Aayush Sharma
What will happen when kids from a small town vanish overnight, and no one knows what happened? It would send shockwaves through the community. That’s the unsettling premise at the heart of Zach Cregger’s film ‘Weapons.’ The mystery horror movie tells the story of a terrifying event where the students from Justine Gandy’s (Julia Garner) classroom disappear mysteriously at 2:17 am, leaving no trace. The incident shatters the people of Maybrook and forces them to ask if they are truly safe. As the plot progresses, the teacher and the parents embark on a strenuous journey for the truth and unravel what happened that night.
As the people of Maybrook come together to find answers, they learn that the disappearance is tied to something far greater, and their surroundings have been hiding sinister truths. The community’s struggle to escape this nightmare situation marks the majority of the narrative, with the town itself portrayed as a breathing presence. As a result, the production relies heavily on its setting and uses the isolated atmosphere to heighten the tension. The looming quiet of empty streets and the hopelessness of parents become characters in their own right, expanding the dread that runs through the tale.
Weapons Filming Locations
Although the mystery horror movie is primarily set in the town of Maybrook, ‘Weapons’ is shot entirely in Georgia, particularly in Atlanta and Tucker. Principal photography for the Josh Brolin starter began in May 2024 and seemingly continued until July of the same year. The stars had a great time bringing the fresh and unique movie to life. The cast and crew members thoroughly enjoyed the production process and contributed to the best of their abilities to ensure the production went smoothly. Josh Brolin, who plays the role of Archer Graff, also stated that the team has done a commendable job in creating a setting that creates a vibe of paranoia and constant tension.
Metro Atlanta, Georgia
While the story of missing children is set in the small town of Maybrook, the production team of ‘Weapons’ decided to keep the base for taping in Metro Atlanta. To be specific, the cast and crew extensively filmed in and around Atlanta, the state’s capital city, popularly known as the Empire State of the South. Maybrook is a village situated in Orange County, New York State. However, it is not at all similar to the town created for the movie, which is more of a quiet, urban neighborhood with big houses surrounded by wooded areas.
When it comes to shooting, the crew and acting members of the title recorded certain scenes in Covington, which is a part of the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. The team recorded a few pivotal scenes at a BP gas station in Covington and filmed there for a span of three days. They not only used the gas station but also the To Go convenience store, which is situated close to the filling stations. Meanwhile, the crew taped a few segments on Elm Street Northeast in the aforementioned city.
On the other hand, the crew lensed certain sequences in different parts of the metropolitan area mentioned above. Places such as Decatur, East Point, Griffin, Jonesboro, and Stone Mountain were used as primary locations to shoot vital sequences. The city of Decatur is known for its small-town feel, and that’s one of the reasons why the crew decided to lens pivotal parts of the film there. The story of ‘Weapons‘ takes place in a small town that has a strong sense of community, which is also visible in the movie. However, Cregger, who helmed the production, initially wanted to tape the project in Pennsylvania.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he stated, “I kept getting pissed when we were scouting around Atlanta. I was like, ‘I just wish we could shoot in Pennsylvania where they shot Prisoners.‘ And then I found out, no, they shot ‘Prisoners‘ in Atlanta. So we didn’t stop until we found exactly what we sought. It was like, if it works for them, it’ll work for us.” The decision to film in and around Atlanta was good for the team because it gave them the perfect setting for a film shrouded in mystery. According to Michelle Morrissey, the producer of ‘Weapons,‘ Atlanta has something of everything, which makes it a good location for shooting. Moreover, she noted that the crew of the horror flick shot in a little neighborhood so that viewers get the essence of a small town.
This is not the first time a primary production has made the decision to shoot in Georgia, especially the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. The state and the region are popular among the studios, with a long history of hosting big-budget films and TV shows. Georgia is known for its diverse landscapes and a well-established film industry infrastructure. The crew can shoot in the mountainous regions if the production wants to showcase rugged, dramatic scenery, or head to the bustling city streets for a completely different cinematic backdrop. Apart from ‘Weapons,‘ several high-profile titles such as ‘The Vampire Diaries,‘ ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,‘ ‘Fear Street: Part One – 1994,‘ ‘Lovecraft Country,‘ ‘Insidious: The Red Door,‘ and ‘Stranger Things’ were taped in Atlanta.
Tucker, Georgia
Apart from shooting in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area, ‘Weapons‘ was also filmed in Tucker, a part of DeKalb County. The city is located about 15 miles northeast of Downtown Atlanta. The team reportedly lensed the school sequences inside the Brockett Elementary School, which is located at 1855 Brockett Road in the aforementioned town. It seems they changed the name of the school to Maybrook Elementary School because of the fictional city they created for the production. The creators of the title seemed to shoot several pivotal scenes in the city, which is known for its thriving retail businesses.
Over the years, Tucker has become a preferred location for filming because of its locations, welcoming neighborhoods, and tax incentives. That’s why the city is known as a hot spot for film and TV production. Places such as Tucker Recreation Center at 4898 Lavista Road and Hugh Howell Road are particularly famous for filming purposes. Besides ‘Weapons,‘ many high-end Hollywood ventures have been filmed in Tucker, including ‘Prisoners,‘ ‘Sabotage,‘ ‘Just Beyond,‘ ‘Dear God No,’ ‘Ozark,‘ and ‘Mnemosyne.’
Read More: Is Weapons Based on a True Story?
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