In this episode of The Cinema Psycho Show, Brian and John team up with special guest Jordan The Grey Witch to dissect Weapons (2025)—director Zach Cregger’s follow-up to the breakout horror hit Barbarian. This isn’t your typical missing children mystery. It’s a supernatural thriller that uses Ring doorbells, geometry, and blood magic to tell one of 2025’s most unsettling horror stories.
When an entire classroom of children simultaneously flee their homes at 2:17 AM—all captured on security cameras—teacher Justine (Julia Garner) becomes the town’s scapegoat. But the truth is far more terrifying than anyone imagined.
A Horror Mystery That Actually Sticks the Landing
Brian and John break down why Weapons succeeds where so many horror films fail. Despite a premise that could easily collapse into nonsense, Cregger delivers a tightly wound mystery that respects audience intelligence while delivering genuine scares. In this episode, we dive into:
- The innovative structure: Why this Magnolia-meets-horror approach works so well
- Morally gray characters: How every person in this film has serious flaws, from the alcoholic teacher to the dirty cop
- Technology as a tool: Ring doorbells and security footage actually enhance the horror instead of being eliminated
- Real witch reacts: Jordan explains the authentic blood magic practices depicted in the film
- Math saves the day: Josh Brolin’s contractor character uses geometry to solve the mystery
- The controversial ending: Why test audiences rejected the original catatonic children finale
When Horror Actually Scares Long-Time Horror Fans
One of the most remarkable things about Weapons? It made seasoned horror fans jump. Brian admits to four genuine scares during his midnight viewing—a rarity for someone who’s watched horror since age five. From Gladys appearing in Josh Brolin’s nightmare wrapped in Batman sheets to the gas station zombie attack, Cregger proves he knows how to craft effective horror.
The film stars Josh Brolin as Archer, a grieving father; Julia Garner (Ozark) as the blamed teacher; Amy Madigan as the terrifying witch Gladys; and features cameos from Justin Long and Benedict Wong. Each character gets their moment to shine in the fragmented narrative structure.
Not Your Typical Witch Movie
Jordan, a practicing witch, offers unique insights into the film’s portrayal of magic. While critiquing the stereotypical “evil crone” representation, she acknowledges the film’s surprising accuracy with blood magic practices. “They’re definitely taking things from real practices… What she did with the thorns, cutting her hand with blood, and snapping the twig—that’s legitimate,” Jordan explains.
The film’s antagonist, Gladys, is a parasitic witch stealing children’s life force to extend her own dying existence. She keeps 17 kids in a zombified state, feeding off their youth—a horrifying concept that plays into ancient folklore while feeling disturbingly modern.
The Ending That Divided Test Audiences
SPOILER WARNING: The film’s climax features young Alex turning Gladys’s magic against her using hair from her wig. All 17 zombified children turn on their captor, chasing her through suburban neighborhoods in broad daylight before literally tearing her apart. It’s equal parts horrifying and darkly comedic—reminiscent of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off but with murderous children.
Test audiences initially rejected an ending where the children remained catatonic forever. The studio added narration suggesting some kids eventually recovered, providing hope without completely undermining the horror.
Hidden Commentary on Real Tragedy
While not explicitly about school shootings, Weapons contains subtle references that reward close viewing. Josh Brolin’s nightmare features a semi-automatic rifle in the sky, and the 2:17 timestamp may reference failed assault weapon ban votes. The community’s need to scapegoat the teacher mirrors real-world responses to tragedy—blaming everyone except addressing root causes.
Plot Holes We Can’t Ignore
The crew identifies some questionable logic: Why didn’t neighbors notice newspapers covering windows? How did an eight-year-old buy bulk soup without questions? Where were federal investigators in this wealthy suburban town? And most importantly—what if the children turned while running instead of going in perfectly straight lines?
But as John reminds everyone: “When you’re dealing with a parasitic witch… you’re going to have to give some suspension of disbelief.”
The Verdict: One of 2025’s Best Horror Films
Weapons represents the current renaissance in studio horror—smart, scary, and willing to take narrative risks. Zach Cregger proves Barbarian wasn’t a fluke, delivering another film that works both as a mystery and a supernatural thriller. All three hosts rank it among the year’s best, with Jordan adding it to her top ten alongside Sinners.
The film balances genuine scares with dark comedy, complex characters with plot momentum, and manages to make geometry the hero of a horror movie. It’s currently playing in select theaters with limited screenings before heading to streaming platforms.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
[Spotify] | [Apple Podcasts] | [Listen Anywhere]
If you liked this episode, check out these episodes featuring our guest, Jordan The Grey Witch:
🎙️ Sinners (2025)
🎙️ Nosferatu (2024)
💬 Did Gladys in Weapons give you nightmares? Let us know in the comments or contact us @cinemapsychospod on Instagram!