WEAPONS

 This twisted variation on 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' is undeniably entertaining but I'm not sure it would have been as much fun if  director Zach Cregger had decided to film it in strictly chronological order. Rather "Weapons" keeps doubling back on itself telling its totally bizarre tale of disappearing children from several perspectives as chapter headings inform us whose story we're getting at any one time.

Fundamentally this is a warped fairy-tale and, as in all good fairy-tales, children are really at the heart of it; children and a real-life wicked old witch, superbly played by Amy Madigan in a performance that will certainly bring her an Oscar nomination at least. In fact, Madigan is the films dark heart and soul although there is also good work from Julia Garner, Josh Brolin and Alden Ehrenreich but ultimately it's thanks entirely to Madigan that by the time we get to the totally daft and very grisly finale I was completely won over.