5 Horror Films to Watch Instead of 'Weapons'
General Reviews
As a longtime horror fan who enjoys films that don't give too much away in the trailers, Weapons did intrigue me initially. The idea of a large amount of children going missing and nobody knows what happened to them is relatively unsettling. Not to mention the not knowing why people are going to bananas, while looking like zombies. The promotional material made Weapons look like an experience you wouldn't want to miss, but upon watching it for the first time recently, I wouldn't have missed much.
This isn't to say that Weapons has literally nothing going for it whatsoever because there are some good performances and plenty of visuals to gnaw on. However, the script falls extremely flat and doesn't flesh out anything enough or provide much in the way of answers. And while that can be a good thing, it's more frustrating than anything in a film like Weapons. The film has been hyped to a degree that I'm not entirely certain is warranted. Therefore, if you've found yourself craving other films with similarly eerie vibes, all due to not being a huge fan of the film yourself, look no further than this list.
Instead of trying to rewatch Weapons and force yourself to see what plenty of horror fans and general film fans are raving about, try out something on this list instead. It's a guarantee that at least one of these films will be satisfying enough. Just don't go in expecting them all to be exactly like Weapons in terms of plot.
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
It's considered a classic for a very good reason, and still holds up as a film regarding bodily autonomy. Rosemary's Baby follows Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow), who finds herself pregnant for the first time, only there's something sinister going on surrounding her pregnancy. While Weapons doesn't involve pregnancy or anything of the sort, it does focus on witches and events being manipulated as a result. A huge difference is that Rosemary's Baby doesn't disappoint with its exploration of witches.
The vibes throughout Rosemary's Baby are impeccable because of how uncomfortable the gaslighting of Rosemary is, especially from her own husband. People are conspiring against her and harming her for their own gains, and she's unable to turn anywhere without a lingering sense of paranoia. All of which is justified because people aren't trustworthy as it is. If you're looking for something that's beautifully shot, well-acted, and full of perfectly crafted discomfort, Rosemary's Baby is the perfect film to throw on for that.
Barbarian (2022)
The horrors of being a woman (especially a marginalized one) in the world and dealing with several men are on full display here. Barbarian follows Tess (Georgina Campbell), whose stay at a rental home turns into a total nightmare after a discovery she makes. The eerie atmosphere is immediately established when Tess arrives at the rental, and it only gets worse from there. It's a film that relies on its twist and shifts its point of view very suddenly. Quite similar to Weapons in the sense of shuffling around various points of view.
Barbarian might not be for everyone in that it's nothing you haven't seen before in terms of its primary monster. However, the deeper meanings behind the film are some of the more interesting aspects of it. Examining how there are levels to toxic and predatory men out there, and not everyone presents themselves the same way, is very much touched upon throughout the film's runtime. At the end of the day, Barbarian offers you scares, tension, and a lot of moments where you'd go nope.
Smile (2022)
It's important to support original horror, just as much as it is, supporting long-running properties. Smile follows Rose (Sosie Bacon), a therapist who finds herself being tormented by hallucinations and the supernatural after she sees a young woman commit suicide in front of her. There are a lot of themes in Smile that might be distressing, so there's a fair warning about that. But otherwise, this smile manages to present us with an entity that isn't so easily defeated.
The sense that you're helpless and unable to escape an entity is an incredibly scary to think about. Rose not being believed by anyone, due to people's perception of her, makes it all the more worse. Smile is a film for anyone who enjoys psychological and supernatural horror that toys with you to the extreme. And Sosie Bacon's performance will endear you to her character, especially when everything is going tremendously wrong in her life. Generally, folks who enjoy not knowing what's real or fake will have a blast with Smile, as well as its sequel Smile 2.
Cuckoo (2024)
Regardless of what folks might feel about the plot of the film, Hunter Schafer delivers a fantastic performance in this bizarre horror film. Cuckoo follows Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) who is forced to live with her father in Germany, but soon she begins experiencing strange phenomena that leads her down a bizarre path. The film explores themes of motherhood, queerness, identity, family, and more. Cuckoo works well for horror fans who enjoys analysis and unpacking a film as they watch.
Despite how Cuckoo isn't a film that will appeal to general audiences, as it's too bizarre and might be somewhat confusing throughout. Though for individuals who enjoy Hunter Schafer as an actress, and also wants to see more queer protagonists, Cuckoo might appeal to you. The mysteriousness of what's going on will either cause frustration or keep you interested. Either way, it's worth at least one watch through.
Oddity (2024)
Recommending films that might be great for others, even if they weren't for you, isn't a bad thing to do sometimes. Oddity follows a blind woman who is a medium and shopkeeper, who seeks out what exactly happened to her twin sister when she died. This Irish horror film is incredibly moody, and there are more than a few moments that you might not be expecting to happen. Despite its flaws, Oddity does manage to maintain an atmosphere, if nothing else.
The film does fall flat in terms of its plot's cohesiveness and does feel like it should've been a short film, rather than a feature length. Oddity is for individuals who don't need a solid plot and can be along for the ride, especially with the performance from Gwendoline Christie. While it doesn't push boundaries as far as scares, it does have a house that might make people salivate if they enjoy seeing unique looking homes. Overall, Oddity is one to throw on if you're looking for a mystery and don't care if the thing you're anticipating isn't on the screen as much in the film.
(featured image credit: Paramount Pictures, 20 Century Studios, and Neon)
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