WEAPONS

One morning at 2:17am, seventeen children from the same Maybrook Elementary School classroom inexplicably run from their homes and out into the darkened streets. No one knows why or where they went. Only one student from the class remains and the suspicion of the whole town quickly falls on new teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner). Distraught father Archer Graf (Joshua Brolin), whose son Matthew has disappeared, is determined to uncover the truth about what happened to the children. I won’t reveal too much about this movie’s dark and unhinged plot, as it’s more impactful when you’re unaware of where the story is about to take you. I will share that it will hold you in tension, with the experiences of several main characters cleverly told through point-of-view vignettes that highlight interconnected events and interactions. The suspense is amplified by the skillful use of sound and camera work, which give clues that something is about to happen – yet each time it does you’ll still jump. Gory moments are few in number, but are highly graphic. Several comedic elements prevent the film from becoming overly terrifying but be warned – not everything will fully make sense at the end and you’ll have questions. Overall, it’s like an old fairy tale with a modern twist. Keep your eyes peeled for the cleverly crafted scenes that subtly nod to other horror influences.