The new horror film Weapons opened in theaters on Aug. 8 and has left a wake of terrified audience members in its path. The movie’s combination of suspenseful, graphic, and emotional  scenes creates an eerie sense which leaves the audience on the edge of their seats setting a new standard for cinematic horror.

Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger, had multiple character perspectives after the sudden disappearance of 17 elementary children at exactly 2:17 a.m. 

Julia Garner plays the troubled teacher who is accused of taking these children since it is her class. Josh Brolin’s role as a grieving father when his son goes missing creates a sense of sadness in the audience. The cast also includes Amy Madigan, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong whose acting add to the eerie, psychological, and chilling atmosphere of the film.

The film grossed $43.5 million in its debut and remains a box-office hit over the past couple of weeks. Weapons received a 94% in Rotten Tomatoes which demonstrates its appeal to audiences and critics

As critics and audiences  celebrate the film’s originality, some viewers have criticized the film’s structure. A viewer Audrey Schabes questioned critic’s opinions: “I don’t know why people wouldn’t call this ‘the scariest movie of the year’ because my team and I disagree since felt so scared when we all watched it…” 

Although nuanced views of the movie Weapons continue to be made, the film has undoubtedly created a name for itself in the genre. As audiences continue to watch this movie in theaters, Weapons stands out not only for the creative plot points and who it successfully strikes fear, but for how and why these divided views came about.