At 2:17 AM, 17 children disappeared, and only one remained. As if entranced by the ‘Pied Piper,’ students from the same class vanished without a trace overnight. Even with the FBI involved, the children′s whereabouts are a complete mystery. Amidst the chaos, their teacher is forced to take a leave of absence from the school, the principal is hounded by protesting parents, and a police officer with an anger management disorder pursues a suspicious homeless person. The stories of these individuals, overlapping through a series of coincidences, gradually fit together like a puzzle, leading to clues to find the missing children. Weapons, the new film from director Zach Cregger, who received acclaim from horror fans for BARBARIAN (2022), is a masterful blend of bold storytelling, powerful performances from its ensemble cast, terror-inducing cinematography and sound, and direction that skillfully alternates between tension and humor. It is a must-see in theaters for fans that have been waiting for a fresh and well-crafted horror film. (BIFF, Karen PARK)