I’m Convinced Weapons Features the Funniest Moment in Horror Movie History

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There’s a unique blend between horror and humor that many films and TV shows masterfully achieve. Prolonged fear can make a story tiresome, so injecting moments of laughter is essential to keep the narrative engaging. Filmmakers like Jordan Peele excel at this balance, contributing to acclaimed works such as Get Out, Us, and more recently, Nope. With his background in comedy, particularly from his long-term stint on the sketch comedy show Key & Peele, it’s no wonder he can elicit laughter. However, most of the humor in his movies stem from the bizarre circumstances that his characters encounter.

Zach Cregger, director of the unexpected 2022 hit “Barbarian,” shares similarities with Peele in his approach to filmmaking. Although his work is frightening, it also carries depth, reflecting his understanding that the genre he works within can be inherently absurd at its core. In contrast, Cregger’s new movie, titled “Weapons,” embraces comedy, potentially offering one of the funniest moments ever seen in horror film history.

The Comedy in Weapons Is Present From the Start

The enigma shrouding the events involving Weapons is no laughing matter. On an ordinary school day, 17 children from Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner) class mysteriously disappear, with each child leaving home at 2:17 am and never returning. The town becomes engulfed in a search for answers, but the parents suspiciously point fingers at Justine due to her apparent involvement with such a large number of absences from her class. Despite her attempts to prove her innocence, Justine’s explanations fail to clear her name, prompting her to launch her own investigation. However, she quickly finds herself in over her head and makes blunders along the way, such as falling asleep outside Alex Lilly’s house and letting a bewitched parent enter her car and chop her hair.

In a humorous manner, the clumsy adults significantly contribute to the comic relief throughout the film “Weapons,” often acting with self-centeredness that dominates much of the plot. Watching one adult blunder after another into the Lilly household and fail to make progress sets up the movie’s climax-a hilarious conclusion centered around Alex taking charge, placing his aunt’s hair on a stick, which ultimately allows the long-lost children to escape their witch-held captivity. Pursuing their captor through the suburbs, the roles reverse as the once tormented kids turn the tables and chase Gladys, bringing her to justice in an unexpected twist. However, despite this comedic resolution, a lingering sense of darkness emerges in the film’s final moments that leaves viewers with a thought-provoking impression.

Weapons‘ Last Shot Is Anything But Funny

After Gladys’ passing, Justine and Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), the father of one of the missing children, experience a sense of relief. They believe they have done their best, and it seems their efforts paid off, as suggested by a child’s voiceover at the end. Alex is found alive and living with a new guardian who prioritizes his well-being over draining him. To maintain the appearance of normalcy, the town conceals the truth, allowing everyone, including Justine, to start anew. However, the narrator reveals in her final remarks that the children rescued from the basement have only just begun to regain their speech after two years, indicating they’ve endured more hardship than anyone else. It seems like a positive conclusion until the narrator discloses this heartbreaking detail.

Although it’s evident that Matthew, Archer’s son, isn’t in a good mental state, Archer carries on walking towards the sunset, appearing as if he’s a hero. He fulfilled his responsibilities as a parent, so there’s no need for him to halt and check on the other children or escort the boy anywhere but home. The cold gaze of Matthew into the camera makes it apparent that the lessons the adults should have learned are now forgotten by them. It’s quite easy to miss, but the moments following the humorous scene in Weapons are undoubtedly its most somber.

Weapons is in theaters now.

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2025-08-20 02:44