Before “Weapons,” Zach Cregger Co-Directed a Comedy Flop With a 5% on Rotten Tomatoes

Zach Cregger’s name is on everyone’s lips these days, and for good reason.The man behind the twisted brilliance of “Barbarian” is back with “Weapons,” a new horror flick that promises to be just‍ as unsettling and thought-provoking. But before he was scaring us senseless, Cregger was making us laugh – or at least, trying to. Let’s take a trip back to 2009, shall we, and unearth a little film called “Miss March,” a comedy that didn’t exactly set⁣ the world on fire.In fact, it currently sits at a rather dismal 5% on Rotten Tomatoes.Ouch.

“Miss March”: A Comedy That Missed the Mark

“Miss March” follows the ⁣story of Eugene, who wakes up from a four-year coma to discover his high school sweetheart is now a Playboy Playmate.Naturally, he embarks on a cross-country road trip with his best friend Tucker to win her back.⁢ Hilarity (supposedly) ensues.

While the⁤ premise might sound like your‍ typical raunchy comedy, “Miss March” failed to connect with audiences and critics alike. Many found the humor to be juvenile and the plot ‍predictable. But hey, everyone has to start somewhere, right? And even flops can offer valuable lessons.

The ‍Unexpected Connection to “Weapons”

Now, you might ⁢be wondering what a critically panned comedy has ⁢to do with a horror film⁢ as anticipated as “Weapons.” Well, the connection ⁢is more personal than you might ⁣think. Cregger co-directed “Miss ⁣March” with Trevor Moore,a close friend and collaborator from their days at New York’s School of Visual Arts. Their friendship extended beyond filmmaking; they were genuinely close.

Tragically, Moore passed away in a car accident while ⁢Cregger was still working on “Barbarian.” This devastating loss deeply affected Cregger,and he channeled his grief into his writing. That’s when the seeds for “Weapons” began to sprout.

Grief as⁢ inspiration: The Genesis of “Weapons”

In an interview with Rolling⁤ Stone, Cregger revealed that writing became⁤ a way for him to process ‍his emotions after Moore’s ⁢death. He wanted to create something honest, something that reflected his inner turmoil. As he delved deeper into the story,he realized he was identifying with⁢ all of the characters he was creating.

>”I wanted to do something honest, and ⁤I found that as I kept writing, and the more I identified with all of the people I was writing about, the more ⁤this became something like an honest diary⁤ of my ‍inner s***. It’s ‍funny, I was talking to⁤ Ari Aster about this, and was‍ like, ‘I don’t⁢ know about the personal stuff.’ And he ⁤was like, ‘The⁤ personal stuff is what makes this work. Don’t be ‍ashamed of it.'”

So,while “Miss March” might be considered a low point in Cregger’s career,it’s inextricably linked to one of his most promising projects. “Weapons” is a testament to the idea that art can be therapeutic, a way to transform pain and loss into ⁤something meaningful, even if it’s a wild and terrifying horror film. ‍It serves⁣ as a reminder that even from the ashes of disappointment, something powerful can emerge.