Zach Cregger's latest horror film, "Weapons," made a striking debut at its world premiere, drawing attention not only for its unsettling premise but also for the unique marketing and the cast's thematic fashion choices. June Diane Raphael, a cast member, appeared in a pantless black tuxedo, humorously declaring it was "time to leave your pants at home" for such a "big genre film and such a giant piece of performance art." The premiere event itself featured a faux classroom on the red carpet with child actors simulating unconsciousness and clown makeup, described by Raphael as "horror chic, horror glam and a little cunty and a little horror and a little scary and a little spooky."

"Weapons," an original horror written and directed by Cregger, revolves around the baffling disappearance of 17 third-grade students from a sleepy suburban community in Maybrook, Pennsylvania.They vanished from their homes at 2:17 a.m. one school night, leaving behind a wave of frantic finger-pointing and accusations that ensnare their teacher,Justine Gandy, played by Julia Garner.Only one boy, Alex (Cary Christopher),was spared this peculiar fate. The film sets an intriguing and unconventional tone from the outset, with a local girl narrating the ostensibly supernatural premise, hinting at a mystery that will remain partially unexplained, a style reminiscent of successful horror subgenres like "Hereditary" and "Longlegs."

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Cregger, following his critically acclaimed 2022 hit "Barbarian,"continues to demonstrate a unique ability to reveal sinister threats lurking behind seemingly innocuous environments. "Weapons" transforms mild-mannered parents into an angry mob, with Josh Brolinportraying Archer Graff, a father whose son is missing, who vehemently implicates Justine. The film's narrative splinters the mystery among six characters, beginning with Justine. The story cleverly rewinds with each new section, replaying key scenes from different perspectives, the teacher (Garner), the parent (Brolin), the cop (Alden Ehrenreich), the school administrator (Benedict Wong), and two others allowing details to click into place like an expertly designed puzzle.

Throughout the film, Cregger intersperses unsettling glimpses of a face in smeared clown-like makeup, sometimes portrayed by Amy Madigan as Aunt Gladys. Madigan's character, blending humor and repulsion, marks an unexpected campy turn in the otherwise grimly self-serious film. As the violence escalates towards the end, the film's title becomes clear, revealing a community composed of "targets and weapons," where even a vegetable peeler can become dangerous. While some may find the ultimate explanation limiting after the initial artfully oblique approach, the film delivers a "cruel and twisted bedtime story" that leaves audiences with a palpitating heart.

The cast of "Weapons" includes Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan, alongside June Diane Raphael and Julia Garner. The film was acquired for $38 million, including a $10 million deal for Cregger to write, direct, and produce, a testament to his success after "Barbarian" grossed close to $50 million on a $4 million budget. "Weapons" opened in theaters on August 8.

Its box office success, alongsideDisney's "Freakier Friday," signifies a win for superhero counterprogramming efforts and moderately budgeted movies. According to Brent Lang, Variety executive editor, these films demonstrated effective counter-programming by appealing to different demographics, younger female audiences for "Freakier Friday" (PG-rated) and slightly older male audiences for "Weapons" (R-rated). This success underscores that the film business can expand to welcome diverse genres and multiple new releases each weekend, which theaters actively push for to increase foot traffic and concession sales. However, Lang also warns of an impending drought of big-ticket new releases until "Tron: Ares" arrives in mid-October, highlighting the critical importance of consistent film releases.

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The broader film industry landscape also points to the increasing strategic importance of mid-sized European film festivals like Locarno. John Hopewell, Variety international editor, notes that such events, exemplified by Locarno's presentation of its Leopard Club career achievement award to Emma Thompson,generate significant buzz in the age of instantaneous online media. This shift began in the late 1980s with the Rotterdam festival establishing a film sales marketplace, a business element since adopted by festivals like San Sebastian and Locarno to attract buyers, producers, and sales agents, thus enhancing their industry sections and debates.

In other film news, "Freakier Friday," a sequel to the 2003 hit, sees Anna (Lindsay Lohan) and Tess (Jamie Lee Curtis) temporarily inhabit each other's bodies again, along with their respective new family members, leading to comical and heartwarming situations. "The Kingdom," a gripping Mob drama byJulien Colonna,explores organized crime on the French island of Corsica in the 1990s, with a standout performance by teenager Leisa (Ghjuvanna Benedetti).