Josh Brolin Breaks the Tough Guy Mold in Chilling New Horror Movie Weapons
Josh Brolin, known for his tough-guy roles in Hollywood, is taking on a new challenge with the horror epic Weapons. This time, he’s not just facing monsters or villains—he’s confronting what it means to be a man. In the film, Brolin plays Archer Graff, a father whose son is among 17 children mysteriously missing from a small town. As Archer’s world unravels, so does his tough exterior, making for a unique look at masculinity, grief, and self-discovery.
- Josh Brolin stars in the new horror film Weapons
- The movie explores themes of masculinity, grief, and paranoia
- Brolin discusses his character’s emotional journey
- Director Zach Cregger brings genre-bending style to the story
- The film is now playing in theaters
Josh Brolin Faces New Fears in Weapons
Brolin, 57, is famous for roles that lean into the classic “tough guy” image. Whether it’s staring down danger in the Coen brothers’ No Country for Old Men or playing the powerful Thanos in the Marvel universe, his characters rarely show much emotion. But in Weapons, Brolin’s Archer Graff is a hard-as-nails father who’s forced to confront his own feelings after tragedy strikes.
At the start, Archer is “all balled-up and super-masculine,” Brolin says. The disappearance of his son pushes him to a breaking point, leading to a downward spiral of paranoia and grief. Over time, though, Archer begins to realize that real strength means opening up emotionally. “He realizes by the end, ‘Oh, this is the diamond in my life. The only way that I can truly experience it and have a full life is to open up to this kid.’”
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Genre-Bending Storytelling
Directed by Zach Cregger, known for the horror hit Barbarian, Weapons isn’t your average scary movie. The film moves between horror, thriller, and even dark comedy, offering more than just a simple message. Brolin describes it as “constantly challenging masculinity and challenging the genre.” There’s plenty of suspense, but also moments of absurdity and humor, making the story feel fresh and unpredictable.
One of the film’s most talked-about scenes is a dream sequence where Archer sees an assault rifle floating in the sky. When asked if the movie is a direct comment on gun culture, Brolin says, “I don’t know, man. Maybe we’re the sheep, part of the flock. We’re just doing whatever is told of us. We tend to see things in black and white and good and evil.”
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Brolin’s New Direction
Brolin’s recent roles have often explored emotional depth and vulnerability, and Weapons continues that trend. He says he was drawn to the project because of director Cregger’s unique vision and the chance to work on something that could be a “milestone.” “I want to work with great filmmakers,” Brolin says. “Not just to be in something cool, but to be in something that’s a milestone. We look back at movies like Taxi Driver, and I want an audience to have that moment now.”
Weapons is now showing in theaters, offering viewers a thought-provoking mix of horror, drama, and a look at what it really means to be strong.
