Warner Bros has set up a in-universe website about the events of Zach Cregger’s new horror film ‘Weapons.’ This has shades of the ‘Blair Witch’ marketing from the late ‘90s — although not as effective.
The site is called Maybrook News, referring to the strange happenings in the town of Maybrook, where the spooky events of “Weapons” take place.
The main news story on the front page teases the core plot of the film, which has 17 local children disappear simultaneously at 2:17am, and never return home again.
A chilling mystery has gripped the small town of Maybrook after 17 children voluntarily left their homes Wednesday morning. Authorities are baffled by the inexplicable disappearance, which has shaken the community to its core.”
Upon investigation, front door camera footage showed the children leaving their homes at 2:17am Wednesday morning without any signs of force. Since then, little information has surfaced, and the case continues to baffle investigators,” the article continues. “In response, a school gathering was held, where growing unease among parents became clear.
Most intriguing of all is the site suggesting that Cregger’s last film —“Barbarian”— and “Weapons” take place in the same world. This is seemingly confirmed via another news story (“Underground Prison Discovered in Rental Home) where an image of “Barbarian” is attached.
“Weapons” has a story told from six different points of view: teacher, father of a missing child, cop, criminal, school principal, and student. The structure has been compared to “Magnolia,” and based on the script it is indeed a mosaic of characters coming in and out of the story. It’s ambitious stuff, but eerie and gripping.
The ensemble cast for “Weapons” includes the likes of Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Brian Tyree Henry, Tom Burke, Austin Abrams, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong and June Diane Raphael.
Cregger has only proven himself once so far; 2022’s “Barbarian” was a well-directed horror sleeper hit. “Weapons” is the film that’s supposed to up his stock as a formidable genre filmmaker. He’s also getting a $20M payday to helm a “Resident Evil” reboot, which is supposed to start filming this fall.
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.