turned to me and said, “It’s kind of dragging, don’t you think?”

No.

I really didn’t.

The film kept each segment fairly succinct and they all felt rewarding. It was fascinating to see how the cast of characters' reacted to the missing children.

Some characters were mourning, some weren’t aware of the mystery and some had no interest in it, but all their lives were drastically affected by the lost kids.

However, I was underwhelmed by how the mystery was handled. For a movie that revolves entirely around the mystery of the children disappearing, I wish they handled it better.

The best mysteries in cinema hide the details and allow you to piece it together alongside the characters. “Weapons” just withheld information until the end, which is a cheap way of crafting an enigma.

Yet I still enjoyed the mystery and journey of the movie. “Weapons” kept you guessing and challenged your sense of security until the very last line of dialogue.

The movie had many vivid images that freaked me out in the theater, such as the dream sequences of characters. Cregger and the team that worked on the film clearly have a firm grasp on what makes good horror.

But the movie wasn’t entirely caught up in fear.

As one of the founders of comedy group “The Whitest Kids U’ Know,” it was clear that Cregger couldn’t help but add an arsenal of comedic moments to the movie.

But as I laughed, I began to worry that the movies used its comedy to shroud much of its poor writing. In film, plot holes are usually paved over with humor. At times, the film was guilty of employing that technique.

The movie leaves a lot unanswered. This was my biggest critique, but if the parents of those children don't get the answers they want, why should we?

Many ends are left loose. Precious time is spent carving character traits with little importance to the overarching plot and themes.

Such as the missing kids’ teacher Justine Gandy’s alcoholism. The movie took its time detailing that aspect of her character when it didn’t affect the overall messaging of the film.

Well, what is the messaging of the movie?

Come to think of it, I didn't pick up on much messaging; I just had a good time with the movie.

When telling my friends about how I watched the film, my buddy said, “Isn’t it about school shootings?”

School shootings? I guess looking back on the movie, school shootings made sense considering how it revolved around a tragedy of children at school. But with how steeped in comedy the film was, it made me doubt his notion. How could a movie that made me laugh out loud undertake such a violent crime?

But for Cregger, the film tackles how alcoholism has impacted his life.

When speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Cregger said, “But I don’t care if any of this stuff comes through, the alcoholic metaphor is not important to me. I hope people have fun, honestly. It’s not really my business what people make of the movie.”

I’ve seen alcoholism show its face to others throughout my life, but none of that messaging got through to me, and I suppose Cregger doesn’t care.

Outside of being an enjoyable horror movie, “Weapons” displays the battle between meaning and entertainment in film.

For those who interact with the movie, it is a versatile Swiss Army knife of meaning. A poignant, metaphor-rich film, a comedic, bloody horror film or anything up to your own interpretation.

Of course, movies with open-ended interpretations are nothing new. What intrigued me about this film was how uninterested with public perception Cregger was. He created a movie that accepted others labelling it as just another inane horror movie.

I know none of this is particularly groundbreaking, but it’s refreshing to see an artist not take his work too seriously. Cregger understands that not every movie needs to be this nutrient-rich “Guernica” of cinema.

When I watch most movies, I attempt to find some kind of meaning, even when it’s not there. I loved seeing Cregger create a film that accepts that it could make you feel a plethora of things, not just his view of the film. He doesn’t care what you get out of it as long as you enjoy it.

And for me, I just had a good time with the movie. Nothing more, and that's okay.