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Now Playing: Weapons is a horrifying, well-stitched work of art

In a year where the standard for films under the genre has been set high

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I walked into the cinema for Warner Bros. Pictures’ advanced screening of Weaponsnot knowing what to expect from Zach Cregger’s mystery horror.

Other than the fact that the reputable cast included actors for MCU’s Thanos, Shalla Bal/Silver Surfer, and Sorcerer Supreme, I had no clue how it would pan out.

I realized after a few hours that I had just watched one of the best horror films this year. And given how many big pictures under the genre have performed tremendously well this calendar year so far, you know Weapons did a lot right.

⚠️ Warning: Some spoilers ahead! ⚠️

Build-up gets you hooked

Still: Warner Bros. Pictures

The film starts with a strong and simple premise: all but one child mysteriously disappear at 2:17 a.m. one night.

They all did so running in the exact same way: towards a point B no one knows what is and where. This mysterious happening was even caught by the security cameras of the parents’ homes that had them.

As with disappearances in general, everyone involved is compelled to ask questions. How and why perhaps are the two most relevant. All we know so far is that they all came from the same class, and that one managed not to have the same fate.

It’s sudden, perplexing, and beyond comprehension. From here, audiences are left seeking for answers, which the film uncovers one by one in a way that isn’t random but rather well-stitched.

Still: Warner Bros. Pictures

Most of the main characters were introduced from the get-go as they were directly integral to what was going on.

Julia Gardner’s Justine was the teacher of the 17 vanished students, Josh Brolin’s Archer was one of the parents seeking answers, and Benedict Wong’s Andrew Marcus was the school principal.

Other characters who also played a key role in the story development were later on thrown into the spotlight one by one in a likewise shrewd manner.

Camera work gets you tense

Weapons was told in not exactly a non-linear way, through several parts. These linked parts, by definition, make the movie tantamount to an anthology.

But instead of different stories, the parts were actually mostly the same scenes but presented through different perspectives — one for each main protagonist.

Still: Warner Bros. Pictures

Obviously, they weren’t just replayed literally all over again. Cregger made it a point that cliffhangers preceding the next POVs were explained by presenting elements unseen or overlooked the first time.

Some of them were as simple as a can of chicken noodle soup or Justine waving to someone she knew. You just had to remain engaged.

It all made sense why the camera work was fantastic from the get-go from a technical standpoint. There was an abundance of rear view shots to establish some scenes.

There’s Cary Christopher’s Alex being alone in Justine’s classroom, Justine’s overreliance on alcohol to even make sense of what is happening, and the on-going investigation.

These pictures all evoked an eerie vibe. There were even sporadic oners, although they were shorter in duration and weren’t that action-packed. Then came the scenes that left audiences both terrified yet wanting more.

We had to guess what immediately happens next with scenes involving simple panning left and right, blurring, and a little more zoomed-in framing. Cregger just let Gestalt principles do the work.

This technical expertise was best evident during the scenes that officially introduced Alex’s family home. Of course, this would later be the setting of the movie’s climactic finale.

With windows all covered by newspaper from the inside and a front door that had nothing but darkness when opened, the house set up the transition from the first few POVs to the next ones.

Film made the most out of its cast

And while you’re initial in it for the obvious horror, the characters’ relatable everyday lives also help in keeping you glued. There’s nothing otherworldly about their routines. And it’s that normalness that creates a sense of realism as far as the steps they took throughout.

Viewers can relate to Justine’s cluelessness, trying to just carry on with life just as the entire Maybrook community has been enveloped with fear of the unknown.

Still: Warner Bros. Pictures

Archer combined desperation from a parent who lost his child with resentment and disbelief in the system. He took matters into his own hands with a detective-style, investigative approach.

There was a scene from the film where Archer figured out from the Maybrook map that all missing children headed somewhere. The film did not need to show all 17 houses but just let him infer with a small sample.

As the film progressed, the lens switched from Justine and Archer to more people involved, albeit in shorter durations. We were introduced to Alden Ehrenreich’s Paul Morgan, a police officer who apparently sees Justine in spite of a legal relationship.

But as someone sworn to protect society, Paul does what he needs to. This is where he stumbles upon Austin Abrams’ James, a drug addict.

Perhaps not surprisingly, it was James who discovered Alex’s home — and the 17 children in a hypnotic state — as he was desperate for funds and survival.

Puzzle waiting to be solved

And just when everything started to make sense, we suddenly found a clearly possessed principal Andrew charging towards Justine, just when the former was in a confrontation with the still answer-seeking Archer.

I didn’t know how far Cregger would push the film in terms of its goriness. I got the answer to that from that scene. And from that point, everything else was just lined up perfectly for an explosive finish.

Still: Warner Bros. Pictures

Further tidbits were presented as if puzzle pieces for a grander riddle waiting to be solved. We were finally acquainted with Amy Madigan’s Gladys, Alex’s peculiar aunt. You just knew something was off with her, and boy, we were right.

It was revealed that Gladys was involved in performing witchcraft, and was behind controlling Andrew. Ditto with Alex’s parents, officer Paul, James, and all of the 17 children.

A brief backstory showed how Gladys ended up staying at Alex’s parents’ home — and eventually causing disturbances to Maybrook.

Climactic ending

By the time the film had ended, we were brought back to the start, finally realizing how everything unfolded. The aftermath of chaos and destruction was clarity.

I even forgot there was an actual child narrating the beginning and the end of the movie, which aptly ended in silence.

Going with a bloodline strategy isn’t all new. But Weapons did not go with a generic trope. I had expected a typical pass-the-curse-to-the-next-family-member twist towards the end. But it didn’t come.

They played it out in a manner that still logically made sense, with Alex reversing the spell in the nick of time by performing the same ritual his aunt did. Cregger was even able to sneak in some comedic relief during the chase towards the end.

But the mere fact this movie let 17 kids do the unthinkable by literally ripping a helpless old woman to pieces towards the end was the chef’s kiss in what has been a harrowingly well-sewn masterpiece.

Should you watch Weapons?

Weapons is a Super Swipe as far as horror films go. It is pieced together brilliantly. Viewers will be left glued, shocked, surprised, yet wanting more.

The premise presumably draws inspiration from what we know from other horror movies. But it’s molded into a unique and unpredictable one that the story is able to build off of.

From its formidable and promising cast to excellent cinematography and brilliant storytelling, Weapons delivers what is expected of a horror masterpiece — especially in a year where standards have been set high.

Entertainment

One Piece: Into the Grand Line unveils final trailer ahead of premiere

All 8 episodes dropping on Netflix this March 10

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Courtesy: Netflix

Netflix has revealed the final trailer for One Piece: Into the Grand Line, exactly one week before its March 10 premiere.

The clip opens with a monologue from Monkey D. Luffy, reminding the Straw Hat crew of how far they’ve come to make it to the gates of the legendary Grand Line.

He mentions that it is time for the pirates to see what’s in store for them in the legendary stretch of sea.

Of course, that’s the treasure they’re seeking albeit encountering bizarre islands, new enemies, and unpredictable danger.

The clip then again features the larger-than-life scale of Season 2, including the towering Red Line, giant whale Laboon, Little Garden’s dinosaurs, and the giant, Brogy.

For a brief moment, the protagonist is also shown in an encounter with Smoker. Tony Tony Chopper, shown in the official trailer, once again made a quick appearance.

Just as action-packed as previous trailers, this 1:44 clip then culminates with more combat. There’s Zoro defending the crew at Whisky Peak.

Wapol and his metal-transforming Munch-Munch powers was shown in the end against Monkey D. Luffy.

The entire trailer is also set to an upbeat remix of “Come Sail Away” in the background, continuing the excitement from Season 1.

All eight episodes of One Piece: Into the Grand Line will be made available by March 10.

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ITZY’s YUNA is Infinix’s first ever global brand ambassador

Infinix is in with YUNA in the scene

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Infinix is entering a new era — and the brand is bringing one of K-Pop’s most sought-after stars along the ride.

A first for Infinix

In line with the launch of the latest NOTE 60 series, Infinix has also named YUNA of ITZY as its very first Global Brand Ambassador. The company calls this a bold step forward for both innovation and style.

For the record, this is the first time Infinix has tapped a global ambassador — and the choice makes sense. YUNA is known for her confidence, vibrant energy, and unapologetic self-expression. These qualities align closely with Infinix’s “Joy Tech, Beyond Limits” philosophy.

In a statement, YUNA shared her excitement about the partnership. She said she’s looking forward to connecting with fans in a new way and creating meaningful stories together with the brand.

For Infinix, this collaboration is more than just a celebrity endorsement. It signals a shift in how the company wants to position itself globally — not just as a smartphone maker, but as a lifestyle tech brand for expressive, tech-savvy youth.

The more, the merrier

The partnership goes along the debut of the NOTE 60 Series, further fueling Infinix’s move toward a more premium smartphone experience.

Like YUNA, the NOTE 60 line also brings notable names in the table:

  • Powered by Snapdragon from Qualcomm
  • Design collaboration with Pininfarina
  • Audio tuned with JBL

It’s a clear attempt that Infinix wanted to elevate both performance and design by blending in flagship-level specs, more refined aesthetics, and immersive sound altogether.

Infinix says this launch also marks its expansion into more premium international markets.

With YUNA as the face of the brand, the company hopes to strengthen its appeal among younger users who want both powerful hardware and a device that matches their personality.

Rather than focusing purely on specs, Infinix is leaning into storytelling — highlighting how technology can spark creativity, joy, and individuality.

With the NOTE 60 Series and YUNA front and center, Infinix appears ready to redefine its brand identity on a global scale.

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Now Playing: Iron Lung

The premise will leave you wanting for more.

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I’m starting to think that cosmic horror is near-impossible to adapt to the big screen. Often, the point of this subgenre of horror is to showcase the unfathomable, a horror so unknowable that it’s impossible to describe. Now, for a medium that thrives on “show, don’t tell,” a full-length movie doesn’t seem like the best format for this type of horror. I’ve seen so many cosmic horror films, and a majority of them fail to land the satisfaction of a more traditional horror film.

Iron Lung, directed by and starring Markiplier, takes a stab at this elusively complex genre.

After the sudden disappearance of stars and planets in the universe, a lone space station explores a nearby moon to search for a way to save humanity. The catch is that the entire moon is covered in an ocean of blood. A convict, played by Markiplier, is tasked with exploring the moon in a one-man submersible, in exchange for his freedom.

Naturally, an ocean of blood isn’t the best place to be. The moon’s ocean hides mysteries and monsters beneath all the gore.

On the impossibility of cosmic horror

Though a movie is all about showing and not telling, Iron Lung navigates through these intricacies by not showing anything.

Because everything is just blood outside, the submarine needs a special camera that takes only grainy photos directly in front of the submersible. There’s always a sense of claustrophobic dread. What’s outside the submarine? What were those sounds? Did the camera really take a photo of something alive?

The film’s premise alone is a perfect source of horror. This is where cosmic horror thrives: on the questions, on the tiny sneak peeks of a monster lurking around the corner.

But, then again, this is also where the subgenre can paint itself into a corner. Eventually, audiences ask for more. They need to see and know the beast for real. Think Cloverfield, when the massive alien finally shows its face, or The Nun with… well, The Nun.

It’s an unwritten rule in horror films that the monster must make an appearance. It becomes a paradox for cosmic horror because the beast must also be unknowable.

When the beast finally shows up in Iron Lung, the audience never learns an understandable reason why it’s stalking the submarine. It’s not hungry, it doesn’t want revenge, and it doesn’t want to take over the world. It just is.

Is that a satisfying enough conclusion? If you’re a fan of cosmic horror, then it’s par for the course. However, if you’re more used to the more traditional horror film, it might leave you wanting more.

On madness

A mysterious monster isn’t the only thing that cosmic horror is known for. It’s also about madness and how the protagonist goes insane after seeing the unknown.

It’s apropos, then, that the convict starts hallucinating right after seeing a glimpse of the ocean’s beast. He starts to lose track of what’s real and what’s not.

In other movies, madness is an effective tool in subverting expectations and amplifying the horror. For example, in The Lighthouse, Winslow, the protagonist, also loses his sanity and questions reality. The film is all about this descent into madness and the questionable actions as a result from it. In Shutter Island, madness is a punchline, a plot twist that invites the audience to revisit the entire film and question their own perception.

Iron Lung, however, is neither a complete descent nor a plot twist. Rather, it’s a clear third act stemming from the convict’s encounter with the monster.

Since it’s clearly delineated in the third act, it’s hard to empathize with the convict’s plight. There’s a sense of vertigo moving from a creature feature into, in the convict’s own words, “alien shit” where you’re not sure of what’s real. Likewise, it’s not a plot twist either. You don’t reevaluate whether the entire movie was a hallucination.

Madness is understandably a major plot point of the original game that the movie is based on. However, its translation into film isn’t the smoothest. It’s both too short and too long.

But is it a good film?

Despite its struggle with the format, Iron Lung is still a spirited attempt at a one-room horror film. Markiplier melds into his role and doesn’t just showcase his on-screen YouTube personality.

The premise is, at once, frightening. It’s eerie and creepy. There is always a pervasive need to figure out what comes next. That’s pretty much what you want from a movie anyway. Yes, the ending might be polarizing, especially to those more used to the usual horror film, but the journey is still worth the price of admission.

And, at the very least, the film got me interested in watching Mark’s original playthroughs.

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