New Funny And Scary Movie Set In Fictional Illinois Town

The Midwest makes a perfect backdrop for a horror movie that's also funny.

Warner Bros. has released the new movie "Weapons", which is set in a fictional town called Maybrook, Illinois.

It's both creepy and funny and, according to NBC Chicago, it's getting rave reviews from critics.

The plot follows townspeople in Maybrook trying to solve the case when 17 kids from the same classroom mysteriously run away on the same night at the same time, apparently abducted by an unseen force.

Does that also give you "Children of the Corn" vibes? Which would make sense, as that movie was filmed across the river in Iowa.

As the kids remain missing, parents and the townspeople search for answers as to what happened to them, by storming the city hall, setting up a vigil, and not batting an eye when their kids' teacher is attacked in broad daylight.

A theme in "Weapons" is paranoia, for both Josh Brolin's character (who is the father of one of the missing kids) and the town's teacher (played by Julia Garner), who is determined to solve the case, as she's blamed for the disappearances. The director, Zach Cregger, said this is where the humor comes in as the townspeople navigate the absurd events around them.

The vibe I'm getting from this trailer kind of is a modern "Children of the Corn" thing. Watch the "Weapons" trailer here.

Characterizations of the townspeople in Maybrook are meant to feel hyper-realistic. It's a nonlinear narrative, so it jumps between characters who tell the stories.

"Weapons" was released on August 8th and is playing in theaters nationwide.