Oct. 5, 2025
Chilling Echoes: The Gripping Mystery of 'Weapons'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica delve into the haunting narrative of *Weapons*, a chilling exploration of a school tragedy where 17 children vanish without a trace at precisely 2:17 AM, leaving only one classmate behind. The hosts discuss the film's unsettling atmosphere, expertly crafted by director Zach Cregger, who transforms ordinary elements into a visual language of dread. Julia Garner shines as a determined teacher, desperately piecing together the mystery of her missing students, while Josh Brolin delivers a gut-wrenching performance as a grieving father navigating his own despair.
The episode highlights the film's clever structure, which begins as a missing person's case and gradually unveils supernatural elements, maintaining a delicate balance between horror and human emotion. Chris and Jessica praise the performances of the entire cast, including Alden Ehrenreich as a disillusioned cop and Carrie Christopher as the traumatized remaining student, whose minimal dialogue speaks volumes. The discussion touches on the film's intricate puzzle-like narrative, where every detail serves a purpose, enhancing the overall mystery.
Listeners will appreciate how *Weapons* lingers in the mind, prompting reflections on grief, obsession, and the community's response to tragedy. With a solid rating of 8 out of 10, Chris and Jessica argue that this film not only delivers immediate scares but also rewards multiple viewings, revealing deeper layers with each watch. Join them as they dissect this compelling entry in modern horror that is sure to influence future filmmakers.
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WEBVTT
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000
Chris: Imagine walking into a school where an entire
1
00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.360
class of children vanished overnight. Not
2
00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.600
just one or two kids, but 17 students all
3
00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.280
disappearing at exactly 2:17am
4
00:00:09.680 --> 00:00:11.520
leaving M only a single classmate behind.
5
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.680
That's the chilling premise of Weapons, and
6
00:00:14.680 --> 00:00:16.560
it's even more disturbing than it sounds.
7
00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:19.400
Jessica: The precision of that timing really creates
8
00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:22.320
this unsettling atmosphere. How do
9
00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:24.560
17 families deal with such a synchronized
10
00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:25.200
tragedy?
11
00:00:26.330 --> 00:00:28.130
Chris: Well, that's what makes this film so
12
00:00:28.130 --> 00:00:30.770
compelling. It explores the ripple effects
13
00:00:30.770 --> 00:00:33.650
through multiple perspectives. You've got
14
00:00:33.650 --> 00:00:36.410
Julia Garner as this determined teacher who
15
00:00:36.410 --> 00:00:39.410
refuses to back down even when she's forced
16
00:00:39.410 --> 00:00:42.010
to take leave. The way she sneaks around
17
00:00:42.170 --> 00:00:43.930
trying to piece together what happened to her
18
00:00:43.930 --> 00:00:46.130
students. It's both heartbreaking and
19
00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:48.410
intense. Hmm.
20
00:00:49.050 --> 00:00:51.090
Jessica: And those newspaper covered windows at the
21
00:00:51.090 --> 00:00:53.400
remaining students house. Such a simple
22
00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:55.440
detail that adds so much to the mystery.
23
00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.880
Chris: You know what's fascinating about Zach
24
00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:00.800
Cregger's direction? He takes these seemingly
25
00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:03.720
ordinary elements. Covered windows, a
26
00:01:03.720 --> 00:01:05.960
specific time of night, children with
27
00:01:05.960 --> 00:01:08.759
outstretched arms, and transforms them into
28
00:01:08.759 --> 00:01:11.640
something deeply unsettling. It's
29
00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:13.600
like he's speaking this visual language of
30
00:01:13.600 --> 00:01:14.000
dread.
31
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.240
Jessica: That's exactly what made his previous film,
32
00:01:17.240 --> 00:01:19.980
Barbarian, so effective. Taking familiar
33
00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:21.740
elements and making them feel completely
34
00:01:21.740 --> 00:01:22.220
alien.
35
00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:25.620
Chris: Speaking of effective elements, Josh
36
00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.820
Brolin's performance as the grieving father
37
00:01:27.820 --> 00:01:30.540
is just gut wrenching. There's this
38
00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:33.020
raw desperation in every scene he's in,
39
00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:35.419
like he's barely holding himself together
40
00:01:35.580 --> 00:01:36.940
while searching for answers.
41
00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.820
Jessica: The whole cast really brings their a game.
42
00:01:40.220 --> 00:01:42.620
Benedict Wong as the pragmatic principal.
43
00:01:43.020 --> 00:01:45.500
Alden Ehrenreich as that disillusioned
44
00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:48.320
copy. Each performance adds another layer to
45
00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:48.920
the mystery.
46
00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:51.200
Chris: And let's talk about that one remaining
47
00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.120
student played by Carrie Christopher. The way
48
00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:56.600
he manages to convey so much trauma and fear
49
00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.520
with barely any dialogue. It's remarkable for
50
00:01:59.520 --> 00:02:00.520
such a young actor.
51
00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:03.800
Jessica: Well, his scenes with Amy Madigan as his aunt
52
00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:06.680
are particularly striking. That over the top
53
00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:08.880
makeup she wears somehow makes perfect sense
54
00:02:08.880 --> 00:02:10.680
in this twisted world they've created.
55
00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:13.040
Chris: You know what's really clever about the
56
00:02:13.040 --> 00:02:15.570
structure? The way it starts as this missing
57
00:02:15.570 --> 00:02:17.770
person's case, but gradually reveals these
58
00:02:19.050 --> 00:02:21.290
supernatural, um, elements without ever
59
00:02:21.290 --> 00:02:23.690
losing its grounding in real human emotion.
60
00:02:24.490 --> 00:02:26.650
Jessica: So it maintains that delicate balance between
61
00:02:26.650 --> 00:02:28.490
horror and human drama throughout.
62
00:02:29.530 --> 00:02:31.490
Chris: Exactly. And that's what makes the ending so
63
00:02:31.490 --> 00:02:34.010
effective. When everything finally explodes
64
00:02:34.010 --> 00:02:36.490
into this frenzied conclusion, it feels
65
00:02:36.490 --> 00:02:38.490
earned because we've spent so much time
66
00:02:38.490 --> 00:02:40.170
investing in these characters and their
67
00:02:40.170 --> 00:02:41.610
desperate search for answers.
68
00:02:42.440 --> 00:02:44.240
Jessica: The way it builds tension reminds me of
69
00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.880
classic slow burn horror films, but with this
70
00:02:46.880 --> 00:02:49.080
modern, almost experimental edge to it.
71
00:02:50.040 --> 00:02:51.800
Chris: And that's why I think this film is going to
72
00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:54.520
have such staying power. It's not just about
73
00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.960
the immediate scares. It's about how it
74
00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.400
lingers in your mind, making you question
75
00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.000
everything you thought you understood about
76
00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:01.640
what happened.
77
00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:03.560
Jessica: Like those little details that seem
78
00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:05.600
insignificant at first but take on new
79
00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:07.000
meaning when you look back at them
80
00:03:08.050 --> 00:03:08.770
precisely.
81
00:03:09.170 --> 00:03:12.050
Chris: The 2:17am M timing, the way
82
00:03:12.050 --> 00:03:14.410
the children held their arms, even the
83
00:03:14.410 --> 00:03:16.850
newspaper on the windows. Everything
84
00:03:17.010 --> 00:03:19.330
serves a purpose in the larger narrative.
85
00:03:19.730 --> 00:03:22.330
It's like this intricate puzzle where every
86
00:03:22.330 --> 00:03:23.170
piece matters.
87
00:03:23.489 --> 00:03:25.850
Jessica: The community's reaction feels so authentic,
88
00:03:25.850 --> 00:03:28.370
too. The way different people cope with this
89
00:03:28.370 --> 00:03:29.490
impossible situation.
90
00:03:30.450 --> 00:03:32.690
Chris: That's what elevates it above typical horror
91
00:03:32.690 --> 00:03:35.610
fare. The supernatural elements work because
92
00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:38.010
they're grounded in such realistic human
93
00:03:38.010 --> 00:03:40.570
responses. The parents grief,
94
00:03:40.890 --> 00:03:43.570
the teacher's obsession, the principal's
95
00:03:43.570 --> 00:03:45.450
attempt to maintain order in chaos.
96
00:03:46.250 --> 00:03:49.209
Jessica: Well, between this and barbarian, Cregor is
97
00:03:49.209 --> 00:03:51.370
definitely establishing himself as a unique
98
00:03:51.370 --> 00:03:52.730
voice in modern horror.
99
00:03:53.690 --> 00:03:55.970
Chris: You know what's really interesting? The way
100
00:03:55.970 --> 00:03:58.730
he manages to incorporate dark humor without
101
00:03:58.730 --> 00:04:00.730
undermining the serious subject matter.
102
00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:04.220
It's like he understands that sometimes humor
103
00:04:04.220 --> 00:04:05.900
is how we process trauma.
104
00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:08.620
Jessica: That's such a difficult balance to strike,
105
00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:11.020
especially with a story centered around
106
00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:11.740
missing children.
107
00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.340
Chris: Looking ahead, I think this film is going to
108
00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:16.220
influence how future horror directors
109
00:04:16.460 --> 00:04:19.300
approach supernatural stories. It
110
00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:21.340
shows you can have these big, wild ideas
111
00:04:21.340 --> 00:04:23.340
while still keeping the emotional core
112
00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.140
intact.
113
00:04:25.020 --> 00:04:27.100
Jessica: Sounds like this 8 out of 10 rating is well
114
00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:27.740
deserved then.
115
00:04:28.870 --> 00:04:31.230
Chris: Oh, absolutely. And I'd argue it might even
116
00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:33.710
deserve higher. It's the kind of film that
117
00:04:33.710 --> 00:04:36.390
rewards multiple viewings, where each watch
118
00:04:36.390 --> 00:04:38.350
reveals something new about the story and
119
00:04:38.350 --> 00:04:41.070
these characters. That's pretty rare in any
120
00:04:41.070 --> 00:04:44.070
genre, let alone horror. As for a score,
121
00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:45.990
we Give weapons an 8 out of 10.
122
00:04:46.230 --> 00:04:48.470
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
123
00:04:48.710 --> 00:04:51.510
available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
124
00:04:51.750 --> 00:04:54.430
iHeartRadio or your favorite podcast
125
00:04:54.430 --> 00:04:56.190
player. You can also stream on
126
00:04:56.190 --> 00:04:58.950
demand at bitesz.com This has been another
127
00:04:58.950 --> 00:05:01.370
quality podcast production from bitesz.com
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000
Chris: Imagine walking into a school where an entire
1
00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.360
class of children vanished overnight. Not
2
00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:06.600
just one or two kids, but 17 students all
3
00:00:06.600 --> 00:00:09.280
disappearing at exactly 2:17am
4
00:00:09.680 --> 00:00:11.520
leaving M only a single classmate behind.
5
00:00:12.160 --> 00:00:14.680
That's the chilling premise of Weapons, and
6
00:00:14.680 --> 00:00:16.560
it's even more disturbing than it sounds.
7
00:00:17.200 --> 00:00:19.400
Jessica: The precision of that timing really creates
8
00:00:19.400 --> 00:00:22.320
this unsettling atmosphere. How do
9
00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:24.560
17 families deal with such a synchronized
10
00:00:24.560 --> 00:00:25.200
tragedy?
11
00:00:26.330 --> 00:00:28.130
Chris: Well, that's what makes this film so
12
00:00:28.130 --> 00:00:30.770
compelling. It explores the ripple effects
13
00:00:30.770 --> 00:00:33.650
through multiple perspectives. You've got
14
00:00:33.650 --> 00:00:36.410
Julia Garner as this determined teacher who
15
00:00:36.410 --> 00:00:39.410
refuses to back down even when she's forced
16
00:00:39.410 --> 00:00:42.010
to take leave. The way she sneaks around
17
00:00:42.170 --> 00:00:43.930
trying to piece together what happened to her
18
00:00:43.930 --> 00:00:46.130
students. It's both heartbreaking and
19
00:00:46.130 --> 00:00:48.410
intense. Hmm.
20
00:00:49.050 --> 00:00:51.090
Jessica: And those newspaper covered windows at the
21
00:00:51.090 --> 00:00:53.400
remaining students house. Such a simple
22
00:00:53.400 --> 00:00:55.440
detail that adds so much to the mystery.
23
00:00:56.240 --> 00:00:57.880
Chris: You know what's fascinating about Zach
24
00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:00.800
Cregger's direction? He takes these seemingly
25
00:01:00.800 --> 00:01:03.720
ordinary elements. Covered windows, a
26
00:01:03.720 --> 00:01:05.960
specific time of night, children with
27
00:01:05.960 --> 00:01:08.759
outstretched arms, and transforms them into
28
00:01:08.759 --> 00:01:11.640
something deeply unsettling. It's
29
00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:13.600
like he's speaking this visual language of
30
00:01:13.600 --> 00:01:14.000
dread.
31
00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:17.240
Jessica: That's exactly what made his previous film,
32
00:01:17.240 --> 00:01:19.980
Barbarian, so effective. Taking familiar
33
00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:21.740
elements and making them feel completely
34
00:01:21.740 --> 00:01:22.220
alien.
35
00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:25.620
Chris: Speaking of effective elements, Josh
36
00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:27.820
Brolin's performance as the grieving father
37
00:01:27.820 --> 00:01:30.540
is just gut wrenching. There's this
38
00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:33.020
raw desperation in every scene he's in,
39
00:01:33.420 --> 00:01:35.419
like he's barely holding himself together
40
00:01:35.580 --> 00:01:36.940
while searching for answers.
41
00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:39.820
Jessica: The whole cast really brings their a game.
42
00:01:40.220 --> 00:01:42.620
Benedict Wong as the pragmatic principal.
43
00:01:43.020 --> 00:01:45.500
Alden Ehrenreich as that disillusioned
44
00:01:45.500 --> 00:01:48.320
copy. Each performance adds another layer to
45
00:01:48.320 --> 00:01:48.920
the mystery.
46
00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:51.200
Chris: And let's talk about that one remaining
47
00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:54.120
student played by Carrie Christopher. The way
48
00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:56.600
he manages to convey so much trauma and fear
49
00:01:56.760 --> 00:01:59.520
with barely any dialogue. It's remarkable for
50
00:01:59.520 --> 00:02:00.520
such a young actor.
51
00:02:01.160 --> 00:02:03.800
Jessica: Well, his scenes with Amy Madigan as his aunt
52
00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:06.680
are particularly striking. That over the top
53
00:02:06.680 --> 00:02:08.880
makeup she wears somehow makes perfect sense
54
00:02:08.880 --> 00:02:10.680
in this twisted world they've created.
55
00:02:11.480 --> 00:02:13.040
Chris: You know what's really clever about the
56
00:02:13.040 --> 00:02:15.570
structure? The way it starts as this missing
57
00:02:15.570 --> 00:02:17.770
person's case, but gradually reveals these
58
00:02:19.050 --> 00:02:21.290
supernatural, um, elements without ever
59
00:02:21.290 --> 00:02:23.690
losing its grounding in real human emotion.
60
00:02:24.490 --> 00:02:26.650
Jessica: So it maintains that delicate balance between
61
00:02:26.650 --> 00:02:28.490
horror and human drama throughout.
62
00:02:29.530 --> 00:02:31.490
Chris: Exactly. And that's what makes the ending so
63
00:02:31.490 --> 00:02:34.010
effective. When everything finally explodes
64
00:02:34.010 --> 00:02:36.490
into this frenzied conclusion, it feels
65
00:02:36.490 --> 00:02:38.490
earned because we've spent so much time
66
00:02:38.490 --> 00:02:40.170
investing in these characters and their
67
00:02:40.170 --> 00:02:41.610
desperate search for answers.
68
00:02:42.440 --> 00:02:44.240
Jessica: The way it builds tension reminds me of
69
00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.880
classic slow burn horror films, but with this
70
00:02:46.880 --> 00:02:49.080
modern, almost experimental edge to it.
71
00:02:50.040 --> 00:02:51.800
Chris: And that's why I think this film is going to
72
00:02:51.800 --> 00:02:54.520
have such staying power. It's not just about
73
00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:56.960
the immediate scares. It's about how it
74
00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:59.400
lingers in your mind, making you question
75
00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.000
everything you thought you understood about
76
00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:01.640
what happened.
77
00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:03.560
Jessica: Like those little details that seem
78
00:03:03.560 --> 00:03:05.600
insignificant at first but take on new
79
00:03:05.600 --> 00:03:07.000
meaning when you look back at them
80
00:03:08.050 --> 00:03:08.770
precisely.
81
00:03:09.170 --> 00:03:12.050
Chris: The 2:17am M timing, the way
82
00:03:12.050 --> 00:03:14.410
the children held their arms, even the
83
00:03:14.410 --> 00:03:16.850
newspaper on the windows. Everything
84
00:03:17.010 --> 00:03:19.330
serves a purpose in the larger narrative.
85
00:03:19.730 --> 00:03:22.330
It's like this intricate puzzle where every
86
00:03:22.330 --> 00:03:23.170
piece matters.
87
00:03:23.489 --> 00:03:25.850
Jessica: The community's reaction feels so authentic,
88
00:03:25.850 --> 00:03:28.370
too. The way different people cope with this
89
00:03:28.370 --> 00:03:29.490
impossible situation.
90
00:03:30.450 --> 00:03:32.690
Chris: That's what elevates it above typical horror
91
00:03:32.690 --> 00:03:35.610
fare. The supernatural elements work because
92
00:03:35.610 --> 00:03:38.010
they're grounded in such realistic human
93
00:03:38.010 --> 00:03:40.570
responses. The parents grief,
94
00:03:40.890 --> 00:03:43.570
the teacher's obsession, the principal's
95
00:03:43.570 --> 00:03:45.450
attempt to maintain order in chaos.
96
00:03:46.250 --> 00:03:49.209
Jessica: Well, between this and barbarian, Cregor is
97
00:03:49.209 --> 00:03:51.370
definitely establishing himself as a unique
98
00:03:51.370 --> 00:03:52.730
voice in modern horror.
99
00:03:53.690 --> 00:03:55.970
Chris: You know what's really interesting? The way
100
00:03:55.970 --> 00:03:58.730
he manages to incorporate dark humor without
101
00:03:58.730 --> 00:04:00.730
undermining the serious subject matter.
102
00:04:01.580 --> 00:04:04.220
It's like he understands that sometimes humor
103
00:04:04.220 --> 00:04:05.900
is how we process trauma.
104
00:04:06.700 --> 00:04:08.620
Jessica: That's such a difficult balance to strike,
105
00:04:09.420 --> 00:04:11.020
especially with a story centered around
106
00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:11.740
missing children.
107
00:04:12.780 --> 00:04:14.340
Chris: Looking ahead, I think this film is going to
108
00:04:14.340 --> 00:04:16.220
influence how future horror directors
109
00:04:16.460 --> 00:04:19.300
approach supernatural stories. It
110
00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:21.340
shows you can have these big, wild ideas
111
00:04:21.340 --> 00:04:23.340
while still keeping the emotional core
112
00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.140
intact.
113
00:04:25.020 --> 00:04:27.100
Jessica: Sounds like this 8 out of 10 rating is well
114
00:04:27.100 --> 00:04:27.740
deserved then.
115
00:04:28.870 --> 00:04:31.230
Chris: Oh, absolutely. And I'd argue it might even
116
00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:33.710
deserve higher. It's the kind of film that
117
00:04:33.710 --> 00:04:36.390
rewards multiple viewings, where each watch
118
00:04:36.390 --> 00:04:38.350
reveals something new about the story and
119
00:04:38.350 --> 00:04:41.070
these characters. That's pretty rare in any
120
00:04:41.070 --> 00:04:44.070
genre, let alone horror. As for a score,
121
00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:45.990
we Give weapons an 8 out of 10.
122
00:04:46.230 --> 00:04:48.470
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
123
00:04:48.710 --> 00:04:51.510
available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
124
00:04:51.750 --> 00:04:54.430
iHeartRadio or your favorite podcast
125
00:04:54.430 --> 00:04:56.190
player. You can also stream on
126
00:04:56.190 --> 00:04:58.950
demand at bitesz.com This has been another
127
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quality podcast production from bitesz.com
