Saagar Kote
‘Weapons’ by Zach Cregger is a mystery horror drama film that narrates a spooky tale wherein children belonging to Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner) classroom mysteriously disappear at 2.17 in the morning, following which there is no clue or idea as to where they went or what caused it. The inexplicable and strange event leaves the community shell-shocked, causing Gandy and other adults to journey into chaos, tragedy, and trauma.
The film navigates the mystery behind the sudden disappearance of the kids, while also dealing with terrifying truths about society. The stellar cast, including Josh Brolin and Benedict Wong, adds depth to the film through their performances. The dark and intense visuals of the narrative also lead to terrifying revelations and twists that keep the viewers engaged. If you enjoyed experiencing the dramatic moments, vibe, and the complex plot of the scary tale, these films, similar to ‘Weapons’ will entertain you and satiate your curiosity.
12. Pyewacket (2017)
Directed by Adam MacDonald, ‘Pyewacket’ is a horror film that follows the terrifying journey of an angry and desperate teenager named Leah Rayes (Nicole Muñoz) as she mistakenly wakes up an evil entity while trying to summon the titular demon through strange methods, to murder her mother, Mrs. Reyes (Laurie Holden). It delves into themes of killing, the occult, and revenge. Despite containing fantastical elements, it stays grounded in human emotions and the consequences of evil acts. Akin to ‘Weapons,’ this film focuses on the element of mystery that’s rooted in misery. Both contain characters that take part in dark or dangerous acts meant to serve their purposes, which eventually lead to greater chaos.
11. The Empty Man (2020)
The mystery horror drama film ‘The Empty Man’ follows the lives of friends in a small town who find themselves stuck in a dangerous scenario involving a strange entity that’s summoned through whispering into empty bottles. As the community reels from the tragic and mysterious disappearances of people, the entity appears to be growing stronger, threatening to destroy everything. James Lasombra (James Badge Dale), who happens to be the most important piece of the puzzle, must navigate his own troubles in order to unscramble the puzzle. The David Prior directorial is based on the eponymous graphic novel by Cullen Bunn and Vanesa R. Del Rey. Similar to ‘Weapons,’ it takes a deep dive into unknown entities, fear of the unknown, and desperate characters who want to save their loved ones. Both films feature themes of betrayal and love, while also containing an atmospheric sense of haunting dread.
10. They Look Like People (2015)
In the psychological horror film ‘They Look Like People,’ a man named Wyatt (MacLeod Andrews) begins to believe that individuals around him are becoming evil creatures. As his psychosis becomes deeper, he must decide if he has to save his friend Christian (Evan Dumouchel) or not. The film explores the themes of self-doubt, mental health, betrayal, pessimism, and trauma that are all experienced through the lens of the protagonists. Akin to the vibe of ‘Weapons,’ the narrative of the Perry Blackshear directorial contains dark secrets, deep-rooted insecurities, mystery, and a sense of dread. The characters in both films deal with situations where their survival becomes inextricably linked to the processing of their own emotions.
9. The Wretched (2019)
In the horror drama film ‘The Wretched,’ a teenager named Ben (John-Paul Howard) finds himself in trouble as he spirals due to the potential separation of his parents. To make matters worse, he soon encounters a terrifying witch who pretends to be a regular neighbor. The film deals with the ideas of trauma, witchcraft, memory, and danger. The Brett Pierce and Drew T. Pierce directorial delves into body horror and violence, leading to gory and unsettling sequences. In ways similar to ‘Weapons,’ it looks at the angst of children in a unique way. The kids in both films are targeted because they are perceived to be helpless and alone. The narratives are also spiritually connected in terms of their exploration of the unknown and the relationships between adults and children.
8. Azrael (2024)
‘Azrael’ is set in a silent world, where a group of women pursues an escaped prisoner named Azrael (Samara Weaving). After she is captured, they seek to take her life as a sacrifice to please an evil ancient entity in the forest. However, the protagonist realizes that she’s in danger and battles to make it out of the ordeal alive. The horror drama film directed by E.L. Katz focuses on the element of survival in the face of grave danger. Similar to the twisted narrative of ‘Weapons,’ it depicts the difficulties of existence in dangerous scenarios, while also looking at the evil acts of individuals who aim to please higher entities. Despite the tonal contrasts and differences in the plots, the two films are connected on a thematic level based on their focus on trauma, courage, and survival.
7. Longlegs (2024)
In ‘Longlegs,’ an FBI agent named Lee Harker (Maika Monroe) obsessively tries to solve the case of a serial killer, known only as Longlegs (Nicolas Cage). As she navigates danger, trauma, and mystery, she unfortunately comes across a more sinister case of satanic happenings. The Osgood Perkins directorial is a terrifying horror drama film that explores the themes of Satanism, killing, fear, childhood, and obsession. Akin to ‘Weapons,’ it navigates the idea of liberation from killing, while also exploring the innocence of children that puts them in fatal danger. Both films deal with women who become central to the resolution of the main issues, while also looking at their mental health.
6. Silent Hill (2006)
In the mystery drama film ‘Silent Hill’ by Christophe Gans, a woman named Rose Da Silva (Radha Mitchell) is accompanied by her daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) as they travel to a mysterious place called Silent Hill. The mother attempts to get rid of her daughter’s illness, but a car accident leads to the daughter’s disappearance, following which Rose undergoes a traumatic quest to save her child before time runs out. Based on the eponymous video game series by Konami, the narrative delves into unsettling themes of mystery, familial bonds, and trauma. Like ‘Weapons,’ it takes a look at the troubling aspects of childhood, while also shedding light on the complexities of adults’ emotions that arise due to their responsibility towards their kids. Both films feature female characters who become central to the resolution of the questions raised by the story.
5. I See You (2019)
‘I See You’ is a horror thriller film that follows the journey of a young boy named Justin Whitter (Riley Caya) who is unfortunately kidnapped by an unknown entity. Detective Greg Harper (Jon Tenney) attempts to solve the complex case, but finds himself troubled by mysterious happenings in the small town that threaten his sanity. The Adam Randall directorial delves into the realm of the unknown, while also exploring the themes of mental health, tragedy, and trauma. Akin to ‘Weapons,’ it deals with an inexplicable mystery that threatens to tear a community apart. Both films feature characters who face their inner demons as they attempt to stop a tragedy from occurring. The plot-based and thematic similarities also connect the two narratives on a spiritual level.
4. The Ritual (2017)
Directed by David Bruckner, Netflix’s ‘The Ritual’ chronicles the experiences of four friends named Phil (Arsher Ali), Dom (Sam Troughton), Hutch (Robert James-Collier), and Luke (Rafe Spall) who travel to Sweden to get away from the troubles of the memory of their dead friend Rob, and to reconnect. However, in the deep woods, they find out that a mysterious entity is stalking them, putting their lives in danger. Based on the eponymous novel by Adam Nevill, the film delves into themes of survival, trauma, tragedy, and friendship in complex ways. Akin to ‘Weapons,’ it deals with elemental horror linked to mysterious entities and also an atmospheric sense of evil that threatens the lives of characters. Both films navigate the idea of memory and how it can affect decisions in life and death scenarios.
3. Barbarian (2022)
‘Barbarian’ follows the story of a woman named Tess (Georgina Campbell) whose stay at a mysterious Airbnb is interrupted by a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård), who claims that he has also booked the same place. What seems like a very harmless case of confusion soon spirals into a chaotic and violent scenario of danger. The horror drama film directed by Zach Cregger explores the unknown tragedies and secrets lurking below the comforts of modern life. The narrative is a commentary on the nature of evil and the effects of suppressed trauma that lead to fatal consequences. Interestingly, akin to ‘Weapons,’ the narrative features deep-rooted secrets that seem invisible at first. In addition to being directed by the same man, the films also have a formidable woman central to the resolution of the questions raised by the storyline. The idea of hidden motivations and familial issues is also essential in both movies.
2. The Black Phone (2021)
Based on the eponymous short story by Joe Hill, ‘The Black Phone’ chronicles the kidnapping of a young boy named Finney (Mason Thames) by a man only referred to as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke). As the abducted boy struggles to escape his ordeal, the kid encounters mysterious calls from a past victim of the kidnapper on a disconnected phone. The Scott Derrickson directorial features a look at trauma, childhood, courage, and the unknown. Similar to the happenings in ‘Weapons,’ the narrative mainly focuses on the disappearance of children and the reasons behind it. Both stories delve into the complexities of the psyche of child killers and the survival instincts of people who are pushed into dangerous scenarios.
1. Lost Child (2017)
Directed by Ramaa Mosley, ‘Lost Child’ or ‘Tatterdemalion’ follows the life of Fern Sreaves (Leven Rambin), a former army officer who finds an isolated young boy named Cecil (Landon Edwards) in a forest while looking for her brother. Set in the beautiful Ozarks, the story deals with the trials and tribulations of the protagonist living with PTSD, following her time in the force, as she sets out on a mission to uncover the identity of the kid. However, she soon finds out that there is something deeper and sinister that’s haunting her.
The narrative of the horror film delves into themes of isolation, disappearance, identity, trauma, and mystery. Akin to ‘Weapons,’ it explores the idea of the unknown, while also featuring a female character as the central piece of the puzzle. Both films deal with the idea of childhood secrets and the ways in which they can manifest. The thematic connections of the movies are based on their atmospheric take on grounded ideas.
