Weapons - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Warner Bros/New Line and Horror had a bumper crop of releases in 2025! From Sinners to The Conjuring: The Last Rites, one studio led the pack for genre releases. Among the stack of titles is Zach Cregger’s latest foray into horror, Weapons. Where the one-time Whitest Kid we knew proved he could shock and horrify with Barbarian (where the hell is that disc?), he again proves himself a witty talent with this latest effort behind the camera. Blending modern post-pandemic societal themes with frightful elements of folk horror and fairytales, it’s a potent mix for an original horror feature. Given the box office haul, it worked out!  

If you’re somehow one of those people who didn’t see this film and/or accidentally ingested some of the spoilery coverage, I’m going to refrain from giving too many details. The residents of the small town of Maybrook will be irrevocably bound together when all but one of the students from Ms. Gandy’s (Julia Garner) class disappeared in the middle of the night. Policemen like Paul Morgan (Alden Ehrenreich) have no clues. Parents like Archer Graff (Josh Brolin) are desperate for answers. As everyone looks to little Alex Lilly (Cary Christopher), the lone student who didn’t go missing for answers, his great aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan) is in town and ready to help. 

To cut it simply, I had a great time with Weapons in the theater. Out of context, that is one odd sentence to write, but it's true! Joining the ranks of comedians-turned-horror-directors, Zach Cregger certainly puts us through our paces. I enjoyed how the film dances around the horror elements, indirectly raising the stakes and playing up tension and suspense as each chapter unfolds. As we get to know the characters and their side of the unfolding story, that sense of dread increases until it’s time to let it rip. It’s a similar blend of horror and dark comedy that Cregger showcased with Barbarian, but more refined and without some of the abrasive bluntness in the story transitions. All signs of a promising filmmaker honing his craft. 

While Cregger certainly deserves due credit, this film wouldn’t be much without its cast. Julia Garner gives an excellent genre-rebound performance after Wolf Man. Josh Brolin delivers another exceptional run as the determined everyman father (just like his real-life Father used to give us in the '70s and '80s). Alden Ehrenreich is great as the hapless Paul, who certainly takes a few comedic jabs at his expense. As for Amy Madigan, I’ll just say we might need to do a wellness check on Ed Harris and leave it at that. 

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
Weapons sets its sights on physical media with a single-disc 4K UHD + Digital release from Warner Bros and SDS. The film and all extra features are pressed on a BD100 disc. The included digital code is Movies Anywhere compatible. The disc is housed in a standard black case with identical slipcover art.

Weapons comes home with a moody 2160p Dolby Vision HDR transfer. Shot digitally, the film was finished natively in 4K. The image often evokes that late September/early fall vibe where the leaves are just starting to turn, but haven’t dropped yet. It’s a shadowy, grey, and ominous appearance, so it’s not one I’d exactly call flashy. Given the plot, it’s appropriately moody and creepy. Details are strong throughout, but most of the clarity comes from the more uncomfortable close-up shots, which let you see all the facial features, makeup, and hair stylings of certain cast members. Practical effects get their time to shine with plenty of gore and viscera. Colors might not go out of their way to pop, but we have plenty of rich primary saturation to enjoy. Where this transfer really cooks is for the black levels and contrast. Blacks are deep, inky, and ominous, with excellent shadow separation that allows for those creepy things to lurk around and give you a good jump. Whites are nice and crisp. It might not always be the most stunning film to look at, but there’s some genuinely haunting imagery in here that looks great in 4K. With that, I wouldn’t have complained if we got the IMAX presentation as well, but alas, that is not to be.

Completing the vibe for this eerie creeper is a strong Atmos track. Not exactly a showstopper demo track, but for what this film aims for, it achieves. Surrounds, rears, and heights might not always seem like they’re active, but if you listen closely, you’ll pick up those everyday “normal” sounds of life that set you at ease before the big scare drops. Much of the mix may feel Front/Center channel loaded, but there are clever and purposeful uses for the channels throughout the soundscape. Things really amp up in the last act. Dialog is clear throughout without any issue. The score from Hans and Ryan Holladay and director Zach Cregger, fills the space nicely without overpowering the mix. 

The lone slip for this release is the anemic bonus features. Barely 20 minutes worth, the three featurettes are well-produced efforts; they’re certainly better than the average talking head piece, but they’re so short. No commentary. No fixed making-of. A real missed opportunity to not go all in. As is, these segments are ok, but a bare minimum effort. 

• Director Zach Cregger: Making Horror Personal (HD 6:15) 
• Weaponized: The Cast of Weapons (HD 8:53)
• Weapons: Texture of Terror (HD 6:49)

I thought Weapons was a hell of a feature when I caught it in theaters. I did my best to avoid trailers and was pleasantly surprised at the twists and turns of the plot as the story revealed what kind of a horror feature it was going to be. The movie takes some big swings with its themes within the genre it’s playing in, and I was there for it - enough to seat me through a couple theatrical viewings and another here at home. As we await Cregger’s Barbarian to someday hopefully get a disc release (sounds like there is finally some movement there) and his upcoming relaunch of Resident Evil, we can bask in the glory of Weapons in 2160p Dolby Vision at home. The A/V presentation is excellent and the highlight of the release. Bonus features aren’t much to speak of, sadly. Ultimately, I’ve got to call this one Highly Recommended