Weapons is The Closest Thing to an American Junji Ito Story

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As someone who cherishes both anime and horror, I’m constantly hoping to witness their fusion. This past summer served up an outstanding example of how an unsettling anime can haunt our dreams with “The Summer Hikaru Died” on Netflix. In stark contrast, the live-action world has delivered a surprising punch with “Weapons.” This intriguing tale, which had audiences flocking to cinemas during its opening night, is well worth the hype for several reasons. Upon closer inspection of “Weapons,” there are numerous aspects that resonate strikingly with the works of Junji Ito.

Heed this significant advisory: If you haven’t been exposed to the plot details of Weapons and wish to remain spoiler-free, beware as we delve into potentially revealing territory. Known for his expertise in horror, Junji Ito often merges everyday life with the eerie unknown, a skill that Weapons showcases abundantly throughout its duration. In this movie by writer/director Zach Cregger, a classroom full of children mysteriously vanish one night, all disappearing simultaneously at 2:17 AM. Similar to works like Gyo and Uzumaki, Weapons revolves around a group of individuals grappling with a supernatural menace that is gradually consuming their way of existence. To fully grasp what makes Weapons so reminiscent of a Junji Ito campfire tale, closer examination is required.

The supernatural danger faced by the children is something they’ve encountered before, as “Weapons” suggests that these children haven’t been abducted by a covert government group or transformed into vampires, but rather, were snatched in the dead of night by a traditional folklore entity. It turns out that “Gladys” is the primary villain of the story, aiming to pilfer the children as a means to prolong her own life and drain their vitality for personal gain. Cregger incorporates certain elements that are common in Ito’s narratives, such as using witchcraft to manipulate people’s minds, often in graphic and shockingly frightening ways.

Gladys, The Window Next Door


Among the most chilling horror movie antagonists in 2025, Gladys, portrayed by Amy Madigan, stands out with her delight in supernatural abilities and striking resemblances to some of Ito’s most unsettling characters. At first glance, it’s challenging not to recognize the parallels between this Weapons villain and the character who first appeared in Ito’s “The Window Next Door.” In this horror comic, a young boy is persistently haunted by a neighboring woman trying to enter his room through various means. Although she doesn’t practice witchcraft herself, the visual similarities between the two characters are undeniable.

Absolutely, Ito has crafted numerous tales centered around witchcraft, employing this occult practice to instill a sense of eeriness in readers. In one such story titled “The Red Turtleneck”, a teenager encounters a gruesome curse that separates his head from his body. Remarkably, he continues to exist but must support his own head on his neck to prevent it from disappearing completely. Although none of the Weapons’ children lose their heads in this story, the harm inflicted by Gladys upon various characters through her spells could be even more chilling.

The End of Weapons

In simpler terms, the movie “Weapons” concludes with a deeply emotional impact, often prompting audiences to cheer for Gladys’ fate. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a joyful resolution by any means. Alex, the young protagonist, essentially loses his parents, and several other characters meet their end. Even the children saved from the witch’s spell struggle to fully heal, with only a few regaining the ability to speak within a year. This dark and tragic conclusion is reminiscent of Ito’s earlier works in the horror genre.

In simpler terms, many of Junji Ito’s stories, such as “Gyo”, “Uzumaki”, and “Tomie”, often conclude on a grim note, even if the main characters seem to have victories before the end. Although this dark ending trope isn’t exclusive to Ito’s work, it’s a similarity that his works like “Weapons” share with many of his stories. Junji Ito is well-known in anime horror for creating stories that resemble “Weapons”, so if you enjoy either, you might also appreciate the works of both Ito and Cregger.

Weapons is now playing in theaters and IMAX.

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2025-08-08 22:44