Horror Report

Tag: weapons

  • Conan does Gladys at the Academy Awards

    Conan does Gladys at the Academy Awards

    The Oscars broadcast this year has been getting some criticism for being a bit of a snooze. Long stretches of polite applause, safe speeches, and not a whole lot of memorable moments. But then Conan O’Brien showed up and briefly woke the entire room up.


    In one of the few genuinely funny moments of the night, Conan popped up in a surprise bit playing Aunt Gladys. The gag was pure Conan. A ridiculous wig, exaggerated mannerisms, and that perfectly awkward delivery that only he can pull off. It was weird, unexpected, and for a few minutes the Oscars actually felt alive again.


    The bit worked even better because it tied directly into the award that followed. The actress behind the character of Gladys ended up winning, which made the entire setup feel even more absurd in the best possible way. Conan leaned into the joke and milked it for everything it was worth, and the audience clearly appreciated finally getting something that didn’t feel overly scripted.

    It was funny.. very very Conan..


    Meanwhile, one of the big stories of the night was Sinners, which showed up again and again as envelopes were opened.

    The film picked up several wins throughout the evening, including a major acting victory for Michael B. Jordan and multiple technical awards, making it one of the most talked about films of the ceremony.


    But when it came time for the final award of the night, Sinners didn’t take home the big one. The Oscar for Best Picture ultimately went to Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, which ended up being the night’s biggest winner overall.


    That’s the strange math of the Academy Awards. A movie can dominate the conversation all night and still watch the biggest prize go somewhere else.


    But if people are being honest about what they’ll remember from this broadcast, it probably won’t be the Best Picture announcement. Of all the moments from the night, Conan O’Brien’s bizarre Aunt Gladys intro skit might end up being the most memorable thing that happened. In a ceremony that sometimes felt like it was drifting along, that was the moment that actually woke the room up.

  • Horror actually being recognized !? Weapons get some nods

    Horror actually being recognized !? Weapons get some nods

    In a year packed with big shiny titles like Wicked: For Good and all the usual awards bait, Zach Cregger’s WEAPONS quietly kept doing its thing… and now it just muscled its way into the Golden Globes conversation. The film landed two #GoldenGlobes nominations:

    • Cinematic & Box Office Achievement
    • Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Amy Madigan (Aunt Gladys)

    Not bad at all.

    Amy Madigan has been creeping up on every horror fan’s radar this year as a full-on horror icon, and now the Globes have stamped that in ink. She even said she was “incredibly moved” to be recognized for Aunt Gladys and for the film’s box office nod – calling it a testament to Zach Cregger’s vision and the whole team that built this terrifying character.

    Will it actually win? Who knows. But the fact that this twisted, grief-soaked horror movie about missing kids and one nightmare aunt is standing next to the “serious” films is unbelievable. Even if it walks away empty-handed, WEAPONS and Aunt Gladys are getting the attention they deserve.

  • Revisiting George Harrison’s song that made WEAPONS better

    Revisiting George Harrison’s song that made WEAPONS better

    One of the better movies this year in the horror world has been Weapons. We’ve talked about it a number of times and there has been some debate on whether it lived up to the hype or if expectations were just too high to begin with. But all that aside, the opening sequence of Weapons sticks in your head. Kids running through neighborhood streets, the suburban landscape turning ominous, the way the tension creeps up before you realize why you’re uncomfortable.

    As a matter of fact, I was at a football game last week — one of the final ones of the season — and some of the students in front of me were laughing about how the players looked like the kids from Weapons and how it was the greatest movie they’ve ever seen. They’re young. They still have the entire library of 70s and 80s horror history to experience. So we forgive them for the cardinal sin for now.

    But the movie was pretty good, and that opening scene was genuinely memorable. And one of the strongest reasons why the opening hits so hard is the song choice. The George Harrison track that plays over the scene isn’t just background noise — it sets the emotional temperature. It elevates it. It whispers something the dialogue doesn’t say.

    And here’s the thing: there’s a lot going on behind that George Harrison song that most people don’t know.

    Beware of Darkness – What the Song Is Actually Saying

    George Harrison’s “Beware of Darkness” isn’t literally about “evil” or some boogeyman in the woods. He was drawing from Hindu and Eastern spirituality, particularly the concept of Māyā — the illusion of the material world that distracts the soul.

    When Harrison sings:

    “Beware of the Maya”

    He doesn’t mean a person.
    He means the force that tricks you into forgetting who you really are.

    The song is layered with meaning:

    Beware of the world’s negativity.
    People will try to use you. Leaders will mislead. Culture will exhaust you.

    Beware of your own sadness.
    Not in the sense of denying it — but in not letting it swallow you whole.

    “It can hit you, it can hurt you
    Make you sore and what is more
    That is not what you are here for.”

    You are not meant to live permanently in despair.

    Beware of forgetting the spirit.
    Māyā — illusion — convinces us that status, approval, and fear are reality.
    Harrison’s message is simply:

    Don’t lose your inner light.
    Don’t let the world make you forget yourself.

    Movies know how to use music when they’re paying attention.
    Weapons did.

    That song wasn’t just a soundtrack choice — it was the thesis.
    A warning delivered before the audience knows what’s about to happen.

    And now, as we move deeper into the darker stretch of the year — colder mornings, longer nights, that creeping seasonal weight that settles in the chest — maybe the timing is fitting.

    Maybe it’s a reminder:

    Beware of the darkness.
    Beware of the sadness.
    Beware of the soft-shoe shufflers.
    And yes — beware of Māyā.

    Because sometimes horror isn’t on the screen.
    Sometimes it’s just life trying to make you forget who you are.

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  • The $200 million Weapons

    The $200 million Weapons

    KpopDemon Hunters may have clinched the top spot at the box office this weekend with an $18 million debut, but it doesn’t take away from what has been an absolutely amazing summer of horror. The movie Weapons is about to cross a milestone — the $200 million mark worldwide.

    As of now, ticket sales for the R-rated horror film stand at $199.4 million globally. Over the weekend alone, Weapons pulled in $13.2 million from 74 overseas markets, bringing its international tally to $83 million after just three weekends of release.

    In the U.S., the film has grossed $115.9 million so far. Overseas, its strongest markets have been the United Kingdom ($11 million), Mexico ($7.5 million), and France ($5.6 million). These are seriously impressive numbers for an original horror film — especially one with a modest $38 million budget from Warner Bros…

  • WEAPONS can now brag up beating SNOW WHITE

    WEAPONS can now brag up beating SNOW WHITE

    Warner Bros. has now revealed new box office data for Weapons, including beating out a major Disney title SNOW WHITE..

    MORE..

    The movie brought in an additional $25 million at the domestic box office this past weekend. This puts Weapons’ domestic total at $88.5 million, just above Disney’s Snow White, which grossed $87.2 million domestically.

    Weapons has not yet passed Snow White at the worldwide box office. However, Snow White made a total of $205.6 million worldwide during its entire theatrical run, whereas Weapons has brought in $148.2 million in just two weeks. They are on the way!!

    2025 has been an exceptionally good year for horror..

    And … well we all know about SNOW WHITE…

  • Weapons have stayed locked and loaded for a second weekend

    Weapons have stayed locked and loaded for a second weekend

    Thank God for horror movies in August!

    Right now, we’re getting into the slower time for the box office season. The big blockbusters have all been released during the hottest months, and now it’s time for the overall system to cool down back to springtime levels and eventually winter slump..

    But before we get there, we have a horror movie called Weapons that continues to dominate, adding $25 million at this week’s box office. That comes with a 40% drop from last week. Now, while a 40% drop sounds significant, remember—many movies have much steeper declines. The bigger they are, the mightier they fall.

    For a film in the horror genre to drop less than 50% is a massive achievement. And don’t forget—it cost well below the amount of money it’s making to actually create the film. That means nothing but profit for Zach Cregger, and nothing but goodwill from the horror community, which is still giving it massive kudos and big numbers on Rotten Tomatoes.

  • WEAPONS wins the weekend

    WEAPONS wins the weekend

    FREAKIER FRIDAY couldn’t beat the true Weapon of the weekend box office..

    New Line’s movie earned an $18.2 million opening day from 3,202 locations — including $5.7 million from previews — and putting it on course for a $40 million opening weekend.

    “Weapons” is only the 14th horror movie since 1981 to earn an A- or higher on CinemaScore, and becomes the second Warner horror film this year alongside Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners,” which earned the third horror A in CinemaScore history, to reach that mark.

    You can read the HORROR REPORT’s review of WEAPONS here..

  • WEAPONS was a good movie. But it sadly wasn’t the best

    WEAPONS was a good movie. But it sadly wasn’t the best

    I just saw the movie Weapons. Zach Cregger made a decent film that’s worth talking about, but quite frankly, I’m not sure I’m in the camp of people giving it the 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

    I’ll say this first: the movie’s not forgettable. The characters are not forgettable. Josh Brolin does a great job as Archer Graff. Julia Garner brings a lot of depth to Justine Gandy, and Alden Ehrenreich’s Paul Morgan—cop, ex-boyfriend, and conflicted soul—adds another layer to the story. There are a few protagonists, and plenty of antagonists. It’s not your typical flow. It’s more akin to Midsommar or Hereditary than your standard horror flick. It’s deeply unsettling, profoundly disturbing, and strangely funny.

    But a problem exists in the characters.. there was a lot of development–but we did not end up even liking any of them. No one was … ready for our acceptance..

    But sadly, for me, in the end, it’s more of a miss than a dead-center bullseye.

    Let me explain. The movie does a few things very well. It doesn’t take itself too seriously at points when it shouldn’t. Even during the dramatic final conclusion—one of those moments in any film where you’d expect the audience to be on the edge of their seats—it slips in a scene that would go well with a laugh-track. If you had put some Benny Hill music over that scene, it would have completely lost credibility.

    But here’s the thing: while you’re laughing, you drop your guard… and then it hits you with a horrific, graphic, gory scene. That’s what Cregger does best here—he lulls you in with a little levity, only to jab at you when you least expect it. It’s not light after all. It’s mostly dark. He mocks your frivolity.

    It’s tough to do a movie review without spoilers, and I’m not going to spoil anything. I will say this: the most memorable character in this movie is one you don’t even see in the previews. I did myself a huge favor by avoiding spoilers altogether. The reviews I skimmed beforehand were short, vague, and gave me nothing concrete, and I’m glad for it. I recommend you do the same.

    That said, I can’t help but wonder if the marketing and buildup to this film were a bit over the top compared to what it actually delivers. We were led to expect a Stranger Things-esque production—mystery, vibe, nostalgia—and yes, we definitely get a vibe. In fact, much of the film is bright and sunny, like Hereditary, using that unsettling trick of placing horror under a blue sky. Cregger nails that.

    The flow works. The storyline is interesting. The acting is superb (despite not ending up liking many characters)..

    There are moments that put you on the edge of your seat, and there are moments that make you wince and cringe at what’s unfolding on the screen. But then… it just ends. And that’s the biggest jab of all.

    If you expect a solid ending, depending on your point of view, you might get it. But I think a lot of people walked out of the theater wanting something different. That’s strange, because up until the wrap, the movie was going well.

    The run-up to Weapons had everyone thinking it would be the horror movie of the year. For me, it’s one of the good ones. But we’ll wait until year’s end to decide if it really earns that crown.

  • WEAPONS locked and loaded for weekend release

    WEAPONS locked and loaded for weekend release

    Zach Cregger is back—and getting high praise for his latest work..

    His newest film Weapons hits theaters this weekend. While there are no solid box office predictions yet, the early buzz is loud and clear. As of this post, Weapons is sitting pretty at a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes—and that’s from 40 reviews. That’s rare.. impressive. That’s unheard of for most horror movies, and honestly, it’s incredible for any movie.

    We’ve been hearing little snippets and whispers about the plot, but we’re trying to stay spoiler-free over here. What we do know is this: the movie runs over two hours, features at least one scene of gore that people are already talking about, and is packed with disturbing, unsettling moments—peppered with some dark humor, just how we like it.

    This is exactly the kind of horror film that begs to be seen on the big screen. Creepy atmosphere, uncomfortable tension, and enough mystery to keep us guessing? Sign us up. So let’s dim the lights, cue up Nicole Kidman talking about heartbreak in a place like this, and fire up the AMC popcorn. Weapons is coming—and if those early reviews are any indication, we might be in for something truly unforgettable.

    Let’s just hope the film lives up to the hype.

  • Choose your WEAPONS

    Choose your WEAPONS

    🚨 First look alert: Warner Bros. just dropped over a minute of footage from Weapons — and it’s already making major waves. Early reviews have the film sitting at a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it one of the best horror releases of the year. Now, these are early reviews, of course, as more reviews come out. That number may change a bit. But so far, the reviews are really good.

    The clip? Intense. Gripping.

    For a little personal touch — I showed it to my 14-year-old son, who’s usually indifferent to horror. He sat frozen, eyes locked on the screen. When it ended, he turned to me… and flipped out.

    “Why would you show me that?! I’m 100% having nightmares tonight,” he said, storming off like I’d summoned the Boogeyman into our living room.

    So yeah, Weapons might just be that kind of horror movie. You’ve been warned.