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Weapons is the latest horror film by Zach Cregger, the filmmaker who disturbed audiences with his 2022 solo screenwriting and directorial debut Barbarian. Like his previous horror standout, Weapons completely subverts expectations through its unconventional structure and refusal to adhere to genre clichés. It has been met with overwhelmingly positive critical reception, with some calling it the best horror movie of 2025. Fans and critics alike are praising Cregger for taking bold risks with a visceral and daring approach.

Told from six different perspectives, the movie revolves around the mysterious disappearance of 17 children who were in the same third-grade class. One night at 2:17 a.m., they each ran out of their houses and disappeared into the dark. Their teacher, Ms. Justine Gandy (Julia Garner), becomes a pariah, with many of the townsfolk believing she knows more than she’s letting on. Her story intertwines with that of other characters—Alex (Cary Christopher), the only child from her classroom that didn’t disappear, Archer (Josh Brolin), an angry father who wants to find his son, her cop ex Paul (Alden Ehrenreich), school principal Marcus (Benedict Wong), and James (Austin Abrams), an unhoused addict and burglar.

Embracing horror in a way so few do, the film has sparked discourse online, with audiences arguing its deeper meaning, or lack thereof. Then, there are those claiming it isn’t even horror, lacking the understanding that the genre’s goal isn’t as straightforward as just scaring you. It’s about making the viewer feel sad, disgusted, uncomfortable, giddy, and introspective. Weapons does all of these things and more, and it has many layers worth uncovering.

If you enjoyed Weapons, the 10 horror movies on this list are just as good. Not only were they critically acclaimed, but they’re also thematically rich and thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a blend of suspense, emotional exploration, and layered storytelling, these scary films will do the trick.

10

‘The Orphanage’ (2007)

Spanish filmmaker J.A. Boyana (Society of the Snow) made his directorial debut with the gothic horror The Orphanage, which was produced by Guillermo del Toro. It follows Laura (Belén Ruedo) as she returns to the orphanage where she grew up. Her plans to reopen it as a facility for children with disabilities are tragically put on hold when her son, Simón (Roger Princep), disappears. As she’s consumed with inconsolable grief and continues the search for him, she makes contact with the ghosts of children whose souls were bound to the orphanage by an unspeakable crime.

An Inspiration for Cregger

Although it was an international success, The Orphanage isn’t as well known in the U.S. The film has a haunting, timeless allure and is emotionally devastating, exploring unresolved childhood trauma. Cregger cited it as an influence on his latest horror hit: “It’s just that one sequence where the kids are coming closer and closer. It really weaponizes those kids. It turns them into this really terrifying thing. I love that sequence where they’re doing that peek-a-boo and the kids are approaching. There are a couple of moments in this movie where I’m trying to tap into that same thing.”

9

‘Lake Mungo’ (2008)

Written and directed by Joel Anderson, the Australian film Lake Mungo is a fascinating entry in the found footage subgenre and one of the most underrated horror films of the 21st century. Told from a mockumentary perspective, it tells the tragic story of 16-year-old Alice Palmer (Talia Zuker), who drowned at a dam during a family trip to Ararat. Her grieving family recounts the time before her death and opens up about the strange, supernatural occurrences they’ve experienced since.

A Deeply Unsettling, Poignant Ghost Story

Lake Mungo is a heartbreaking, somber exploration of grief, memory, and trauma. The film’s slow-burn intensity, compelling mystery, eerie atmosphere, and emotional depth will be appreciated by fans of Weapons. Like Cregger, Anderson takes risks with his storytelling. In his review on Letterboxd, Mike Flanagan wrote, “This is one of the best and most beautiful ghost stories I’ve ever seen, and a true inspiration on every level. I can absolutely feel the influence of this movie on a lot of my own work.”

8

‘It Follows’ (2014)

It Follows stars Maika Monroe as Jay Height, a young woman on the cusp of adulthood who inherits a deadly curse after a sexual encounter. The entity that haunts her acts like a stalker that can take the shape of anyone, walking toward her at a slow pace. In order to get rid of it, she has to have sex with someone and pass it on to them. If she doesn’t, it’ll eventually hunt her down and kill her, then find its way back to the person who passed it on to her. Like Weapons, the movie is slow but relentless, with lingering shots that build tension. Fair warning if you’ve yet to watch, spoilers ahead.

A Terrifying Film Rich With Meaning

Many interpret “It” as being a metaphor for an STD, but the Entity is so much more than that; it’s emblematic of the trauma Jay faced as a result of non-informed consent with Hugh (Jake Weary). The movie alludes to sexual assault when Hugh chloroforms her, ties her to a chair, and forces the Entity onto her. Additionally, the Entity’s relentless pursuit can be seen as fear of mortality and the inescapable nature of death, which are other topics explored in the dark coming-of-age horror film.

7

‘Sinister’ (2012)

Ethan Hawke stars as Ellison Oswalt, a struggling true-crime writer who, desperate for his next big hit, moves his family to a small Pennsylvania town into a home where the previous owners, the Stevensons, were gruesomely murdered. The late family’s youngest, 10-year-old Stephanie, disappeared without a trace. Upon settling in, the author discovers a box of horrifying snuff films of families being murdered, and realizes he has put his wife, son, and daughter in grave danger.

A Horrifying Nightmare

Sinister is a vastly underrated horror movie that is unimaginably terrifying. It’s scientifically proven that it’s the “scariest movie ever” by a study conducted by the Science and Scare Project. The grisly Super 8 found-footage films look frighteningly real and, coupled with the story’s evil villain, make Sinister a movie hard to watch with the lights turned off. There’s a constant, underlying sense that something disturbing is going to happen. When it finally does, it lingers with the viewer. If you’re looking for another creepy movie about lost children to watch after Weapons, this is it.

6

‘Us’ (2019)

Jordan Peele’s horror follow-up to Get Out stars Lupita Nyong’o as a woman whose family vacation in Santa Cruz takes a dark turn when they’re confronted by mysterious assailants who appear to be their doppelgängers. After escaping the initial attack, they struggle to find safety, and realize that everyone around them is being hunted by look-a-likes. Us is a visceral, blood-soaked fight for survival that delves into something much more profound.

A Strongly Political Horror Film

The psychological slasher is a thought-provoking meditation on systemic oppression in America, displaced fear of “outsiders,” and social inequality and marginalization. It boasts a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. Monica Castillo gave the film a four out of four stars on RogerEbert.com and wrote: “Us is another thrilling exploration of the past and oppression this country is still too afraid to bring up. Peele wants us to talk, and he’s given audiences the material to think, to feel our way through some of the darker sides of the human condition and the American experience.”

5

‘The Black Phone’ (2021)

The Black Phone brings to the screen Joe Hill’s short story of the same name, taking a look at childhood, trauma, and courage. Set in a quiet suburb of North Denver, Colorado, in 1978, it tells the story of 13-year-old Finney Blake (Mason Thames), who becomes the latest victim of The Grabber, a serial child abductor and murderer. Held captive in his soundproof basement, Finney starts receiving calls on a disconnected telephone from the sadistic killer’s deceased victims, who help him escape the same fate.

A Twisted, Atmospheric Watch

Ethan Hawke is unforgettable in his disturbingly unhinged performance as the psychopathic villain, making the viewer’s skin crawl. Thames is phenomenal in his first leading role, which garnered critical acclaim, and displayed his significant promise as an actor. The Black Phone 2 is set to release later this year, and if it’s anything like the original, it’s certain to be a hair-raising experience.

4

‘Barbarian’ (2022)

Barbarian starts off as a seemingly simple horror movie. A woman (Georgina Campbell) arrives at her Airbnb (called Home Away in the movie) late at night, only to discover that it’s already occupied by a stranger (Bill Skarsgård). With no options in an unfamiliar city and a big job interview the next morning, she reluctantly accepts the man’s offer to stay the night and get it sorted out with the company the following day. If you haven’t seen the film, this is all you need to know — and avoid watching the trailer.

A Truly Original Horror Film

Zach Cregger takes everything you think you know about horror movies and completely subverts your expectations, turning various horror tropes on their heads and misdirecting the audience. The movie’s second act manages to surprise in a way few horror films do. Like Weapons, the tale isn’t just disturbing, but deeply affecting.

3

‘Talk to Me’ (2022)

Danny and Michael Philippou’s feature directorial debut offers a unique spin on possession. The movie follows 17-year-old Mia (Sophie Wilde), who’s still struggling with the death of her mother from an overdose two years prior. At a party she attends with her friends, she’s introduced to a game involving holding an embalmed hand to briefly channel the dead. For Mia, it’s more profound than just a rush. Believing it’s her mother she’s speaking to, she becomes obsessed with the hand, despite the risks it poses to herself and those she cares for.

A Major Achievement in Elevated Horror

Talk to Me is a harrowing and heartbreaking exploration of grief, depression, and addiction. Like Weapons, the story utilizes elements of drama to enhance the horror. The film boasts a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes with a critics consensus that reads: “With a gripping story and impressive practical effects, Talk to Me spins a terrifically creepy 21st-century horror yarn built on classic foundations.

2

‘Longlegs’ (2024)

Longlegs is written and directed by another risk-taking, innovative filmmaker, Oz Perkins. The movie stars Maika Monroe as Lee Harker, an FBI agent who exhibits possible psychic and clairvoyant abilities. She’s assigned with solving a long-running case involving a series of family murder-suicides where, in each, someone who has dubbed himself “Longlegs” leaves a ciphered letter at the scene of the crime, somehow manipulating the events from outside the home. As she delves deeper into the investigation, she begins unlocking repressed memories from her past.

An Atmospheric, Haunting Movie

Horror maestro Guillermo del Toro has highly recommended Longlegs, praising Perkins’ “composition and his uncanny sense of evil and impending doom.” The film has a captivating, distinctive style that almost plays out like an eerie, nightmarish dream. It’s one of those movies that seeps beneath your skin and lingers long after the credits roll. Nicolas Cage’s villain has plenty in common with the creepy Aunt Gladys of Weapons. Together, they’d be unstoppable.

1

‘Bring Her Back’ (2025)

Bring Her Back centers on two siblings, Andy (Billy Barrat) and Piper (Sora Wong), who are forced into the foster system after the death of their father. Only a few months away from being able to become his sister’s legal guardian, Andy is reluctantly taken in along with Piper by the eccentric Laura (Sally Hawkins), who recently lost her own daughter. There, they meet Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), an unusual, mute boy under her care. As they settle in, Andy suspects there’s something sinister going on in the home and that Laura isn’t the nice lady she portrays to be.

A Relentless, Excruciating Tale of Loss

The movie is the sophomore film by duo Danny and Michael Philippou. Similar to Weapons, Bring Her Back merges the occult with the visceral. Beneath its occult themes is a heartwrenching examination of the destruction that grief causes when someone’s unable to process such a profound loss. Many critics have hailed it as the perfect follow-up to Talk to Me. If you enjoyed the creepy kid and witchcraft aspects of Weapons, there is much to love about this film.