I should get an academy award for reviewing this film without spoiling it. It is so hard. I won’t post a spoiler review, until the Shattered Lens staff tells me that they’ve seen it.

I know, I know… Case, Weapons came out a while ago! What gives?! In my defense, it’s Oscar nominated; so, I’m not late until April. Take that!

Zach Cregger’s presents his story through six different perspectives: Justine a teacher/alcoholic, Archer a self-loathing father, Paul an alcholic/cheater cop, James a drug addict, Marcus the school principal who wants to be good, and Alex the crux of the plot. Cregger uses these different perspectives to force you to pay close attention to discern the subtle plot points. One thing that stood out to me was that he told the story through cinematography (showing not telling) to such a degree that the scenes with dialogue could be counted.

The film is clearly rooted in the storytelling of Fulci. There is plot and dialogue, but the vast majority of the story is told visually with unique Americana. Just as The Beyond had to be filmed in New Orleans, Weapons had to be filmed in summertime Suburbia. The setting succeeded in bringing additional tension to the story where the visuals were the storyteller.

He filmed it so that the suburban setting is a character itself. There are scenes where characters are quickly isolated by going from a backyard into the woods. I am certain that this was intentional to show that all normal civilized society is immediately adjacent to an untamed wild forest that can consume us whole. The theme of line crossing both physical and metaphorical is woven throughout the entire story. Lines are crossed that are professional, societal, relationship-based, and actual physical lines. The line crossing is another element that induces a cringe-suspense that ratchets the tension continually.

The score shares the circulatory system with the setting and story so that it is used as a stand-in for dialogue. There are entire scenes without a single word spoken; so, the music and cinematography fill that vacuum, which pulls us in deeper and deeper into Zach Cregger’s world. What makes the story more challenging is that it is a world we know: the suburbs. The music is both congruous and incongruous depending on what part of the story is told.

I believe that I have succeeded in reviewed this film without spoiling it. Normally, I DO NOT CARE, but this film is so well done and rooted in the Fulci storytelling that I can’t do that to the staff and especially not Lisa. I hope that you all watch it soon or we schedule a watch party.